November 14, 2003

English professor John Mosier writes new book

John Mosier, professor of English literature at Loyola, is anticipating the official release of his newest book, The Blitzkrieg Myth: How Hitler and the Allies Misread Strategic Realities of World War II, on December 1. Mosier is the author of The Myth of the Great War, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in history, and he is currently writing another book, (working title, Warlords), which will be completed within the year. All of Mosier's books illustrate his passion for European military history. Regarding Blitzkrieg, Mosier says, "This is a book about failed ideas."

After World War I, it was a common misconception that there would follow another war, Mosier explains, in which the attacker would destroy defenseless civilians in moments. People believed that the attacker would succeed in doing this through a new technologically transformed warfare involving bombers, either planes or tanks, which would obliterate the victims. "It's so untrue, it's almost funny," says Mosier. The misconception claims that the German victories of World War II were a result of transformed warfare. In The Blitzkrieg Myth, Mosier reveals that Germany's advances were a result of their superior training and tactical thinking.

The Blitzkrieg Myth clarifies this misconception by tracking through the major campaigns in Europe. Mosier emphasizes that the Polish campaign in the fall of 1939 and the fall of France in spring 1940 were not blitzkrieg victories. He also explains how Rommel's North African campaigns, D-Day, the Normandy campaign, Hitler's final frantic breakthrough attempt into Antwerp in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, and other actions do not support the blitzkrieg myth. Actually, Mosier says, strategic airfare in Europe was almost a failure. The warfare of World War II really represented only an advance in technology, not strategy.

Mosier affirms that the allies won due to a combination of numbers and the democracies of the United States and Great Britain. The Germans' handicap, Mosier confirms, was that they eventually became locked into Hitler's master plan, and furthermore, their victories were a result of luck.

"They think the title is going to sell the book," says Mosier about publisher HarperCollins (the biggest publisher in America); people are still oblivious that the blitzkrieg myth is actually a myth. Mosier trusts his 80-year-old editor at HarperCollins, who is a military history expert and who suggested the title. There are multiple individuals and corporations involved with marketing Mosier's book. "I basically just do whatever they say." Mosier will be conducting about 50 radio and television interviews nationally, as he did for his first book. He prefers radio interviews because of the sophistication and seriousness; he adds that radio sells non-fiction books.

In his first book, The Myth of the Great War, Mosier recounts World War I, emphasizing the importance of America's participation with the allies, saving them from the Germans. In his newest book, Warlords, Mosier discusses the rise and fall of the German army. It is more character-driven than his other books. "Originally, I was very interested in doing something on Hitler," Mosier says.

Mosier is a self-described "kind-of specialist in European armies." While studying European military history several years ago, Mosier discovered that most historians of modern Europe only work in the English language. He then realized that the English and Americans, in particular, know very little about either the French or the German military, even though there are multiple French sources with good military analysis. When Mosier read these sources, he discovered that many English historians actually fabricated a lot of information. This encouraged Mosier to document the truth of history.

Mosier is so occupied with teaching, writing, and now promoting his new book that he does not even have the opportunity to be excited about the official release of The Blitzkrieg Myth. "I'm so wrapped up in the book I'm working on now that this one is back there, somewhere, and the first one is like ancient history."

Carly St. Romain, A'06, Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications