The book has ten chapters: the first is an analysis of the build-up to the war, the next seven chapters cover the war itself and the final chapter examines how victory for the USA and the USSR shaped the subsequent history of the 20th century. The chapters are arranged as far as possible to give a clear chronological account of the war as it developed in all theatres, both on the battlefields and on the home front. Each begins with an overview of the situation at the starting point of the chapter. The following sections are each introduced by a timeline of the events covered. The main text is accompanied by maps, feature boxes on many aspects of life during the war, and brief biographies of major personalities.
This enhanced version includes 16 additional pages of a gazetteer of World War II memorials, battlefields, and museums...

The transition to modern war at sea began during the period of the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and the Spanish-American War (1898) and was propelled forward rapidly by the advent of the dreadnought and the nearly continuous state of war that culminated in World War I. By 1922, most of the elements that would define sea power in the 20th century were in place. Written by one of our foremost military historians, this volume acknowledges the complex nature of this transformation, focusing on imperialism, the growth of fleets, changes in shipbuilding and armament technology, and doctrines about the deployment and use of force at sea, among other factors. There is careful attention to the many battles fought at sea during this period and their impact on the future of sea power. The narrative is supplemented by a wide range of reference materials, including a detailed census of capital ships built during this period and a remarkable chronology of actions at sea during World War I....

The Second World War was fought on an unprecedented scale and claimed the lives of millions, from soldiers to civilians. Providing a challenging analysis of its causes and momentous consequences, as well as a clear narrative and explanation of the course of the war, World War II examines the objectives and concerns of all the combatants in one of the most deadly conflicts of the 20th Century. Approximately 40 maps and 500 images give a complete picture of the conflict across its many theaters - the Eastern and Western fronts, Scandinavia and Italy, the Balkans and the Mediterranean, and China and Southeast Asia, as well as the Western Pacific....