Visions of Victory
The Hopes of Eight World War II Leaders

In this 2005 book, Gerhard Weinberg explores the views of eight WWII leaders and compares their visions of the future.

Gerhard L. Weinberg (Author)

9780521708753, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 3 September 2007

320 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.47 kg

'It is an extraordinarily well-informed and well-crafted book which explains how great were the stakes of the Second World War, and how lastingly important was the achievement of the Allies in forcing 'unconditional surrender' by Germany and Japan.' The Times Literary Supplement

Visions of Victory, first published in 2005, explores the views of eight leaders of the major powers of World War II - Hitler, Mussolini, Tojo, Chiang Kai-shek, Stalin, Churchill, de Gaulle, and Roosevelt. He compares their visions of the future in the event of victory. While the leaders primarily focused on fighting and winning the war, their decisions were often shaped by their aspirations for the future. What emerges is a startling picture of postwar worlds. After exterminating the Jews, Hitler intended for all Slavs to die so Germans could inhabit Eastern Europe. Mussolini and Hitler wanted extensive colonies in Africa. Churchill hoped for the re-emergence of British and French empires. De Gaulle wanted to annex the northwest corner of Italy. Stalin wanted to control Eastern Europe. Roosevelt's vision included establishing the United Nations. Weinberg's comparison of the individual portraits of the war-time leaders is a highly original and compelling study of history that might have been.

1. Adolf Hitler
2. Benito Mussolini
3. Tojo Hideki
4. Chiang Kai-shek
5. Josef Stalin
6. Winston Churchill
7. Charles de Gaulle
8. Franklin D. Roosevelt
9. The real postwar world.

Subject Areas: Second World War [HBWQ], 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], General & world history [HBG]