ABSTRACT
The Second World War falls in the chronological centre of twentieth-century European history, and understanding the origins, course and impact of a conflict that took some 55 million lives world-wide is central to any appreciation of the next 60 years of European history. After 1945 a new Europe was forced from the rubble of the old, but the origins of the war and its legacy played a crucial role in shaping its identity and future prospects. The Cold War and the European Union were but two of the most important outcomes of the conflict.
