A World at Arms : A Global History of World War II

Widely hailed as a masterpiece, this is the first history of World War II to provide a truly global account of the war that encompassed six continents. Starting with the changes that restructured Europe and her colonies following the First World War, Gerhard Weinberg sheds new light on every aspect of World War II. Actions of the Axis, the Allies, and the Neutrals are covered in every theater of the war. More importantly, the global nature of the war is examined, with new insights into how events in one corner of the world helped affect events in other distant parts. In a new edition, with a new preface, A World at Arms remains a classic of global history. From The Publisher: In A New Edition Featuring A New Preface, A World Of Arms Remains A Classic Of Global History. Widely Hailed As A Masterpiece, This Volume Remains The First History Of World War Ii To Provide A Truly Global Account Of The War That Encompassed Six Continents. Starting With The Changes That Restructured Europe And Its Colonies Following The First World War, Gerhard Weinberg Sheds New Light On Every Aspect Of World War Ii. Actions Of The Axis, The Allies, And The Neutrals Are Covered In Every Theater Of The War. More Importantly, The Global Nature Of The War Is Examined, With New Insights Into How Events In One Corner Of The World Helped Affect Events In Often Distant Areas. List Of Maps -- Preface To The New Edition -- Preface To The First Edition -- List Of Abbreviations -- Introduction -- 1: From One War To Another -- 2: From The German And Soviet Invasions Of Poland To The German Attack In The West, September 1,1939 To May 10,1940 -- 3: World Turned Upside Down -- 4: Expanding Conflict, 1940-1941 -- 5: Eastern Front And A Changing War, June To December,1941 -- 6: Halting The Japanese Advance, Halting The German Advance; Keeping Them Apart And Shifting The Balance: December 1941 To November 1942 -- 7: War At Sea, 1942-1944, And The Blockade -- 8: War In Europe And North Africa 1942-1943: To And From Stalingrad; To And From Tunis -- 9: Home Front -- 10: Means Of Warfare: Old And New -- 11: From The Spring Of 1943 To The Summer Of 1944 -- 12: Assault On Germany From All Sides -- 13: Tensions In Both Alliances -- 14: Halt On The European Fronts -- 15: Final Assault On Germany -- 16: War In The Pacific: From Leyte To The Missouri -- Conclusions: Cost And Impact Of War -- Bibliographic Essay -- Notes -- Index. Gerhard L. Weinberg. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [921]-1125) And Index.

A truly global account of WWII - the war that encompassed six continents.

Publishers Weekly

Beginning with the German invasion of Poland and concluding with the Japanese surrender, this majestic overview of WW II concentrates on the tactical decisions made by Allied and Axis leaders and the interrelationship among the various theaters. Weinberg ( The Foreign Policy of Hitler's Germany ) depicts the struggle to control the oceans, the effort to halt the German and Japanese advances and the development of postwar plans which influenced the course of battle. In his well-documented study, Weinberg shows the linkage betwen grand strategy and diplomacy, highlights intelligence gathering and tactics. He describes how the conflict affected the economies and morale of the countries involved and offers a revised estimate of deaths and casualties suffered by the belligerents. Rich in content and sharply interpretive, Weinberg's book is a stunning achievement. History Book Club main selection; BOMC dual selection. (Feb.)

1. From one war to another 2. From the German and Soviet invasions of Poland to the German attack in the West, September 1, 1939 to May 10, 1940 3. The world turned upside down 4. The expanding conflict, 1940-1941 5. The Eastern Front and a changing war, June to December, 1941 6. Halting the Japanese advance, halting the German advance keeping them apart and shifting the balance: December 1941 to November 1942 7. The war at sea, 1942-1944, and the blockade 8. The war in Europe and North Africa 1942-1943: to and from Stalingrad to and from Tunis 9. The home front 10. Means of warfare: old and new 11. From the spring of 1943 to summer 1944 12. The assault on Germany from all sides 13. Tensions in both alliances 14. The halt on the European fronts 15. The final assault on Germany 16. The war in the Pacific: from Leyte to the Missouri Conclusions: the cost and impact of the war. When a German warship opened fire on the Polish garrison in the special area reserved for them within the Free City of Gdansk (Danzig)-and German troops and airplanes attacked Poland-a terrible conflict began that was quickly called "The Second World War." The 1st general history of World War Two to be based on existing literature and on extensive work in British, American & German archives