Table of Contents

Introduction: The Most Destructive War 1


Part 1 Origins and Causes of War, 1919-1939 9


Chapter 1 World War II: Why It Matters and What You Need to Know 11


Chapter 2 The Great War and the Uneasy Peace: How World War II Happened 21


Chapter 3: Hoping for Peace: The Rise of the Dictators, 1933-1939 49


Part II: Starting the War: The Axis Invades and Conquers, 1939-1942 65


Chapter 4: Invading Eastern Europe: Hitler’s Power Grows, 1939 67


Chapter 5: Blitzkrieg in Europe: World War II Begins, 1939-1941 77


Chapter 6: The Ultimate Battle: Hitler versus Stalin 107


Chapter 7: America on the Sidelines: 1933-1941 119


Chapter 8: Collision in Asia: Japan and America, 1937-1941 129


Part III: Behind Enemy Lines: Nations at War 147


Chapter 9: Maintaining Resources: The Axis 149


Chapter 10: Working Together: The Allies 159


Chapter 11: The War against the Jews 169


Part IV: Planning and Launching the Allied Counterattack, 1942-1943 179


Chapter 12: The Politics of Compromise, 1942 181


Chapter 13: Taking North Africa, Sicily, and the Boot 189


Chapter 14: Germany a Three-Time Loser: In Russia, At Home, and in the Atlantic 207


Chapter 15: Guadalcanal, New Guinea, and Midway: Japan’s Three Strikes 227


Chapter 16: Planning for the Rest of the War, 1943 247


Part V: The Long Haul, 1944 253


Chapter 17: The Italian Campaign and Soviet Victories in the East 255


Chapter 18: Liberating Europe: From Normandy to Paris, and Beyond 265


Chapter 19: Japan Begins to Crack 287


Part VI: Starting Over: The War’s Aftereffects, 1945 311


Chapter 20: Ending the War (Almost): The Final Offensive 313


Chapter 21: The Japanese Defeat 339


Chapter 22: The Uneasy Peace 363


Part VII: The Parts of Tens 369


Chapter 23: Ten Formidable Military Leaders of World War II 371


Chapter 24: Ten Weapons That Made a Difference 377


Chapter 25: Ten “What Ifs” of World War II 383


Index 389


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About the Author

Keith D. Dickson is an associate professor of Military Studies at the Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Special Forces (the Green Berets).