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Viscount Alan Brooke Alanbrooke

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War Diaries 1939-1945 Paperback – May 5, 2003

by Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke (Author), Field Marshall Alanbrooke (Author), Alex Danchev (Editor),

4.6 79 ratings

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For most of the Second World War, General Sir Alan Brooke (1883–1963), later Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, was Britain's Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) and Winston Churchill's principal military adviser, and antagonist, in the inner councils of war. He is commonly considered the greatest CIGS in the history of the British Army. His diaries―published here for the first time in complete and unexpurgated form―are one of the most important and the most controversial military diaries of the modern era. The last great chronicle of the Second World War, they provide a riveting blow-by-blow account of how the war was waged and eventually won―including the controversies over the Second Front and the desperate search for a strategy, the Allied bomber offensive, the Italian campaign, the D-day landings, the race for Berlin, the divisions of Yalta, and the postwar settlement.

Beginning in September 1939, the diaries were written up each night in the strictest secrecy and against all regulations. Alanbrooke's mask of command was legendary but these diaries tell us what he really saw and felt: moments of triumph and exhilaration, but also frustration, depression, betrayal, and doubt. They expose the gulf between the military and the politicians of the War Cabinet, and how often military strategy was misguided and nearly derailed by political prejudices. They also reveal the incredible strain on Alanbrooke of the Allied conferences in Washington, Moscow, Casablanca, Quebec, and Tehran, as he tried after intense and exhausting argument (not least with Churchill) to match Allied strategy with the reality of British military power and the fragility of the British Empire. These diaries demonstrate the true depth of Alanbrooke's rage and despair at Churchill's failure to grasp overall strategy. This was particularly acute in the winter of 1943–44 when Churchill, fueled by medicine and alcohol, no longer seemed master of himself.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Among the heavyweight tomes on the Second World War, "War Diaries, 1939-1945 stood out. Full of fascinating glimpses of Montgomery, Stalin and so on, the book exposes the 'muddling through' process by which the Axis powers were defeated."--named a "New Statesman "Book of the Year"

About the Author

Alex Danchev is Professor of International Relations at Keele University. His books include A Very Special Relationship: Field Marshal Sir John Dill and the Anglo-American Alliance (1987) and Alchemist of War: The Life of Basil Liddell Hart (1998). Daniel Todman is a history research graduate at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; First Edition (May 5, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 815 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520239024
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520239029
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.45 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.8 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #696,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #659 in Italian History (Books)
- #1,348 in WWII Biographies
- #17,615 in World History (Books)

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4.6 79 ratings

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notsonotorious

WWII Gem

Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2024

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This is a beautifully written and produced book. WWII amature history buffs (like me) will thoroughly enjoy this book.

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Piako

The best book about Churchill in WWII ever written

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2011

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Lord Alanbrooke, as other reviewers have mentioned, was CIGS, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, during a large part of World War II, which means head of British and Imperial forces, commanding Naval, Land, and Air resources across multiple fronts during the war. This book (his own diary) paints a picture of an alarmingly self-focused and self-absorbed man, a friend to few, a military administrator (in wartime) obsessed with his own view of the universe, and a military strategist focused on his own narrow objectives -- to which he brooked no criticism by his Prime Minister, his War Cabinet, or his American fellows in arms.

Brooke was a man apart. You will discover him leaving his office (during the Blitz) for an appointment with the artist painting his portrait. You will audit his reviews of British and Empire officers, Generals and below, who receive his esteem or his prejudice. You will seem him declining a combat assignment in North Africa in order (as he says) to 'manage' Churchill and Churchill's strategic extravagances. You will come away admiring, perhaps loving Alan Brooke for his amazing candor. But you will not admire a great many things about him, including his obsessive focus on himself and his own ideas, his failure and his pathological inability to participate in constructive dialog, particularly with American commanders, and his extraordinary impatience with many British officers, many of whom actually helped to win the war, notably the brilliant General Freyberg of the Second New Zealand Division, probably the best fighting General in World War II (according to Montgomery) and, in addition, his loyal Prime Minister Fraser of New Zealand, whom Brooke said 'wasted' 20 minutes of his time (!). Amazingly, New Zealand sent more men per head of population to WWII than any other nation, including Britain. But this didn't matter -- or register -- with Brooke. Not much that didn't have a Brooke tag registered with Brooke.

