World War II: The Definitive Visual Guide

362 Pages·2009·46.94 MB·English

by  Dorling Kindersley

THE DEFINITIVE VISUAL GUIDE

wor ld
TwHE DEFINaITI V Er V ISUA L iGUIIDE
from blitzkrieg to hiroshim a
CONTENTS
LONDON, NEW YORK, MELBOURNE,
MUNICH, AND DELHI Japan on the March 32
Japan’s desire to be considered a world power.
Growing militarism and invasion of Manchuria.
DORLING KINDERSLEY
Senior Art Editor Senior Editor Rise of the Axis 34
Gadi Farfour Alison Sturgeon Hitler and Mussolini flex their military muscle
in the Rhineland and Abyssinia and form a
Designers Project Editors
powerful new pact.
Amy Orsborne, Priya Kukadia, Ferdie McDonald, Sam Atkinson,
THE SEEDS
Elizabeth O’Neill, Dean Morris Tarda Davison-Aitkins
Weakness of the Democracies 36
Managing Art Editor Managing Editor
OF WAR The Great Depression. Attitudes of France,
Karen Self Debra Wolter
Britain, and the US to the threat of fascism.
Cartographers Picture Researcher 1914 – 1938
Encompass Graphics Ltd, Brighton, UK; Sarah Smithies 10 The Spanish Civil War 38
Iorwerth Watkins; David Roberts Fascists and Socialists rehearse the greater

Production Controller Production Editor Introduction 12 conflict to come.
Louise Daly Maria Elia
Timeline 14 Japan invades China 40
Art Director Reference Publisher
The start of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937.
Bryn Walls Jonathan Metcalf
The War to End War 16 Japanese conquests.
Associate Publisher The Great War, the bloody stalemate of trench
Liz Wheeler warfare, the Russian revolutions of 1917, the Appeasing Hitler 42
entry of the United States into the war. German rearmament and annexations: Austria
and Sudetenland. France and Britain unable to
TOUCAN BO OKS LTD The Flawed Peace 18 prevent Hitler’s territorial demands.
Senior Designer Managing Editor Versailles and the other peace treaties. War
Thomas Keenes Ellen Dupont reparations. The founding of the League of
Nations. The United States refuses to join.
Designers Senior Editor
Nick Avery, Phil Fitzgerald, Alice Peebles
Leah Germann, Mark Scribbens Fascism and Nazism 20

New nationalist political doctrines designed to
Additional Text Editors
combat the spread of communism.
Donald Sommerville Natasha Kahn, Anna Southgate
Editorial Assistants (cid:79) BENITO MUSSOLINI 22
Abigail Keen, Tom Pocklington
Hitler Takes Power 24 EUROPE GOES
Germany’s failure to create a workable
democracy. The effects of the Depression. TO WAR
Hitler’s rise and establishment of dictatorship.
1939

