The Path to Victory

Archival Summary & Scope

Challenging the long-held view of the Mediterranean as a minor World War II sideshow, Douglas Porch argues it was, in fact, the war's pivotal theater. This original account examines the Mediterranean as an integrated arena, demonstrating its global strategic importance. Porch reveals how the region:

* Linked distant theaters, saved crucial Allied shipping, and served as an essential Lend-Lease conduit to the USSR.
* Aided France's military rehabilitation and provided a vital entry point into southern Germany.
* Prevented a potentially disastrous premature Allied cross-Channel invasion in 1943.

With vivid portraits of figures like Churchill, Montgomery, FDR, Rommel, and Mussolini, Porch presents a compelling case for the Mediterranean's critical role in the ultimate Allied victory in Europe.