The Modern Scholar: Total War

World War II and Its Lasting Legacy

By: Professor Mark R. Polelle

Narrated by: Professor Mark R. Polelle

Mark R. Polelle of the University of Findlay examines the origins, major events, and consequences of the Second World War. Taking into account the First World War’s effect on politics, economics, culture, and the international system as a whole, the course illustrates the ideologies at play as communism, fascism, and democratic capitalism came into direct conflict. Throughout these lectures, Polelle also imagines a number of "what ifs," including what would have happened if Hitler had not invaded the Soviet Union, and concludes with a consideration of the legacy of World War II.

©2014 Mark R. Polelle (P)2014 Crescite Group, LLC

Great summary of WW2

If you don't have a good understanding of WWII or want a basic understanding of the events leading up to WWII and it's aftermath this is a perfect base to begin your research. Highly recommended. It's straight to the point and well organized. FACTZ....

Great overview!

Great political overview of the war. You will likely learn A few new reasons as to why the war went the way it did.

Unreliable history

Polelle’s book is a brief and sadly incomplete overview of World War Two and its geopolitical antecedents.

This is my second attempt at listening to his works, having decided to give him another shot after his disappointing survey of America’s wars.

He leaves much out, and as in that first work, incorrectly states that the Japanese lost 3 out of their 4 carriers at Midway. Hiryu, Soryu, Kaga and Akagi ALL went down during that battle.

This suggests that he has only one source on that battle, and that he hasn’t read it completely. Perhaps he quit reading before he ended a critical chapter?

Readers should turn to any one of a number of excellent books on the Pacific war to get a grasp of what actually went on there.

At another point in the work he mistakenly attributes to Vladimir Lenin something that Josef Stalin said.

Polelle is unreliable.