What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Second World War
Alan John Percivale Taylor · Book · 1979
If you loved The Second World War, start with The World at War (1973) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 1 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Second World War across media.
What hooked you in The Second World War is the way grand geopolitical shifts reveal the harrowing, complex psychology of leadership.
Films on the same thread
Oppenheimer
Film · 2023
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Scientific ethics, Cold War paranoia.
Just as The Second World War examines the diplomatic maneuvering behind global conflict, this film probes the moral weight and scientific consequences that defined the era's ultimate turning point.
Downfall
Oliver Hirschbiegel · Film · 2004
Explores: Moral Decay, Historical Trauma, End of an Era.
If the controversial historical analysis in The Second World War intrigued you, this film provides an equally intense, claustrophobic look at the final days of the regime it documents.
The Great Dictator
Film · 1940
Explores: Anti-fascism, Humanism, Totalitarianism.
Where The Second World War dissects the ideology of the Axis powers, this satire exposes the absurdity and danger of those same regimes through a sharp, humanistic lens.
Apocalypse Now
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1979
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, The Horrors of War, Loss of Innocence.
The Second World War navigates the descent into total war, a theme this film mirrors by exploring the psychological unraveling of men trapped within the machinery of conflict.
Series on the same thread
The World at War
Series · 1973
Shares 3 threads with The Second World War: Propaganda, Military History, 20th Century History.
This documentary series serves as the definitive visual companion to the historical scope of The Second World War, expanding on the diplomatic and military narratives Taylor expertly frames.
Podcasts on the same thread
World War II Podcast
Payton Kleidon · Podcast · 2020
This podcast mirrors the focused military history found in The Second World War, offering a detailed breakdown of the major battles that shaped the global conflict's ultimate trajectory.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
Like the challenging perspective found in The Second World War, this podcast utilizes unorthodox analysis to interrogate the moral ambiguity and consequences inherent in historical figures and power.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Second World War considered a controversial historical account?
Yes, The Second World War has aroused significant controversy among historians. Professor A.J.P. Taylor faced accusations of pro-Hitlerism and scholarly pushback, most notably from Hugh Trevor-Roper during what became known as the British Battle of Oxford regarding the arguments presented in the text.
Did A.J.P. Taylor change his historical perspective in The Second World War?
Scholars have noted that The Second World War represents a complete reversal of the author's earlier work. Critics argue that Taylor shifted away from the Vansittartism he previously expressed, leading to intense academic debate regarding the author's interpretation of the events of the war.
Who was the primary academic critic of The Second World War?
The primary combatant against the perspectives presented in The Second World War was Hugh Trevor-Roper. This academic disagreement was so prominent that it was referred to as the British Battle of Oxford, highlighting the contentious nature of Taylor's analysis within the historical community.
Was The Second World War written by a university professor?
Yes, The Second World War was written by Professor A.J.P. Taylor. His position as a professor and his specific arguments in the book placed him in a difficult academic position, resulting in significant controversy and public debate among other scholars regarding his historical conclusions.