Ends, Means, Ideology, and Pride

The defeat of the Axis Powers in World War II stemmed from their failure to recognize strategic limits amid imperial ambitions fueled by extreme ideologies. With the entry of the resource-rich United States and Soviet Union, the balance shifted decisively against Germany, Italy, and Japan. The book outlines three key lessons: the importance of numbers in warfare, the dangers of ideology distorting strategic thinking, and the idea that operational superiority cannot compensate for a flawed overall strategy.