No other conflict in history matches the sheer magnitude of World War II. Aggressive dictators employed their military forces throughout the globe, forcing peaceful nations to fight back with troops and tanks. Deadly submarines scoured the world's oceans for enemy ships. In the sky, bombers and fighter planes tangled for supremacy. Meanwhile, scientists raced to develop new weapons and technology. The conflict raged for six years, affecting nearly every country on the planet. When the guns finally fell silent, at least 55 million people were dead. More than half were unarmed men, women, and children. This book in the MAJOR U.S. HISTORICAL WARS series examines the events that led up to World War II. It discusses the political and military strategies that the Allies and the Axis Powers employed, and provides information about key people, battles, and events. The largest and most devastating conflict in history, World War II changed the course of human history, and thundering echoes of its most desperate battles remain with us today.
