chapters 16-20 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 16, in 1941, Germany invaded Soviet Russia. The American Communist party referred to the war as a "people's war" against Fascism which was a marked difference from its previous claims that the war was an imperialist war. Most of the population, despite class or political affiliation, agreed.

Zinn wonders: "It was a war against an enemy of unspeakable evil. Hitler's Germany was extending totalitarianism, racism, militarism, and overt aggressive warfare beyond what an already cynical world had experienced. And yet, did the governments conducting this war-England, the United States, the Soviet Union-represent something significantly different, so that their victory would be a blow to imperialism, racism, totalitarianism, militarism, in the world?"

Zinn discusses various aspects of the people's war. Also included are the Cold War, Korean War and the Marshall Plan.

In Chapter 17, Zinn covers the black revolt and...