There is a tendency to see what happened in history as inevitable, but is that always the case? Did Hitler have to declare war on the USA following Pearl Harbour? What were the options open to Stalin in the Spring and Summer of 1941? Were there really any alternatives for the leaders in those crucial opening months and years of the War? Ian Kershaw explores these key decision points by looking at the policy options available to the decision makers, sticking firmly within political reality - no 'what ifs' here - and thus sheds light on the way the war unfolds. Detailed, knowledgeable yet very readable, this book opens up the discussion on the role of the war-time leaders. Recommended!