Sir Max Hastings

British historian Sir Max Hastings tells a story of two young girls during WWII from his book Armageddon. (recorded 11/30/04)

To view this entire interview visit: http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org

Category:

Education

Tags:

• PML
• Sir
• Max
• Hastings
• WWII
• armageddon
• German
• Girls
• Pritzker
• Military
• Library

[Seabirdinflight7]

It's a great pity we can't watch this talk in full. It existed for a while on youtube, but has been taken down, so does anyone know where it can be viewed?

[trajan75]

@Ranillon MacArthur took more territory with fewer casualties than any allied general. Both the leading military theorist of the 20th Century, Liddell Hart, and British Chief of Staff Sir Lord. Alan Brooke regarded him as the greatest allied general by far. This is because of the brilliance of his New Guinea campaign where he constantly out maneuvered the Japanese. His error in the Philippines didn't matter because without reinforcement we were doomed. He saved the Korean War at Inchon.

[Ranillon]

@trajan75 If he has a "bias" against MacArthur then more power to him -- MacArthur was easily the most overrated allied general of the war. Despite having hours warning after Pearl Harbor his air forces in the Philippines were still caught flatfooted and destroyed in the open. His later exploits weren't much better. He did do a fine job as the head of the occupation of Japan, but then led the UN forces into a disaster in Korea. He was definitely more flash than skill.

[trajan75]

I like Sir Max. I enjoyed his book "Retribution" about the last year of the war in the Pacific. My only problem with him is that, inexplicably, he has a vendetta against General Douglas MacArthur. Anyone who reads his books should take that into account. If anyone reads his books and wants a more accurate picture they should read William Manchester's magnificent biography "American Caesar".

[simonsmatthew]

Max Hastings comments are some degree of pertinence. With respect to the first world, he is right. The period since WWII is unusually benevolent in world history -However, people such as him continually forget about how a large chunk of the planet live. Look at the effects of capitalist exploitation and the thirst for gold on in Irian Jaya, for example. It is not exactly Hampstead. Why are we getting a return to fundamentalist religion in many places?

[transonicbuoy1]

"Going To The Wars" and "Nemesis" are exceptional. caliche is right: human touch with enormous, readable detail.

[calicheSCOT]

@elpanchito421 Got it for Xmas, haven't put it down since. His clear analysis and conclusions combined with a human touch make him one of my most favorite military historians.

[elpanchito421]

Armageddon is a fantastic book, I seriously recommend it.

[HAZIDEAD]

Amazing. Max Hastings is one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable men in the world.

[yoyichinichio]

Max Hastings is simply second to non with regard to historical context. His first hand accounts on the American war in Vietnam and the incredible ordeal he put himself through on the Falklands is outrageous. Brave soldier? No. Brave reporter..The bravest