However, the big event in Brooke's book is Churchill. Churchill doesn't appear in the title, but you this is the best WWII book written about Churchill -- he appears on virtually every page. Brooke's war revolved around Churchill and what he thought, what he said, what he wrote, what he did, how he engaged with leaders political and military, and how he and Brooke worked together. To Brooke, Churchill was an amazing and inspired leader, a giant among men. He was also a strategic lunatic, who needed to be in a straight jacket of Brooke's design.

The truth is, both won the war.

Churchill channeled America into the war, which saved everything. Brooke appointed Montgomery in North Africa, which ultimately assured Brooke's reputation, elevated General Alexander, and saved North Africa. Once American power was massed and focused in Italy, and later France, the war was over. This is a very long book, with excellent footnotes, that belongs in every library of military history. Churchill fans must read it for its unique portrait of WLSC. At the end of the book, you don't have to love Brooke to respect him. But respecting him is one thing. Loving him is another. This man doesn't need your affection. He has enough of his own to keep him warm, even in death.

An amazing portrait, written by himself.

14 people found this helpful

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Frank

A good read.

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2019

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I'd have to say this is one of the better of the published diaries/journals that I've read. It shows what happened in the not so public prosecution of the war. The stress that he had to deal with in his part of the planning and its attendant responsibilities were incredible. The fact that he had to deal with the personality clashes and attitudes and sometimes the outright incompetence that he came in contact with almost certainly added to that stress. He most certainly did not suffer fools gladly if at all. Sometimes he had the highly unpleasant task of telling other British officers that there was no longer a place for them due either to age or that it was decided that they simply were no longer up to the task. There were one or two times he had no problem in telling them this due to their own shortcomings. He wasn't afraid to give anyone a good dressing down when they deserved it.

As far as his dealing with Winston Churchill he could be highly critical of him or shower him with praise.

One thing that surprised me is that he did not have a very high opinion of many of the American commanders, especially Eisenhower!

If you want to know what was involved in the not so public planning and prosecution of WWII from the British side and what the responsibilities of THE senior British military officer were then this is a must read.

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John T. Lyons

For this American a very unusual portrait of our senior military leadership

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2019

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After I read Andrew Robert's excellent biography of Churchill I was intrigued by the many references to Alan Brooke and his war diary. In his un-edited war diary the complexity of their working relationship is very apparent. He comes across to me as quite a brilliant military leader with huge vision - perhaps the best in all the allied camp - who was tireless in advocating for the quickest way to win the war and attempting to drag Winston and the Americans along with him. He was mostly successful. He did not have a particularly high opinion of either Eisenhower's or Marshall's strategic capabilities and could be quite scathing in his diary which at the time was never intended to be published. In the diary he also makes many references to Ultra decrypts which was against all regulations and would have cost him his job - or worse - had it leaked out at the time.

2 people found this helpful

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guy j.carson

What a diary!

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2017

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A very interesting diary supposedly written not to be published.
Extremely revealing,about Eisenhower, De Gaulle , Marshall , Bradley, Patton and most important Churchill
As a detailed history fan of this period. It's a fascinating book.
Alanbrooke was indeed a great strategist who was. Absolutely correct in his pragmatism about world strategy and History proved him right on all fronts.
Exceptional!
A classic!

One person found this helpful

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bill

Succeded in keeping Churchill under Control

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2010

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Can not give a Review
BECAUSE
Delivery was to be between Nov 3rd & 12th Its now December the 2nd 2010.
I was charged Rip Off Freight Rates,
The seller is not communicating back to me on this matter,
Despite a number of Requests,"Problem Solved By"
Quote "NEVER SHOPPING THROUGH AMAZON EVER AGAIN" Unquote

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GR

Interesting read considering FM Brooke was a top officer of ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2017

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Interesting read considering FM Brooke was a top officer of the British Army. His view on persons and events is interesting.

