Chronicles the events surrounding Europe during World War II. Includes black-and-white photographs, maps, and a time-line.

Originally published as v. 2 in The Second World War. Oxford : Osprey, 2002-2003.

Chronology -- Background to war : the gathering storm -- Warring sides : the road to war -- Outbreak : "I have determined on a solution by force" -- The fighting : Hitler strikes -- Portrait of a soldier : Donald Edgar -- The world around war : the home front -- Portrait of a civilian : Colin Perry -- How the period ended : the end of the beginning -- Conclusions and consequences : a world at war.