Churchill's War Lab
Code Breakers, Boffins and Innovators: the Mavericks Churchill Led to Victory
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Beschreibung des Verlags
The man, and the only man we have for this hour.'
Indefatigable patriot, seasoned soldier, incomparable orator and leader of men - Winston Churchill's greatness in leading Britain's coalition government to triumphant victory in the Second World War is undisputed. Yet Churchill's enduring legacy to the world is attributable at least in equal part to his unshakeable belief in the science of war.
From the development of radar and the breakthroughs at Bletchley Park to the study of the D-Day beaches and the use of bouncing bombs, this brilliant and gripping narrative reveals the Second World War as an explosive phase of scientific history, an unprecedented crucible for change that involved a knife-edge race to the finish.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
While Churchill's biography is the narrative force behind this book, great emphasis is placed on the technological advances made by scientific advisors in both World Wars. These included the methods for code-breaking, the first armored tanks, and the earliest radar systems, to name a few. Downing provides brief biographies of Churchill's most influential scientific advisors, including Professor Frederick Lindemann, later named Lord Cherwell, a physicist who headed the Statistical Branch. Henry Tizard, an early advocate of radar and later scientific ambassador to America, and Alan Turing, a mathematician instrumental in decoding, are among the many other advisors discussed. Churchill's most valuable generals are also recognized, including Gen. Alan Brooke and Gen. Bernard Montgomery. Most of the text, however, is dedicated to the Prime Minister himself and the details of his illustrious career. Descriptions of his meetings with Roosevelt and Stalin are particularly interesting, and the events surrounding D-Day, code-named "Overlord," make for an exciting read. Readers interested in the early stages of technological warfare will certainly find many worthwhile details in this book. For Churchill experts, though, this is probably familiar ground.
