Phoney wars : New Zealand society in the Second World War / Stevan Eldred-Grigg with Hugh Eldred-Grigg.
Material type: TextPublisher: Dunedin, New Zealand : Otago University Press, 2017Description: 427 pages : illustrations (some colour) ; 24 cmContent type:- text
- still image
- unmediated
- volume
- 0947522239
- 9780947522230
- New Zealand society in the Second World War [Portion of title]
- DU744.7.N45 E53 2017
Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-Fiction | Davis (Central) Library Non-Fiction | Non-Fiction | 993.032 ELD | Available | T00632734 | ||
Non-Fiction | Davis (Central) Library Non-Fiction | Non-Fiction | 993.032 ELD | Available | T00632729 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
This book looks at the lives of New Zealanders during the greatest armed struggle the world has ever seen: the Second World War. It is not a political, economic or military history; rather it explores what life was like during the war years for ordinary people living under the New Zealand flag. It questions the war as a story of good against bad. All readers know that the Axis powers behaved ruthlessly, but how many are aware of the brutality of the Allied powers in bombing and starving enemy towns and cities? New Zealand colluded in and even carried out such brutal aggressions. Were we, in going to war, really on the side of the angels? Contrary to the propaganda of the time -- and subsequent memory -- going to war did not unite New Zealanders: it divided them, often bitterly. People disagreed over whether or not we should fight, what we were fighting for and why, who was fighting, who was paying, and who was dying. In this provocative and moving book, Stevan and Hugh Eldred-Grigg explore New Zealanders hopes and fears, beliefs and superstitions, shortages and affluence, rationing and greed, hysteria and humour, violence and kindness, malevolence and generosity, to argue that New Zealand need not have involved itself in the war at all.
Includes bibliographical references.
The eve of war -- The first phoney war: September 1939 to June 1940 -- A war far away: June 1940 to December 1941 -- War at our door? December 1941 to December 1942 -- The second phoney war: January 1943 to September 1945 -- Victory? Napalm and nuclear bombs.
"Phoney Wars looks at the lives of New Zealanders during the greatest armed struggle the world has ever seen: the Second World War. It is not a political, economic or military history; rather it explores what life was like during the war years for ordinary people living under the New Zealand flag. It questions the war as a story of 'good' against 'bad'. All readers know that the Axis powers behaved ruthlessly, but how many are aware of the brutality of the Allied powers in bombing and starving 'enemy' towns and cities? New Zealand colluded in and even carried out such brutal aggressions. Were we, in going to war, really on the side of the angels? Contrary to the propaganda of the time - and subsequent memory - going to war did not unite New Zealanders: it divided them, often bitterly. People disagreed over whether or not we should fight, what we were fighting for and why, who was fighting, who was paying, and who was dying"--
Table of contents provided by Syndetics
- Acknowledgements (p. 7)
- Introduction (p. 9)
- Chapter 1 The Eve of War (p. 16)
- Chapter 2 The First Phoney War: September 1939 to June 1940 (p. 60)
- Chapter 3 A War Far Away: June 1940 to December 1941 (p. 114)
- Chapter 4 War at Our Door? December 1941 to December 1942 (p. 168)
- Chapter 5 The Second Phoney War: January 1943 to September 1945 (p. 234)
- Chapter 6 Victory? Napalm and Nuclear Bombs (p. 316)
- Notes (p. 367)
- Bibliography (p. 397)
- Index (p. 407)