The Forgotten Battles examines overlooked yet pivotal military history events from World War I and World War II. It argues that focusing solely on well-known battles like the Somme or Stalingrad creates an incomplete understanding of 20th-century conflicts. The book highlights underreported battles, revealing their strategic importance in resource allocation and troop movements, ultimately influencing the Allied and Axis war efforts.
A key insight involves understanding how seemingly isolated battles significantly impacted the entire conflict, demonstrating the interconnectedness of different war theaters. The book presents a narrative non-fiction account, drawing on primary sources such as soldiers’ letters and military records. Beginning with the establishment of criteria for selecting these ‘forgotten battles, ‘ it delves into case studies from both World Wars. Examples include Eastern Front engagements beyond Tannenberg in WWI and the China-Burma-India Theater in WWII.
By exploring the human element and providing social context, the book offers fresh perspectives valuable to history enthusiasts and students of military history.