The Nazi State 26 44
First published in Great Britain in 2009 by Dorling Kindersley Limited The Nazi ideology is established in Germany,
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL with propaganda and anti-Jewish legislation Introduction 46
playing an important role.
A Penguin Company Timeline 48
(cid:79) THE BERLIN OLYMPICS 28
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley Limited The Path to War 50
Civil Wars in China 30 Europe prepares for war. Germany marches
2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1 The wars that developed into a long, drawn-out into Czechoslovakia. The secret Molotov-
struggle between Nationalists and Communists. Ribbentrop Pact between USSR and Germany.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from
the British Library.
ISBN: 978-1-4053-3235-4
Printed and bound by Star Standard in Singapore
See our complete catalogue at
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(cid:79) RIFLES 52 Blitzkrieg 76 The War in the Desert 124
The German invasion of the Netherlands, Failure of Italian invasion of Egypt. Germans
Declarations of War 54 Belgium, and France. Success of the under Rommel arrive to reinforce Italian army.
Hitler’s invasion of Poland is followed by Wehrmacht’s fast-moving mechanized Advances and retreats across Libya.
declarations of war by Britain and France. divisions backed by close air support.
(cid:79) MEDICINE IN THE FIELD 126
(cid:79) ADOLF HITLER 56 Dunkirk 78
British Expeditionary Force trapped at Dunkirk. (cid:79) ERWIN ROMMEL 128
Poland Destroyed 58 British and French troops evacuated by the THE WIDENING
Despite their protests, Britain and France can do Royal Navy and flotilla of small craft. Conflicts in the Middle East 130
nothing to save Poland from Hitler and Stalin. WAR Invasion of Syria and Lebanon. The importance
(cid:79) THE EVACUATION OF DUNKIRK 80 of Middle Eastern oilfields. War in Iraq.
The Phoney War 60 1941 Occupation of Iran. Situation in Palestine.
France and Britain await Hitler’s next move. The Fall of France 82 100
The situation on the home front. The conquest of France. Germans enter Paris. The Balkans Invaded 132
French agree to an armistice. Formation of the Introduction 102 Rapid German conquest of the Balkans.
Early Skirmishes 62 Vichy government under Pétain. British withdrawal from Crete.
Minor action on the Western Front. British Timeline 104
bombing of German ports. Actions at sea. The Battle of Britain 84 Operation Barbarossa 134
Battle for control of the skies over Britain as Life under the Swastika 106 Surprise German invasion of the Soviet
The Winter War 64 Hitler plans to invade. The importance of Life in France, the Netherlands, and other Union begins with a series of stunning victories.
USSR invades Finland. Despite early defeats, the radar. The invasion is called off. conquered states. Hardships. Collaboration
Soviets eventually make small territorial gains. and resistance. The treatment of Jews. (cid:79) SIEGE OF LENINGRAD 136
(cid:79) WINSTON CHURCHILL 86
(cid:79) JOSEPH STALIN 66 (cid:79) LIFE UNDER GERMAN 108 Nazi Massacres 138
The Blitz 88 OCCUPATION Occupied Soviet Union. Einsatzgruppen and
Relentless German bombing campaign executions of communists and Jews. Babi Yar.
targets London and other British cities. Governments in Exile 110
Effect on the civilian population. The French, Polish, Czechs, and other peoples Moscow Saved 140
conquered by Hitler establish governments German advance halted by Russian winter and
(cid:79) REFUGE FROM THE BLITZ 90 in exile in Britain. determined Soviet resistance.
Britain Organizes for Total War 92 (cid:79) CHARLES DE GAULLE 112 America on the Brink 142
Evacuation of children. The internment of Worsening relations between America and Japan
aliens. New roles for women in the workforce. (cid:79) PROPAGANDA 114 over China and the Japanese occupation of
GERMANY Civil defence measures. Rationing. French Indochina. US policy hardens.
The Secret War 116
TRIUMPHANT (cid:79) THE HOME FRONT IN EUROPE 94 The intelligence war, ciphers, and code- (cid:79) FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT 144
breaking. The German Enigma code and the
1940 America Backs Britain 96 Japanese “Purple” deciphered by the Allies. Japan Gambles on War 146
68 Roosevelt’s support for Britain in the face of Japan’s decision to seize Southeast Asian
opposition from American isolationists. The The U-Boat War 118 colonies while making pre-emptive strike against
Introduction 70 Lend-Lease Act allows the US to provide Success of the German campaign against US Navy. Events leading to Pearl Harbor.
much greater material and financial aid. shipping from new bases in France.
Timeline 72 Pearl Harbor 148
Italy Enters the War 98 (cid:79) LIFE ON A U-BOAT 120 Japanese surprise attack on US naval base in
The Invasion of Denmark Seeing Hitler’s success, Mussolini invades the Hawaiian Islands. Roosevelt declares it a
and Norway 74 southern France. Italy also at war with Greece Hunting the Bismarck 122 “Day of infamy”. America enters the war.
German conquest of the two countries. and with Britain in East and North Africa. Sorties by German warships to prey on British
Extensive new coastline under German control. Invasion of British Somaliland and Egypt. and neutral shipping. Sinking of the Bismarck. (cid:79) ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR 150
(cid:79) ROUNDING UP THE JEWS 178 Showdown in the Atlantic 204
Battle of the Atlantic 1942–43. Heavy convoy
Malta and the Mediterranean 180 losses to German wolf packs, followed by Allied
Convoys and naval battles in the Mediterranean. successes against the U-boats.
Repeated bombing of Malta.
(cid:79) SINKING OF MERCHANT SHIPS 206
El Alamein 182
Fall of Tobruk. Rommel’s offensive against (cid:79) COMMUNICATIONS 208
THE SHIFTING Egypt. British victory at El Alamein. OVERWHELMING
The Invasion of Sicily 210
BALANCE (cid:79) BERNARD LAW MONTGOMERY 184 Allied landings on Sicily. Island taken, but Axis FORCE
troops escape to mainland. Fall of Mussolini.
1942 Torch Landings 186 New Italian government seeks peace. 1944
152 US and British landings in Morocco and Algeria. 232
German and Italian surrender in Tunisia. Held by the Gustav Line 212
Introduction 154 Landings at Salerno. Mussolini rescued by Introduction 234
Saving the Soviet Union 188 German paratroops. Allied progress in Italy
Timeline 156 Relocation of industries to the east. The role of halted by strong German defensive line. Timeline 236
women in industry and agriculture.
The Japanese Onslaught 158 Bombing Germany by Night 214 Battles for the Marianas 238
Japanese conquest of Southeast Asia, the The German Drive to the East 190 Area bombing of German cities by the RAF. Landings on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. US
Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines. Offensive of summer 1942 towards Caucasus Massive raids on Cologne and Hamburg. victory in battle of the Philippine Sea – the
and the Baku oilfields. “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”.
The New Japanese Empire 160 Bombing Germany by Day 216
Japan exploits the resources and labour of Soviet Triumph at Stalingrad 192 Bombing of German cities and factories by the Return to the Philippines 240
conquered territories. The Burma Railway. Catastrophic defeat for Germans after fiercest USAAF. Heavy losses on long-distance daylight US landings on the island of Leyte. Vast naval
fighting of the war. German Sixth Army raids without fighter escorts. battle of Leyte Gulf. First systematic use of
Coral Sea and Midway 162 encircled by Soviet armies. kamikaze attacks.
Japanese are checked at Coral Sea, then suffer (cid:79) USAAF RAID ON SCHWEINFURT 218
serious losses to their carrier fleet at Midway. (cid:79) STALINGRAD 194 (cid:79) LANDING IN THE PHILIPPINES 242
The German War Industry 220
Guadalcanal 164 Despite the bombing raids on factories, (cid:79) DOUGLAS MACARTHUR 244
Fierce battles for the island on land and at sea. Germany increases its war production using
slave and forced labour. Role of Albert Speer. Suffering China 246
Defending Australia 166 Failings of Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists.
US troops make Australia their base. The The French Resistance 222 Japanese 1944 offensive into southern China.
bombing of Darwin. Fighting in New Guinea. Spread of resistance after German occupation of
Vichy zone. Reprisals against local populations. Turning Point in Burma 248
America Organizes for Victory 168 Allies halt Japanese on the Indian border.
Galvanization of American industry. Social and Prisoners of War in Europe 224 Operations by Chindits and Stilwell’s Chinese.
economic changes. Women in the labour force. THE ALLIES TURN The fate of Allied and Axis POWs. The Red Recapture of Mandalay and Rangoon.
Cross. Escapes and punishments.
(cid:79) WOMEN IN INDUSTRY 170 THE TIDE (cid:79) JUNGLE WARFARE IN BURMA 250
The Battle of Kursk 226
Secret Armies 172 1943 The failure of German Operation Citadel to The Fall of Rome 252
British SOE and American OSS, promoting 196 eliminate the Kursk salient. Soviet victory in Anzio landings. The long battle for Monte
