Blitz-Kreig: From the Rise of Hitler to the Fall of Dunkirk

London: Jonathan Cape, 1979. Reprint. Hardcover. Good/Good. A detailed re-examination of Hitler's blitz-kreig, or 'lightning war', which in a few short months saw the Nazis victorious on most of mainland Europe. Deighton begins by tracing the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party, showing how this was inevitable, despite (or because of) the back-stabbing and scheming within the highest ranks. He then explodes many of the myths that still surround the German military campaigns of 1940, especially the attitude of German Generals to Hitler's plans; how the French were defeated despite their often superior forces; why Hitler stopped short of Dunkirk, and many other facets. Inlcudes a detailed review of the major weapons and other equipment used by all sides. Ranks with the author's earlier study of the Battle of Britain as a revealing, sometimes shocking, examination of the true facts. Contains 319 pages, 21.5 x 14cm, 59 b&w photos, 20 maps, 23 figures and 2 tables. Ex-library, some library markings, front endpaper removed. Blue cloth boards in good illustrated price-clipped dust jacket. Internally, good: clean and unmarked in sound bindings.