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C. Singer

watching paint dry - at times

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2013

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Field Marshall Alan Brooke was one heck of a soldier and quite and interesting personage.
The diary in a most candid day-by-day of both exciting and mundane events. A great augment to more "battle" oriented texts.

2 people found this helpful

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red0209

Incredibly enlightening

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2014

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Alanbrooke is quite possibly the most significant military officer that most people have never heard of. If you ever watch video footage of Churchill visiting the different theatres of war or at conferences with the other Allied leaders, more often than not you see Alanbrooke at his shoulder. It was not for nothing that he was recognised with a statue outside the Ministry of Defence in London, along with Montgomery and Slim. Yet still his part in World War Two goes unrecognised by the vast majority of the population.

This book is lengthy, and for the most part contains a direct transcription of Alanbrooke's diaries. There are notes added by the man himself when the diaries were published in limited form in collaboration with Arthur Bryant in the late 1950's. This allows, for example, Alanbrooke to express regret for his stinging criticism of Dudley Pound (First Sea Lord) during the war as he had later become aware that Pound was suffering from a brain tumour that eventually killed him. The diaries cover not only Alanbrooke's time as Chief of the Imperial General Staff, but also as commander of II Corps in France and as Commander-in-Chief Home Forces in 1940-41. The diary entries are usually made before Alanbrooke retires to bed, and you can almost feel the tension when he believes that invasion is imminent in September 1940, given he will have been the one tasked to keep the Germans at bay. There are many personal criticisms, with de Gaulle and Eisenhower in particular not faring well. Churchill's strategic vision, particularly his desire to invade Sumatra, is not well regarded by Alanbrooke, but you can tell that Alanbrooke also greatly admires Churchill's leadership and is fond of him on a personal level. All of the major wartime conferences are covered, including major disagreements with the American Chiefs of Staff.

I thought that I understood World War Two pretty well before I read this book, but it was so incredibly enlightening to read the personal thoughts of someone who was so integral to the conduct of the war from the Allied point of view. It left me wondering that if without Alanbrooke's strong desire to concentrate on the Mediterranean (even though he apparently couldn't spell it) first we may have seen the Americans, and to a lesser extent Stalin, successfully argue for a premature invasion of France in 1943 or even 1942. If you wish to understand World War Two and why the Allied leaders came to the decisions that they did, this book is invaluable.

15 people found this helpful

Mr. Michel Volle

Un témoignage précieux

Reviewed in France on February 24, 2013

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Le chef d'état-major de l'armée britannique pendant la seconde guerre mondiale témoigne, jour après jour, de ses inquiétudes, de ses opinions sur les généraux qu'il nomme aux postes de responsabilité, de ses relations avec Churchill. Il forme avec celui-ci un couple efficace car complémentaire : Alanbrooke rationnel, organisé et méthodique, Churchill intuitif, impulsif et désordonné. Alanbrooke a été très déçu de ne pas avoir à diriger le débarquement en Normandie : Churchill a préféré Eisenhower par complaisance envers les Américains.
Les jugements d'Alanbrooke, formulés à chaud, sont sans complaisance. Son journal nous fait partager les angoisses d'un homme confronté au jour le jour à une mission à haut risque.

One person found this helpful

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David Walker

Alanbooke

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2023

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Very good condition

john

great stuff especially about Churchills nonsense ideas

Reviewed in Canada on May 22, 2018

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no maps, great stuff especially about Churchills nonsense ideas, exceptionally dry takes a very long time to read, the bird watching nonsense though and the family stuff is horrible

Paul A. Sheldon

Gives an excellent insight into the operation of the war.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2014

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Warts and all diary of what went on in the war cabinet , and more importantly how Churchill conducted the war. The diary was written as the events unfolded so no "subject to hindsight" Lady Churchill never spoke to him after publication despite the stress on his admiration for Churchill! The old boy network, IE Moutbatten's appointment, was certainly working well, but despite all, and more perhaps due to Hitlers mistakes, we won. An easy read and very interesting.

2 people found this helpful

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