resistance movements in Europe and Asia. vast tank battle in summer 1943. Cassino. US forces enter Rome. Germans
Introduction 198 withdraw to new defensive lines in the north.
(cid:79) ESPIONAGE 174 (cid:79) GEORGY ZHUKOV 228
Timeline 200 Preparing for D-Day 254
The Holocaust 176 Island-Hopping in the Pacific 230 Planning and training for the invasion of
German policy of comprehensive genocide of Allied Leaders Plan for Victory 202 US advances in New Guinea and on the France. Germans strengthen the Atlantic Wall.
the Jews, the “Final Solution”. The building of Conferences at Casablanca, Quebec, Cairo, and Solomons bypass heavily defended Japanese
Auschwitz and other death camps. Tehran. Decisions taken on invasion of Europe. positions. Landings on the Gilbert Islands. (cid:79) DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER 256
D-Day Landings 258 Battle of the Bulge 284 The Battle for Iwo Jima 310 (cid:79) POSTWAR REFUGEES 336
Airdrops followed by landings on five beaches. German counter-offensive in the Ardennes. Japanese mount fierce defence of the small
US troops met by heavy fire on Omaha Beach. US troops encircled in Bastogne. island from a network of tunnels and bunkers. The Fate of the Defeated 338
Beachheads established by end of the day. The occupation of Japan and Germany.
(cid:79) GEORGE S. PATTON 286 Okinawa 312 Nuremberg trials and war trials in Japan.
(cid:79) OMAHA BEACH LANDING 260 US troops fight a series of grim battles for the
island, while their ships come under repeated The Iron Curtain 340
Breakout from Normandy 262 attacks from kamikaze planes. Churchill’s prophetic speech. The Marshall Plan.
Fierce German resistance around Caen, St Lô, Berlin blockade. Permanently divided Germany.
and Falaise before Allies can break out from Japan under Siege 314
Normandy and advance towards Paris. Bombing of Japan. Mining of Japanese waters Rebirth of Japan and West Germany 342
and submarine campaign against shipping. US aid to the two conquered nations brings
(cid:79) CONTENTS OF A KIT BAG 264 democracy and economic recovery.
Subjects of the Emperor 316
Hitler Bomb Plot 266 Japanese home front. Determination to fight on The End of Empires 344
Discontent in Germany. Failed attempt by a ENDGAME despite bombing and desperate food shortages. Independence for India and Indonesia, followed
group of German officers to assassinate Hitler by other European colonies. Creation of Israel.
at his headquarters in Rastenburg. 1945 Potsdam Conference 318
288 Conference in occupied Germany. Demand for Red China 346
Liberation of France unconditional surrender of Japan. Mao’s triumph over the Nationalists in China.
and Belgium 268 Introduction 290 The foundation of a new communist state.
Liberation of Paris, eastern France, and Belgium. (cid:79) MEDALS 320
Further progress into Germany and the Timeline 292 The Cold War 348
Netherlands delayed by lack of fuel. Hiroshima and Nagasaki 322 The US and the Soviet Union start to build vast
Destruction of Germany’s cities 294 Soviet attack in Manchuria. Atomic bombs stockpiles of ever more sophisticated nuclear
Red Army Offensive 270 Fire-bombing of Dresden and other German dropped on two Japanese cities. weapons. The threat of mutual destruction
Operation Bagration. Soviet summer cities. At Yalta, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin prevents either side from using them.
offensives reach Poland and the Balkans. discuss postwar political settlement. (cid:79) HIROSHIMA 324
The War Remembered 350
Warsaw Uprising 272 (cid:79) THE BOMBING OF DRESDEN 296 Japan Surrenders 326 Memorials to the dead, movies, and other
Unsuccessful uprising against the Germans by Japanese reluctantly accept defeat after hearing commemorations of the war.
Polish underground army. Soviets fail to come The Allies Invade the Reich 298 speech by Emperor Hirohito.
to their aid. Americans, British, and French cross the Index 352
Rhine. Soviet advances in the East. Desperate
Resistance and Civil War last-ditch resistance by the Germans. Acknowledgments 359
in Greece 274
Italian withdrawal. Fighting between resistance Liberating the Nazi Death Camps 300
groups, EDES, and communist-backed ELAS. Discovery of the death camps and the
realization of the full extent of the atrocities
Balkan Snakepit 276 committed by the Nazis.
Two main factions of partisans: royalist Cˇetniks
and Tito’s communists. Latter unite with the (cid:79) DISCOVERY OF BELSEN 302
Red Army to liberate Yugoslavia. AFTERMATH
Final Offensives in Europe 304
German Secret Weapons 278 Soviets and Americans meet on the Elbe. 1946 – 1950

