This book begins by looking at the origins of World War I & then chronicles the war a year at a time. The second half of the book details the history of World War II from the rise of Hitler & the persecution of the Jewish race to the attacks on Pearl Harbour & the dropping of the atom bombs. All aspects of war are covered from common war illnesses through to espionage the use of propaganda & atrocities on all sides. There are special features dedicated to the weaponry machines & tactics that shaped the wars. Dedicated fact boxes give battle outcomes & weapon statistics at a glance & also provide a close-up view of the important political & military leaders. Both World Wars are vividly portrayed in this account which is illustrated with more than 1000 photographs battle plans & maps. Presented in an accessible style it is perfect for both specialist & general readers. It presents a highly readable history of World Wars I & II with expert commentary on the political & economic factors leading to each conflict the key turning points of the wars & the impact that technology had on the way that each war was fought. The colour campaign maps & battle plans complement descriptions of every major battle on land & at sea along with analysis of the success & failure of the various military strategies. It describes the most successful weapons from both wars with
Specification boxes that provide technical information. It focuses on key figures from General Douglas Haig & Field Marshal Erwin Rommel to Paul von Hindenburg & on political leaders such as Kaiser Wilhelm II Woodrow Wilson Winston Churchill Josef Stalin & Adolf Hitler.