In September 1939, Hitler's Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Thus began the greatest armed struggle in history. Within days of the invasion, Germany was at war with France, Great Britain and much of the Commonwealth, but by the end of 1941 - by which time Japan and the United States had been plunged into war - the conflict had engulfed virtually the entire planet. World War II witnessed the mobilisation of more than 100 million military personnel. Here was 'total war' on a scale never previously experienced by any of the countries involved. The conflict eclipsed everything: industry, technology, the economy and home life. It transformed the lives of an entire generation of men and women, who grew up under the shadow of violence, separation and loss. It was also fought in every conceivable terrain and theatre, from the arctic conditions of the Soviet winter to the tropical landscape of the Pacific islands, with the battle for seas and skies being equally brutal. By the time it ended in September 1945, World War II had claimed the lives of more than 50 million people, and it witnessed the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare to this day. The World War II Story charts the dramatic narrative of the conflict from its first shots to its final apocalyptic end.

About the Author
CHRIS McNAB is a writer and editor who specialises in military history and technology. He is an author of many internationally bestselling books on weapons and warfare, including titles in the Battle Story series on Verdun and Cambrai, as well as The World War I Story (all The History Press) i, as well as The Great Book of Guns; How to Survive Anything, Anywhere; The Illustrated History of the Vietnam War; Modern Military Uniforms; The SAS Mental Endurance Handbook; and Special Forces Survival Guide.


Book Information
ISBN 9780752462059
Author Chris McNab
Format Hardback
Page Count 128
Imprint The History Press Ltd
Publisher The History Press Ltd
Weight(grams) 320g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 165mm * 10mm