Retaliation against Britain through V-weapons: Distrust between the Allies. After desperate 328
flying bombs and rockets. house-to-house fighting Soviets take Berlin.
Introduction 330
Operation Market Garden 280 Deaths of the Dictators 306
Failure of Allied airdrop to capture bridge over Hitler’s suicide in his Berlin bunker. Admiral Timeline 332
the Lower Rhine at Arnhem. Dönitz takes over as head of government.
The killing of Mussolini by Italian partisans. Counting the Cost 334
(cid:79) MACHINE- AND SUB-MACHINE- 282 The horrific death toll. Refugees, displaced
GUNS (cid:79) VE DAY 308 persons, and prisoners of war.
Foreword
World War II was the largest and most destructive war
in history. It shaped the world my generation grew
up in, and only now are its long shadows receding.
Like any hugely complex historical event, World War II is hard
to describe in print. Some brilliant scholars have managed,
using impressionistic strokes, to sketch out its major features in
relatively few pages, although, perhaps inevitably, their purposeful
lines obscure its finer detail. Others have concentrated on specific
aspects: shelves groan beneath books on, say, Normandy or the
fighting in North Africa.

Many Western authors, writing in the chill of the Cold War, failed
to recognize the pivotal importance of the Eastern Front, just as
Russian historians, preoccupied with their own “Great Patriotic
War”, did not do justice to the Western Allies’ efforts. In short,
although there is now almost no aspect of the war that is not
explored, it remains difficult to find an over-arching history of the
conflict, unconstrained by national horizon or the rigid limitations
of size and space, aimed at the general reader and properly
supported, as such a history must be, by maps and illustrations.
I warmly commend this book because it provides exactly that
accessible survey that has long been missing. It recognizes that
this war flared up out of the embers of the previous one, and does
not simply pay proper attention to the dangerous legacy of World
War I in Europe, but assesses the effect of Japan’s dissatisfaction
with the fruits of its own participation. For instance, events in
China, too often neglected, are properly considered here. Both the
war’s causes, at one end, and its consequences, at the other, are
viewed in the round, embedding the conflict in its broader context.
The events of the war were inter-related by long and complex
threads, and it is misleading to consider any single episode, no
matter how significant, in isolation. One of the many virtues of
this book is that it tells, on the one hand, the stories of specific
battles and campaigns but, on the other, its layout enables the
reader to see how these relate to previous and subsequent events.
It recognizes the role played by the machinery of war, but at the
same time allows many participants to speak at length about their
own experiences. The book’s coverage is global. It encompasses
events on land, at sea, and in the air, and includes not simply the
actions of great men but also the achievements and endurance of
the countless thousands of men and women who participated, in
myriad ways, in this most titanic of all struggles.
RICHARD HOLMES, 2009