Hitler's Great Gamble

In "Hitler's Great Gamble," James Ellman examines Operation Barbarossa, the pivotal invasion of the Soviet Union that marked a turning point in World War II. While acknowledging the gamble’s connection to Nazi ideology, Ellman argues that Barbarossa was not doomed from the outset and represented Hitler's best chance to achieve his war aims, mirroring ambitions of the kaiser's government. He contends that German defeat stemmed more from diplomatic missteps, particularly a lack of coordination with allies like Finland and Japan, rather than flaws in military strategy or environmental challenges.