World War II: A Beginner's Guide

by Christopher Catherwood

Overview

With over sixty million casualties World War II was the bloodiest conflict in history. In this incisive introduction, Christopher Catherwood covers all the key battles, while giving the wider story behind them. He also brings a fresh angle to the conflict, emphasising the huge impact of the preceding Sino-Japanese War on World War II and the relative unimportance of the British campaign in Africa.

From the impact of the Hiroshima bombing to the horrors wreaked by the Red Army and the Nazis, Catherwood makes clear the legacy of the war today. Full of text-boxes revealing key details about intelligence, weaponry, and the social milieu of the conflict, there is no better brief introduction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780745107
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	09/09/2014
Series:	Beginner's Guides
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Christopher Catherwood is a writer and historian based in Cambridge. He has taught at the University of Cambridge and the University of Richmond, Virginia. An expert on Winston Churchill, his previous books include the bestseller Winston’s Folly.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

1 The Origins of War and the Great Betrayal 1

2 Wars in Faraway Places: The War in China and in Europe 1937-40 25

3 The Hinge of War: Britain Surviving May 1940-December 1941 39

4 The Eastern Front 1941-3 66

5 The Asian and Pacific War 1941-3 93

6 The Grand Alliance: The UK and USA 1941-3 107

7 The Path to Berlin 1944-5 134

8 The War in Asia and the Pacific 1943-5 154

Conclusion 176

Selective Chronology 178

Further Reading 182

Acknowledgements 187

Index 191

Editorial Reviews

'This is a wonderfully readable guide to the history of World War II. Christopher Catherwood leads us through complex events with remarkable sure footedness.'

Alexander McCall Smith

'Recommended. This book provides the why, when, and how of the conflict, and explains how people’s lives today have been shaped by the most convulsive event in history.'

Hugh Bicheno – historian and bestselling author of Razor’s Edge

'Erudite, incisive and well-balanced, this is a signal achievement. It strikes an informative, educational tone that both newcomers and veterans will find embracing.'

Ashley Jackson – Professor of Military History

'Recommended. This book provides the why, when, and how of the conflict, and explains how people’s lives today have been shaped by the most convulsive event in history.'

Hugh Bicheno – historian and bestselling author of Razor’s Edge