World War II: A Short History

Highly regarded for its clarification of the complexities of World War II, the book illuminates the origins, course, and long-range effects of the war and provides a balanced account that analyzes both the European and Pacific theaters of operations and the connections between them. The Fourth Edition incorporates new material from the latest literature, offering modified conclusions on key topics and expanding coverage throughout. The author examines the origins of World War II, the legacy of World War I, the rise of the dictators, the road to war, Germany's march of conquest, globalization of the war, the second front question and the invasion of North America, war in the Atlantic, the allied bombing offensive, the home fronts, and the triumph of the allies. For World War II enthusiasts.

Author Michael J. Lyons has drawn from the vast array of new historical literature to update this fourth edition. He has increased his coverage of the Holocaust as well as German occupation policies along with both collaboration and resistance among various European peoples. Readers will find an expanded chapter on the home fronts of the leading belligerent powers, greater attention to Japan 'n the period preceding the war as well as a discussion of the bitter hatred that characterized the conflict between Americans and Japanese in the Pacific. Lyons also focuses more fully on the Allied D-Day landings along the coast of Normandy in June 1944 and on the hardships of the common fighting man during the conflict.

In addition to numerous photographs, thirty-five revised maps contribute to the reader's understanding of military campaigns. The extensively revised bibliographical essay provides a wealth of suggestions for additional reading.