The "Good War" Revisited

There was never a good war or a bad peace. - Benjamin Franklin


The Second World War is often referred to as “The Good War” for a variety of reasons. Like Woodrow Wilson’s World War I slogan about making the world “safe for democracy”, it’s sequel is viewed as a struggle to vanquish the evils of Nazism and imperialism. The war was also claimed to have lifted us out of the Great Depression, thus creating an era of prosperity and national unity. In short, it marked the first time America could really claim the title of “superpower”, and cleared away the road to empire.

But what of the actual fighting? What about the people and places that shaped the outcome of the war? What about the technology and strategies used by both the Allies and the Axis in their quest to defeat their foe? World War II History magazine is just one such source which attempts to preserve the various aspects of this global conflict, helping us to understand the world we live in today. In front of me, I have two recent issues for reference for this review, the November 2002 and May 2003 (which may be currently on news stands).

World War II History is published bi-monthly. The newsstand price is $4.99 ($6.99 Canadian), but a subscription provides a better deal at $16.95 for one year (6 issues) and $29.95 for two years (12 issues). Canadian and foreign subscribers add $5 to the price. Foreign subscriptions must be paid for in US currency. Sadly, there is no website for this magazine that one might review before subscribing.

The physical appearance of the magazine is strikingly similar to another publication I reviewed recently, Military Heritage. Upon closer inspection, indeed they are sister publications. The cover actually says “Military Heritage Presents:” before the magazine’s title. With that in mind, one can expect to see virtually the same format used in both titles. One difference is that World War II History uses, expectedly, more photography in its layouts. While the cover of the issue sometimes uses illustrations in the way that it’s companion does, about half the time the cover will be a photograph. The photos however don’t often “pop” out at you with the color, which is probably due to the state of color photography in those days. Advertising is less than half the magazine, but is very non-intrusive. Advertisers are book publishers, surplus and paraphernalia dealers, and other collectibles of interest to war buffs.

The body of the magazine provides a treasure trove of facts and information about the Second World War. Like all magazines, it has regular columns and special features. Like Military Heritage, its columns are practically the length and quality of full-length features. The regular columns include: Editorial, a short commentary from the editorial staff; Dispatches, a letters from readers section; Ordnance, a lengthy article on the weapons of combat, such as the German assault gun named “The Elefant”, or the numerous models of combat knives used by the US Navy; Profile, biographical sketches of some important, yet obscure soldiers, like the Nazi Lieutenant General Hans Baur, or Marine Colonel Chesty Puller; Insight, an article on the significance of naval forces; Top Secret, a detailed look at some of the covert and espionage activities employed during the war; and Books, a section of reviews on recent WWII related books published.

The main articles are just as informative as the columns. As with the columns, the authors are usually professional historians or former military personnel, all with formal scholarly credentials. They tell the stories of various battles, and other significant subplots set on the larger stage called World War II. In the May 2003 issue, an article called Bayonets in the Dark, tells the story of D-Day British paratroopers who were charged with the task of neutralizing the German fortifications at Merville, thus securing what some have called a critical gateway into France. Neutralizing Merville enabled the Allied invasion of Juno and Sword beaches to succeed with a lot fewer casualties than otherwise. Like all of the other articles, photos of various officers, maps and diagrams of the battlefields, and illustrations of various events are included to assist the reader to visualize the scene.

Overall, World War II History is a fantastic magazine for history buffs. Each issue is a veritable encyclopedia on one of the most significant conflicts of the 20th Century. Like its sister publication, it provides an amazing value for its price. But what World War II History achieves in depth, it sacrifices in breadth. I prefer, slightly, Military Heritage because of its wide range of coverage, rather than the highly specific focus of this publication. But if the stories and aspects of the “good war” fascinate you, or anyone you know, then this magazine is an absolute must-have. The best thing is that after you are done reading an issue, you may want to store away the copy for later reference. After all, these issues are about history, and never go out of date. I give this magazine a four and a half star rating, because of the narrow focus, and lack of website.

Related Review:
Military Heritage - http://www.epinions.com/content_92309655172