ABSTRACT
Until 1940 or thereabouts it was customary to refer to the War of 1914–18 as the Great War. The phrase went out of use. The Second World War was on a greater scale, demanded more endurance. greater and more varied effort and involved much larger numbers. The shape of the War was one of outward movement from three centres successively: from Germany in September 1939, April–May 1940 and July 1941; from Italy in June–October 1940; from Japan in December 1941. These outward movements, especially the Japanese. which was largely by sea and air, covered vast distances. The Japanese theatre of war covered a third of the earth's surface. The first offensives were so far successful as to leave only one enemy in the field, while a new political order was imposed on the Continent of Europe. Britain fought alone from June 1940 to December 1941. Then these outward movements were reversed. The countries of the Atlantic world closed in upon the heart of Europe from its western, its eastern and its southern borders. The countries of the Pacific world closed in upon Japan. The United States of America took part in, not to say directed, both reverse movements. The hinge turned in November 1942. There were great movements of armies but also great movements of civilians, fleeing from the bombed cities, moved by Germany applying racist theories, moved by Soviet Russia, shifting of their own accord when national frontiers were redrawn. The account which follows will not say enough of human beings suffering and enduring. It will only place in their chronological order the main events which took place within this shape.
