The Inter-war years ;The Second World War begins ;War in the West 1940 ;Barbarossa: the German invasion of the Soviet Union ;Japan expands its war with China ;The turning tide: fall 1942-spring 1944 ;Developments on the home front and in technical and medical fields ;Allied victory 1944-45 ;Further reading ;Index

In this Very Short Introduction, the eminent scholar Gerhard L. Weinberg explores one of the most important events in history. Examining the origins, course, and impact of the World War II -- through both the soldiers and the ordinary citizens who lived through it -- he considers the long-lasting impact it continues to have around the world.