Osprey Essential Histories 35 : The Second World War (2) : Europe 1939-1943

In 1939 Europe was plunged into a second general conflagration, barely 20 years after the 'war to end all wars'. While many of the participants were the same as the First World War, this conflict was far more than a re-match of 1914-1918. The Second World War was even more destructive than the first and the added ideological element meant that this war was far crueller. This book details the first four years of the war in Europe. It discusses how and why Hitler's resurgent Germany plunged into war, and examines the German successes against Poland, France and the Low Countries as well as the initial, spectacular triumphs against the USSR. The book chronicles the long fight back by the Allies, following the reverses in Norway and France, and examines the Battle of Britain and the early forays into occupied Europe at Dieppe. By 1943 the once invincible Axis forces had slowly lost ground to the Allies in the air, on the land and at sea, and the course of war had turned decisively in the Allies favour. Text by Robin Havers.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Background to War : The Gathering Storm
• Warring Sides : The Road to War
• Outbreak : 'I have determined on a solution by force'
• The Fighting : Hitler Strikes
• Portrait of a Soldier : Donald Edgar
• The World around War : The Home Front
• Portrait of a Civilian : Colin Perry
• How the War Ended : The End of the Beginning
• Conclusion and Consequences : A World at War