This is a highly readable history of the military and political events of the war, from the rapid advance of the Nazi forces across Europe to triumph over Germany and the surrender of the Japanese. Colour campaign maps and battle plans complement descriptions of every major battle, with the analysis of the successes and failures of the various military strategies. Fascinating fact boxes highlight the lives of important political leaders and generals who shaped the course of the war, such as General Douglas MacArther, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin. Illustrated with over 350 compelling and evocative photographs taken during the conflict. This engaging volume is divided into five chapters, one for each specific phase of the European and Pacific Wars, plus an introductory chapter on the causes of the war, and a concluding discussion of its aftermath and long-term legacy. The chapters follow the war's battles and campaigns, and there are special feature boxes on key personalities and areas of significant interest alongside detailed maps and battle plans to show how the conflict progressed. The fall of France, the Battle of Britain, Pearl Harbor and Operation Barbarossa are all discussed in detail, as are accounts of the battles in North Africa and the war in the Pacific. The harrowing history of World War Two is retold here in an expert but accessible way, supplemented with over 350 evocative photographs, maps and battle plans, making this a fascinating reference book for both general and specialist readers.