THE ARMCHAIR GENERAL

EIGHT KEY DECISIONS THAT ALTERED THE COURSE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, EACH OF WHICH HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BRING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE OUTCOME OF THE CONFLICT Author: John Buckley Publisher: Century Price: £14.99 On sale: Out now

George Macdonald Fraser, of Flashman renown, once said in a talk about his experiences in the Burma Campaign in 1943 that war was ghastly and frightful, but that it could also be humorous. Here John Buckley, reflecting on the bungled British paratrooper assault at Arnhem in 1944, highlights the role of crucial political decisions in military history, which in this case brings to mind Macdonald’s unorthodox remark, in that British paratroopers were dropped too far from the targeted bridge. The author underscores the importance of military choices and the enduring fascination of the impact of alternative outcomes if those choices and decisions had been different.

As Professor of Military History at the University of Wolverhampton, Buckley has used war-gaming methods to explore how and on what basis commanders and leaders make crucial decisions and the implications of their strategy. In this book, the author brings the notion of ‘what if’ history together with the essence of decision-making. Each of the scenarios is set in the Second World War, at a key moment in the fight against the Axis powers.

They focus on the defining moments of the conflict in which crucial tactical choices were made. The reader is placed in the position of evaluating evidence, balancing the possible outcomes and making a decision that might lead to success or crushing defeat. The scenarios start with Britain’s Darkest Hour and run through the Mediterranean and Russian campaigns, the Battle of Midway, the bomber offensive, Casablanca, the race to the Rhine and the atom bomb. Each tactical and strategic decision leads to a different outcome. It is a unique, enjoyable approach to evaluating military decision-making.