The
dominant view of World War II is that it was the “good war.” Hitler bears
exclusive responsibility for the onset of war, because he aimed to conquer
Europe, if not the entire world. The United States tried to avoid entering the
war but was forced into the fight by the surprise Japanese attack on the
American fleet at Pearl Harbor.
The
authors on this list dissent. For them, Responsibility for the war was mixed,
and Roosevelt provoked Japan’s attack. Allied conduct of the war,
furthermore, was characterized by grave ethical misconduct.
Alperovitz,
Gar. The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb Comprehensive
study that shows dropping the atomic bombs was not needed to bring about
Japanese surrender.
Baker,
Nicholson Human Smoke: The Beginnings of
World War II, the End of Civilization Stresses the
violations of the norms of civilized war in World War II, with full attention
to the role of Winston Churchill.
Barnes,
Harry Elmer, ed. Perpetual War for Perpetual
Peace A collection of essays by leading revisionist
historians, concentrating on Franklin Roosevelt’s policies.
Beard,
Charles A. President Roosevelt and the
Coming of the War, 1941 Beard, one of the foremost
twentieth-century American historians, argues that Roosevelt provoked the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Buchanan,
Patrick J.Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War.
Argues that the British guarantee to Poland in March 1939 was a mistake,
because there was no feasible means of fulfilling it.
Chamberlin,
William H., America’s Second Crusade A highly
critical account of American policy during World War I. America failed to learn
the lesson of intervention in World War I.
Crocker,
George, Roosevelt’s Road to Russia Emphasizes
the extent to which American involvement in the war led to a pro-Soviet policy.
Cowling,
Maurice, The Impact of Hitler A detailed study
of British cabinet politics in the 1930s, countering the view that Chamberlain
sought peace at any price with Hitler.
Doenecke,
Justus Storm on the Horizon: The
Challenge to American Intervention, 1939-1941. A detailed
study of the American anti-war movement, showing the diversity of arguments
used to oppose Roosevelt’s bellicose policies.
Fussell,
Paul. Wartime: Understanding
and Behavior in the Second World War Vivid portrayal of the
deleterious effects of the war on human psychology and behavior. Refutes the
romanticized picture of the “good war.”
Garrett,
Garet. [ed. Bruce Ramsey] Defend America First: The Antiwar Editorials of the
Saturday Evening Post, 1939-1942. Garrett, a leading figure of
the Old Right, argued that coming to the aid of the Allies would weaken
America. We should concentrate on home defense.
Glaser,
Kurt, Czecho-Slovakia, A Critical History. A
good account of the minorities problem in Czechoslovakia. Emphasizes the
unrealistic policies of the Beneš government.
Greaves,
Bettina, Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy. A
detailed account of Roosevelt and Pearl Harbor, based on the research of Percy
Greaves.
Hoover,
Herbert. Freedom Betrayed. A very detailed
account of Roosevelt’s foreign policy by his predecessor in the White House.
Based on careful documentation.
Jaksch,
Wenzel, Europe’s Road to Potsdam. An account
of the Sudeten situation in the 1930s, critical of Czech policies under Beneš.
The author was head of the Sudeten Social Democrats.
Kirschbaum,
Joseph M. Slovakia: Nation at the Crossroads of Central Europe.
An informed account of Slovak policies in the 1930s. Good on the breakup of the
Czech state after the Munich Conference.
Klein,
Burton H. Germany’s Economic Preparations for War. Argues that Germany in the
1930s did not plan for a long war. The author is a leading Chicago School
economist.
Kubek,
Anthony, How the Far East Was Lost. The first
chapter, based on pioneering work by Stephen H. Johnsson, shows the influence
of pro-Communist officials in pushing for US provocation of Japan before Pearl
Harbor.
Mahl,
Thomas E. Desperate Deception : British Cover Operations in the
United States. 1939-1944 An account of British propaganda
and intelligence activities aimed at involving America on the side of Britain
in the war.
Morgenstern,
George. Pearl Harbor: The Story of the Secret War One
of the first revisionist studies of Pearl Harbor and still one of the best.
Highly detailed and very well written.
Neilson,
Francis, The Churchill Legend. Includes a
devastating analysis of Churchill’s multi-volume history of the war. Newman,
Simon March 1939: The British Guarantee to Poland British
policy under Chamberlain was not based on weakness but on a long term strategy
of confronting Hitler.
Raico,
Ralph, Great Wars and Great Leaders. Written by a
great classical liberal historian, the book includes a mordant account of
Winston Churchill.
Russett,
Bruce, No Clear and Present Danger. Argues that
the prospect of an Axis dominated Europe failed to pose a sufficient threat
to the United States to justify American intervention
Sanborn,
Frederic, Design for War. Contains material on
the US efforts to provoke a Japanese attack not readily available elsewhere.
The author was a distinguished international lawyer.
Sargent,
Porter, Getting US Into War. Stresses the
role of British propaganda in pushing America toward war.
Schroeder,
Paul, Axis Alliance and Japanese-American Realtions 1941.
Contends that America foreign policy toward Japan was unduly rigid.
Schultze-Rhonhof,
Gerd. 1939–The War That Had Many Fathers. Detailed
account of German foreign policy in the 1930’s, arguing that responsibility for
the war does not rest exclusively on Hitler. The author is a retired German
general.
Sledge,
E.B. With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa A
searing personal memoir of the horrors of war.
Stinnett,
Robert B. Day of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor. Roosevelt
deliberately sought war with Japan and denied information to the Army and Navy
commanders at Pearl Harbor.
Suvorov,
Viktor The Chief Culprit: Stalin’s Grand Design to Start World
War II. Contends that Stalin was preparing to launch
an invasion of Germany, but Hitler beat him to the punch.
Tansill,
Charles C. Back Door to War.
A comprehensive survey by one of the leading twentieth-century
American diplomatic historians. Shows how Roosevelt succeeded in involving the
US in war in Europe by provoking war with Japan. Contains valuable
material on the European diplomatic situation in the 1930s.
Taylor,
A.J. P. The Origins of the Second World War.
Argues that World War II came about through accident and miscalculation
rather than by design.
Topitsch,
Ernst, Stalin’s War. Topitisch, a philosopher
sympathetic to the Vienna Circle logical positivists, contends that Stalin
sought a European war and that Hitler’s invasion of Russia in 1941
preempted a Soviet attack.
Trachtenberg,
Marc The Craft of International History: A Guide to Method.
The book contains a careful analysis supporting the “back door to war“ theory,
i.e., that Roosevelt sought war with Japan in order to secure American entry
into the war in Europe.
Veale, F. J. P. Advance to Barbarism. Discusses the
Allied responsibility for mass saturation bombing.
David Gordon is Senior
Fellow at the Mises Institute, and editor of The Mises Review.