Overview
When the German Blitzkrieg smashed into Poland on September 1, 1939, the world was plunged into mankind’s most destructive war. World War II: A Day-by-Day History is a chronological history of the conflict from the start of the Polish campaign in September 1939 to the surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.
All of the major war theaters are covered, as is the fighting in the air and at sea. The dated entries, which are written as though they have just happened, analyze the major battles and campaigns of the war, such as Stalingrad, Kursk, Midway, D-Day, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Berlin. In addition, individual entries also discuss issues such as espionage, home fronts, politics, and technology.
The day-by-day entries in World War II: A Day-by-Day History are accompanied by longer features on various aspects of the war, such as the war’s decisive weapons, strategic decisions, and policies. There are also biographical entries on the individuals who shaped and prosecuted the war in both Europe and the Pacific theaters, leaders such as Hitler, Chamberlain, Stalin, Zhukov, MacArthur, Patton, Manstein, and Eisenhower.
The authoritative text is complemented by over 900 photographs that convey the drama and tragedy of World War II. In addition, the maps give the reader a clearer understanding of all the war’s major and most intricate campaigns