In the last, triumphant months of World War II, young Americans won their nation's greatest victory, victories. For the war they won was a world war, a conflict fought on two very different fronts in two very different ways. In Europe, the battle-tested troops who had landed in Normandy on D-Day fought their way onto Adolf Hitler's doorstep, then crossed the Rhine and brought down the Nazis "thousand-year Reich." Meanwhile, across the Pacific, sailors, Marines and airmen teamed up to invade a series of crucial islands, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, rolling back a tough Japanese enemy and paving the way for the surprising end of the war with the dropping of an atom bomb on Hiroshima. Every step of every day, these members of "The Greatest Generation" were shadowed by reporters and photographers from two great American magazines, Time and Life. Now, the editors of Time have returned to these archives to compile a memorable, visually stunning portrait of those stirring times, America's Greatest Generation and Their World War II Triumph.

At head of title: Time. Includes index. " 60th anniversary tribute"--Jacket.

Growing up in uniform -- To victory in Europe: War in review: European theater -- Situation report: September 1944 -- View from the top -- Eight bridges to nowhere -- Soldier's life: Behind the scenes -- Twilight of the Reich -- Knocking on Hitler's door -- Winged victory -- War in the mountains -- Soldier's life: Bare necessities -- Secret sharers -- Profile: Destroy the enemy -- Showdown in the snow -- Soldier's life: At ease -- Endgame in the East -- Profile: Dragoon's journey -- In war, visions of peace -- Untimely departure -- America at war: Home front -- Across the Roer river -- Photographer's eye: William Vandivert -- Soldier's life: Prisoners of war -- Lifeline on the Rhine -- Photographer's eye: Robert Capa -- Profile: Star halfback -- Tightening the noose -- Heart of darkness -- Soldier's life: Time to pray -- Berlin Armageddon -- Witness in the bunker -- In the ruins of the Reich -- Cheers and tears -- To victory in the Pacific: War in review: Pacific theater -- Situation report: July 1944 -- "I have returned" -- Profile: Promise fulfilled -- Soldier's life: Perils of paradise -- Wings across the water -- Sailor's life: Flattops and flyboys -- Death's divine wind -- Sailor's life: Shipmates -- Beneath the waves, a silent service -- Profile: Question of balance -- Off the beaten path -- Profile: Crisis in China -- Soldier's life: Off duty -- Mission to Manila -- Photographer's eye: Carl Mydans -- Soldier's life: Prisoners of Japan -- Ghosts of Bataan -- Soldier's life: Higher power -- Duel on Sulphur Island -- Photographer's eye: Joe Rosenthal -- America at war: Facing the rising sun -- Embracing death -- Soldier's life: Healing touch -- Secrets in the desert -- "Expect a rain of ruin" -- Reluctant surrender -- Victory's sweet song -- Index.