ABSTRACT

This book, first published in 1989, combines the broad themes of diplomatic, political and military events with the human dimensions to form a major global analysis of the second world war. It also explains the difficulties encountered by the European powers in mobilising their colonies, and examines the economic and social reorganisation of the belligerents. It shows the impact of the collaboration of occupied peoples with the axis powers, and discusses in detail the resistance movements and the Holocaust. The book also looks at advances in science and technology, the application of social sciences to war, the intelligence services, and the arts.

chapter 1|30 pages

The world on the brink of war

chapter 2|26 pages

The European war of 1939-41

chapter 3|25 pages

The East Asian and Pacific wars to 1942

chapter 4|30 pages

The home fronts

chapter 5|26 pages

The Axis new world order

chapter 6|23 pages

Resistance

chapter 7|26 pages

The grand alliance through 1943

chapter 8|32 pages

War on other fronts

Science, intelligence, and the arts

chapter 9|24 pages

The defeat of the Axis in Europe, 1943-45

chapter 10|22 pages

Towards the European order of 1945

chapter 11|21 pages

Ending the Asian war

From Guadalcanal to Nagasaki

chapter 12|30 pages

The world transformed