Forgotten Axis

The late J. Lee Ready was a military historian. He lived in Preston, Lancashire, England.

“invaluable”—Strategy Page; “scope is broad...this is a tragic and little-known story that deserves to be told”—Choice; “a worthwhile study”—World War II Investigator; “this is a unique and readable history of Nazi Germany’s Axis partners such as Finland, Romania Bulgaria, Iraq, Iran, and Vichy, France. This unconventional book covers a portion of history not often thought of and never discussed”—Reference & Research Book News.

• Table of ContentsVolume 1Acknowledgments      viiiPart One: The German New Order and the Unification of Europe1. Conversion by the Sword      The Germans: United by the Sword and the Cross      The Austrians: Hitler’s Converts      Czechoslovakia: Ally and Enemy      2. The Poles and the Racial Crusade      3. Nationalist Crusades: The Politics of Desperation      The British Empire      The Finns: Crusaders of the North      Norway and Denmark: Survival of the Viking Spirit      Denmark      The Dutch: The Other Germanic Empire      4. Cross of Fire: French Nationalist Elan      5. Unfinished Crusades: Greece, Yugoslavia      Greece      Yugoslavia      6. Collaboration or Cooperation: Germany’s Friends in Europe      Slovakia      Norway      Denmark      Netherlands      Belgium      France      The Anti- Bolshevik Crusade      7. The Eastern Axis: Hungary and Romania      Hungary      Romania      8. The First Crusaders: Fascist Italy      Part Two: The Battle of the Kingdom of the Mind9. The Crusaders of the Crooked CrossThe Invaders of the Soviet Union      10. The Soviet Union: A Prison for Nations      11. In Defense of Mother Russia      12. Throng to the East      Northern Sector      Central Sector      Southern Sector      Northern Sector      Central Sector      Southern Sector      13. The Purification of the Occupied Territories      14. Yugoslavia: The Cauldron      15. The Middle East and the Failure of the Jihad      16. The Americans and the Un- Americans      17. The Crooked Cross and the Hammer and Sickle      Northern Sector      Southern Sector      18. United in Fear and Ignorance: Anti- Bandit Units in the East      The Partisan Problem      Anti- Partisan Operations      19. The Protected Ones: The Czechs      20. Axis France      21. The Godforsaken Crusade: The Russian Front 1942–1943      Northern Sector      22. Osttruppen: Indigenous Security Forces in the East      Anti- Partisan Warfare      23. The Nationalist/Fascist Alliance in the Balkans      Yugoslavia      Greece      Albania      Volume 224. Europe’s First Army      The Rear Forces      25. The Defeat of Italian Fascism      26. The Beginning of the End: The Surrender of Italy      27. In Defense of the Crusade: The Occupied East 1944      28. The Lost Crusade: The Eastern Front 1944      Northern Sector      Southern Sector      29. The Crooked Cross and the Cross of Lorraine      30. Axis Belgium      31. Crusade in Italy      32. Germany’s Partners: The Home Front      Hungary      Romania      Bulgaria      33. The Balkan Campaign      34. Greek Crusade      35. The Northern Stronghold      Netherlands      Norway      Denmark      36. The Defense of the West      Part Three: In Defense of Christian Civilization37. Balkan Debacle      38. Germany—Heart of the Reich      39. The Sinking Ship      40. The Destruction of the Last Crusade      41. The End of the Axis      42. Sauve Qui Peut      43. Summary      44. Aftermath      Appendix A      Appendix B      Sources      Documents      Edited Works      Published Books      Index