
Medicine and Victory is the first comprehensive account of British military medicine in the Second World War since the publication of the official history in the early 1950s. Drawing on a wide range of official and non-official sources, the book examines medical work in all the main theatres of the war, from the front line to the base hospital. All aspects of medical work are covered, including the prevention of disease, and the disposal and treatment of casualties. Harrison argues that the medical services played a major role in the Allied victory enabling the British Army to keep a higher proportion of troops in the field than its opponents. Assuming no previous knowledge of either medical or military history, Medicine and Victory provides an accessible introduction to a vitally important, yet too often neglected aspect of the Second World War.
This work investigates the critical role of medical services in the Allied victory during the Second World War by analyzing the efficiency of the British Army's health management. Mark Harrison, a historian specializing in the history of medicine, utilizes a vast array of official records and personal accounts to construct his argument. He posits that the ability of the British military to maintain a higher percentage of combat-ready troops through superior disease prevention and casualty treatment was a decisive factor in the war's outcome.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts recognize this text as a significant update to the mid-century official histories, providing a modern synthesis of military medical logistics. Readers frequently note that the prose is accessible to those without prior medical or military expertise while maintaining rigorous historical standards.
Page Count:
332
Publication Date:
2004-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191514969
ISBN-13:
9780191514968
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