1945: The Reckoning: War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World

‘A book that crosses the globe from Britain to Germany and from India to Indonesia, ambitious, deeply thought-provoking and, as with all the very best history, compellingly told.

There are surprises here, episodes that prompt a sense of wonder, admiration but also shame. And there is a rich cast list of characters, expertly chosen, and whose lives, hopes, disappointments, moments of fear and joy, shock, horror, relief and wonder so vividly frame this endlessly fascinating and profoundly compelling story. The past is a complex place but we rely on those directing the compass to steer us through the difficult waters. Lives are not black or white nor lived in straight lines, as Phil Craig shows us in this highly original and finely judged book.’

James Holland, historian and broadcaster

Phil Craig has produced a vivid and compelling narrative, one that is painted on a vast canvas yet remains focussed on detail. As the war reaches its climax and the British Empire teeters, we are introduced to a colourful cast of protagonists who stride like giants through the pages of this book. Flawlessly researched and vividly written, 1945: The Reckoning is history at its finest.’

Giles Milton, author of The Stalin Affair

‘Phil Craig’s superb book is a timely reminder that the political and military trajectory of history is much more much about the personal agency of single men and women working in unison, than it is about understanding this or that movement, or this or that ideology. In Craig’s account, individuals matter. It’s the only way, for example, to understand how an Indian army officer could want the independence of his country while simultaneously wanting to defend it from the depredations of a totalitarian enemy. Nuance matters, and Craig gives it to us in spades. This is a brilliant evocation of the best of the historian’s art.’

Robert Lyman, historian

‘1945 The Reckoning is a fascinating and very original book driven by a terrific cast of characters’

Saul David, historian

‘A brilliant book. Phil Craig expands the narrative of World War II in this measured and objective masterpiece. A gripping narrative of Britain and the changing imperial world.’

Helen Fry, historian

Key Themes and Historical Insights

• The fate of empires:
  As the world’s destiny unfolds, the British, Dutch, and French empires face pivotal moments.
• India’s struggle for independence:
  A generation committed to independence must decide whether to support 'the Raj' or fight alongside the Japanese. A divided military family symbolizes this internal conflict: one brother serves under British command, while the other follows Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army, ultimately contributing to a new, free India.
• Borneo’s secret campaign:
  A little-known Australian special forces campaign, secretly controlled from London, goes disastrously wrong. Questions arise about whether its true purpose is military or imperial.
• Colonial power in Indochina and the East Indies:
  British generals free and arm Japanese prisoners of war, using them in brutal campaigns aimed at reinstating colonial rulers to their palaces.

A Balanced Exploration

Clearing away the haze of nostalgia, 1945: The Reckoning unveils many uncomfortable truths about the final months of World War II. Yet, it also offers a humane and balanced exploration of what victory truly meant for the world.