Book Review: “Hitler’s American Gamble” Explored in Lifestyle Section

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In their book “Hitler’s American Gamble,” British historians Brendan Simms and Charlie Laderman argue that Adolf Hitler’s Declaration of War on the United States on Dec. 11, 1941, rather than the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, created a new global strategic reality and ultimately a new world. Hitler predicted that the U.S. and Britain would now have to divide their strength across various theaters of the war, allowing Germany to carry out unrestricted submarine warfare against Allied commerce. The authors explain that Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin had mixed feelings about Japan’s attack, as it would potentially deter the Japanese from invading the Soviet Union but could also jeopardize American military aid flow. The book chronicles the events of Dec. 6-12, 1941, including the consequences of Hitler’s declaration of war on the U.S. and the subsequent impact on the global conflict. By drawing on a wide range of sources and reconstructing the events as they unfolded, the authors offer a new perspective on this critical turning point in World War II. The book provides insight into the enormous uncertainties and challenges faced by people around the world during that period, as well as the subsequent shifts in the tide of war in favor of the Allies. The “excruciating uncertainty” experienced during that time continues to resonate in today’s world and shapes our understanding of the past and the future.

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