In thirty-five separate but themed and chronological chapters the author exposes the failings (and occasional successes) of the main combatants of the Second World War. Beginning with the run up to the war and a re-evaluation of the policies of the key participants, the book offers much more realistic explanations for the early successes of Germany and Japan. And for their ultimate failure. There are sections on each of the armed services, the difficulties of grand strategy and wartime administration, the politics of neutrals, critiques of individual campaigns notably the Battle of the Atlantic, Monte Cassino and Arnhem, and offers fresh perspectives about such controversial subjects as strategic bombing, the treatment of POW's and and the Holocaust. But there are also excursions into lighter subjects, for example the role of 'aces', the naming of tanks and the cult of the amateur. The book concludes with the actual reason why the war concluded.