Antony Beevor

No other period in history has presented greater dilemmas both for leaders and ordinary people, nor offered such examples of individual and mass tragedy, the corruption of power politics, ideological hypocrisy, the egomania of commanders, betrayal, perversity, self-sacrifice, unbelievable sadism and unpredictable kindness. From the author of Stalingrad, D-Day and Berlin - The Downfall. Chaired by Jim Naughtie.