World War II: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides) - Softcover

'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, King's College London '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 '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, bestselling novellist

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.