1942

Abstract

The book argues that the outcome of the Second World War was determined in 1942. It was the only year of the war in which either the Axis or the Allies could have charted a course to eventual victory, since it was the first year where all the major combatants were involved. It is shown that the outcome of the war was not apparent at the beginning of the year. The book argues that understanding the war’s outcome requires a broad, holistic treatment, rather than focusing on one particular theater or battle. It is further argued that there was no single “decisive battle” or “turning point” that decided matters in the Allies favor. Instead, there were about two dozen larger inflection points—including military, economic, organizational, and societal outcomes—that in aggregate determined the outcome of the year, and thus the war. The book presents the year in thirteen chronological monthly chapters from December 1941 to December 1942, detailing the most important battles, elaborating important sub-topics, and pointing out the interconnections between theaters. While primarily a military history, the book explores economics, production, home front mobilization, the Manhattan Project, the Holocaust, wartime mortality, food, and other essential matters that influenced the course of the year. The book argues that the period from 23 October 1942 to 23 November 1942 was ruinous for Axis fortunes, and by the end of December 1942 the overall trajectory of the war had been fundamentally altered in favor of the Allies.