"In Hitler's Great Gamble, James Ellman argues that Barbarossa was a gamble, but a reasonable gamble spoiled not by strategic shortsightedness, but by diplomatic setbacks and poor execution. Drawing on a wealth of primary and secondary sources, Hitler's Great Gamble is a provocative work that will appeal to World War II enthusiasts and historians"-- Provided by publisher.

The German strategic predicament and Hitler's rise -- German relative economic weakness and the fall of France -- Seelöwe : the planned invasion of England -- Two maritime strategies -- The rising Soviet threat to German European hegemony -- Hitler's decision, Marita, and countdown to invasion -- The logic behind Barbarossa's chance for victory in the East -- Drang nach Osten : The drive to the East -- Historical explanations for Germany's defeat in the East -- An early drive for Moscow -- Cold, snow, and mud -- The "fatal" delay of Marita and a southern tyfun -- Nazi genocide, ideology, and the loss of hearts and minds -- A Japanese attack on the USSR and the key to German victory -- The pursuit of oil and the road to global war -- The critical summer and the road south -- The Anaconda option -- Finland fails Germany and itself.