Hitler Slept Late and Other Blunders That Cost Him the War

by James P. Duffy

Book Overview

In this surprising reinterpretation of Hitler's impact on the outcome of World War II, James Duffy reveals that the war was not won through American strength and ingenuity alone. Rather, it was lost due to Hitler's phenomenal military blunders. Challenging popular American views, the author shows how Nazi Germany at first substantially won the war in Europe. Yet Hitler proceeded to lose it even before the United States had entered the conflict...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0275936678
• ISBN13: 9780275936679
• Release Date: August 1991
• Publisher: Praeger
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

James P. Duffy's Book Must be Included in Your WW II Collection

Are you interested in learning more about WWII? If so, James P. Duffy's work must be included in your personal library. Yes, it is that indispensable. Adolph Hitler may have easily won the war had he merely been another mildly authoritarian figure like Kaiser Wilhelm II. It was the race hatred that ultimately brought him down. Duffy convincingly argues that Hitler's slaughter of the so-called racially inferior people hindered the war effort. Jews were among the best educated of German society and very loyal to their government. Almost certainly, Jewish scientists would have aided the Nazis in developing the atom bomb long before the Allied powers could do likewise. Hitler also squandered a golden opportunity to convert the captured populations over to the German side. Many Soviet citizens were contemptuous of Stalin's regime. They hoped that Hitler would prove to be their savior. The author also believes that Hitler was a very lucky man in the early part of the war. He was similar to the guy who goes to Las Vegas with his life earnings and gets lucky. Alas, the fool fails to realize that he was merely fortunate to beat the overwhelming odds. The reckless gambler foolishly credit their own intelligence and skill instead of Lady Luck. Hitler paid little attention to his well trained military commanders. More often than not, he held them in utter contempt. Duffy presents persuasive evidence that the Fuhrer was essentially an ego tripping whack job. Please don't be put off by the flippant title of the book. This is a serious historical work. You should purchase a copy immediately.

An interesting look at "what if?"

In "Hitler Slept Late", Duffy takes a look at several scenarios during WWII that, had they been handled differently, may have actually won the war for Hitler. Among these are included the revelation that Hitler did indeed sleep late, not usually inclined to awaken before noon, which was one of the biggest reasons why the American and British invasions on D-Day were so enormously successful. Also discussed was his political ineptitude, declaring war on the U.S. after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, expecting the Japanese to help him with his fight against the Red Army. Had he not done so, the U.S., with her isolationist and non-interventionist policies, would have had to limit herself to fighting only in the Pacific theatre, buying Hitler at least a few more years in which to complete his conquest of the entirety of the European continent, and thereby rendering an invasion by U.S. forces virtually impossible. The book also covers his inability to recognize distinct and overwhelming advantages. For example, when he invaded the Siviet Union, the vast majority of the citizens welcomed the Nazis as their liberators from the Soviet regime, and practically begged to fight FOR Hitler. Instead of enlisting the aid of a sea of volunteers, most of whom would know better than he how to fight the Red Army, he had them sent to concentration camps. The only disppointment in this book was when Duffy decided to quote Goeffrey Regan regarding Eisenhower's "failure" to capture Berlin. Eisenhower, in fact had very excellent reasons for not pursuing what some viewed as the ultimate prize. First of all, the Soviets were already on their way, and would reach it first. Second, it held absolutely no value. Third, the fighting would likely be some of the bloodiest in the entire war (Ike was later proven correct based upon the casualties suffered by the Soviets). Fourth, there was already a pre-existing arrangement between the U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union to divide the city after the war. Fifth, the Soviets were much more ruthless in their dealings with prisoners of war....which is why most German soldiers were fleeing to the west in order to surrender to the U.S. and Britain....after seeing first-hand the barbaric conditions of German POW camps, Ike understandably lost all interest in granting the Nazis any measure of mercy...let the Reds do what they will to them. And finally, with the war winding down in Europe, Allied soldiers would have been put to much better use fighting Japan than capturing a useless city. So why not let the Soviets capture Berlin and then claim what was ours by previous agreement? This was not a failure on Eisenhower's part, but rather pure brilliance.

The Fuehrer's Top Ten Stupidest Mistakes

(by E.M. Singer, author of "Mother Flies Hurricanes") No doubt about it, this guy was his own worst enemy. If he had done even one thing right, Germany probably would have won the war. A great book to whet your appetite for more reading on WWII; for recommedations on other books about World War II, visit the motherflieshurricanes.com website.

Good Overall View of Hitler's Mistakes

This book provides a concise overview of the many mistakes Hitler made during World War II that had dire consequences both for his grab for empire and Germany. While some of the things listed arguably didn't have an ultimate win-lose effect on Germany in the war (the failure to take Moscow and the failure to repel the D-Day invasion) others cannot be so easily disregarded. For example, several times Germany came close to vanquishing Britain early in the war and thus likely had a chance to win the entire war. The failure to destroy the British army at Dunkirk, the failure to invade Britain soon after the Dunkirk debacle, and the failure to destroy the RAF are all things that Hitler had within his grasp yet blundered the opportunities away (thankfully so for the rest of the world). This book should give most if not all readers a chill when they realize how frighteningly close Nazi Germany came to victory.