World War II

by Jim Corrigan

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781422233634
Publisher:	Mason Crest Publishers
Publication date:	08/28/2015
Series:	Major U.S. Historical Wars Series
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	12 - 15 Years

Table of Contents

Introduction 5

Chapter 1 A World Ablaze 7

Chapter 2 Seeds of War 13

Chapter 3 Axis Powers Surge 20

Chapter 4 Allies Fight Back 27

Chapter 5 Turning Point 35

Chapter 6 Civilians Suffer 43

Chapter 7 Bitter End, New Beginning 50

Chronology 58

Further Reading 60

Internet Resources 61

Index 62

Series Glossary 64

Editorial Reviews

World War II remains the bloodiest conflict in human history. Over a period of roughly six years, at least fifty million people were killed in the various theaters of operation encompassed in this truly global war. Unlike the First World War, civilians instead of individual members of the military experienced the majority of these deaths. World War II was a total war and one that featured indiscriminate bombing of cities, horrific reprisals against native populations, and the unspeakable genocidal efforts of the Nazis. In this volume of the illustrated “Major U.S. Historical Wars” series, writer Jim Corrigan takes approximately sixty pages of text to highlight the major events of this vast conflict. Corrigan begins with the causative factors that spawned fighting in both the European and Asian sectors. He then details the early strategies and battles that placed the Axis Powers in a position to crush their opponents. Corrigan describes the slow but steady progress made by the Allies to push back the advances of Germany and Japan. Finally, he recounts the decisive victories that led to the complete destruction of Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese imperialists. Corrigan covers a great deal of material along the way and crafts a highly readable account of a vast subject. Also included are thoughtful comprehension questions and suggestions for deeper writing and research. These didactic elements will assist students to better understand a devastating war fought for the highest possible stakes. Ultimately, this is a well-written and amply illustrated book. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck; Ages 12 up.

Children's Literature - Greg M. Romaneck

These reference texts attempt to pack an admirable amount of information into a very small amount of space. Even including a few review questions at the end of each short chapter, they take the form of tiny textbooks. While the information contained within them is terse, the books manage to hit most of the major points of the wars they cover. As introductory texts or as an alternative to Wikipedia, they certainly have much to recommend them. The photos and illustrations included along with the text, in particular, are excellent at bringing the history to life. The size of the books, however, presents some serious stumbling blocks. Ignoring the question of whether a subject as dense as World War II can even be broached in a tome this size, there are practical issues to the size limitation. A map of Soviet territory captured by the German Army, for example, measures about 3” by 2 1/3”, with miniscule inscriptions that are virtually illegible. At such a size, it is questionable whether the inclusion of the map is helpful. (Major U.S. Historical Wars) Reviewer: Sean Rapacki; Ages 11 to 18.

VOYA, June 2016 (Vol. 39, No. 2) - Sean Rapacki

11/01/2015
Gr 8 Up—There are no splashy covers or sparkly literary lures here, but that doesn't take away from the quality of this set, which presents straightforward history systematically and plainly. Each title opens with a dramatized account of a relevant battle. Subsequent chapters trace the origins of the war in question from its roots in politics and social injustice. Each chapter begins with "Words to Understand in This Chapter," which highlights and defines terms of thematic relevance. The layout is simple and features pale yellow backgrounds, text in a small black font, headings in red, and illustrations boxed and outlined in plain black. Illustrations were chosen with great care and demonstrate the profound effects of war on human life; for instance, one photo depicts a sobbing baby sitting amid the rubble in the aftermath of a bombing of a Shanghai train station. This series strikes the ideal balance between a thorough and well-researched presentation of history and one that is exciting and engaging. VERDICT An excellent resource.

School Library Journal