John Norris shows how logistics, though less glamorous than details of the fighting itself, played a decisive role in the outcome of every campaign and battle of World War Two. The author marshals some astounding facts and figures to convey the sheer scale of the task all belligerents faced to equip vast forces and supply them in the field. He also draws on first-hand accounts to illustrate what this meant for the men and women in the logistics chain and those depending on it at the sharp end. Many of the vehicles, from supply trucks to pack mules, and other relevant hardware are discussed and illustrated with numerous photographs. This second volume covers the period from 1943 to the end of the war, including the massive efforts to sustain the Soviet drive westward, the island-hopping campaign in the Pacific and, of course, Operation Overlord with its ingenious Mulberry Harbours and PLUTO (Pipeline Under The Ocean). Oddities such as an ammunition-carrying bear add lighter appeal to this significant and valuable study of a neglected aspect of the war.
