Gale World History in Context
Magazine and journal articles, reference works and primary documents on the World War II
Selected Resources
The Oxford Companion to World War II by
Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of VE Day, The Oxford Companion to the Second World War is the most wide-ranging and balanced work on the Second World War, the ultimate reference on the subject. Its 1,750 alphabetically-arranged entries vary from brief definitions and one-linesignposts to major pieces of description and analysis of several thousand words. They cover every aspect of the Second World War, from strategy, politics, tactics, and weaponry to logistics, political and military leaders, economics, and the effects on society. The Second World War often divides the views of historians today almost as much as it divided combatants at the time. To reflect the diversity of views about the war the Companion has been written by an international team of more than 140 distinguished contributors, and includes Japanese, German,and Italian perspectives. The huge volume of information is supported by a wealth of illustrative and weaponry to logistics, political and military leaders, economics, and the effects on society. The Second World War often divides the views of historians today almost as much as it divided combatants at the time. To reflect the diversity of views about the war the Companion has been written by an international team of more than 140 distinguished contributors, and includes Japanese, German,and Italian perspectives. The huge volume of information is supported by a wealth of illustrative material including stunningly evocative black and white photographs, numerous explanatory diagrams and tables, and detailed maps. A truly international team of contributors including: John Gooch, Wilhelm Deist, Norman Davies, Robert O'Neill, David Kennedy, Martin Gilbert, Robert Dallek, Michael Howard, Richard Overy, Heinz-Dietrich Lowe, Yogi Akashi, Robert Service, Peter Calvocoressi, Anthony Farrar-Hockley, Judith Brown,Lucio Ceva, Sumio Hatano, Ben-Ami Shillony, Earl Ziemke, Klaus A. Maier, Ali Gheissari, Giorgio Rochat
Call Number: D740.O94 1995ISBN: 0198662254Publication Date: 1995-05-11
The Second World War by
Over the past two decades, Antony Beevor has established himself as one of the world's premier historians of WWII. His multi-award winning books have included Stalingrad and The Fall of Berlin 1945. Now, in his newest and most ambitious book, he turns his focus to one of the bloodiest and most tragic events of the twentieth century, the Second World War. In this searing narrative that takes us from Hitler's invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939 to V-J day on August 14th, 1945 and the war's aftermath, Beevor describes the conflict and its global reach--one that included every major power. The result is a dramatic and breathtaking single-volume history that provides a remarkably intimate account of the war that, more than any other, still commands attention and an audience. Thrillingly written and brilliantly researched, Beevor's grand and provocative account is destined to become the definitive work on this complex, tragic, and endlessly fascinating period in world history, and confirms once more that he is a military historian of the first rank.
Call Number: D743.B385 2012ISBN: 9780316023740Publication Date: 2012-06-05
The New York Times Complete World War II, 1939-1945 by
Experience the history, politics, and tragedy of World War II as never before seen through the original, often firsthand daily reportage of The New York Times, our country's newspaper of record. The Times' complete coverage of World War II is now available for the first time in this unique package. Hundreds of the most riveting articles from the archives of the Times'including firsthand accounts of major events and little-known anecdotes'have been selected for inclusion in The New York Times: The Complete World War II. The book covers the biggest battles of the war, from the Battle of the Bulge to the Battle of Iwo Jima, as well as moving stories from the home front and profiles of noted leaders and heroes such as Winston Churchill and George Patton. A respected World War II historian and writer, editor Richard Overy guides readers through the articles, putting the events into historical context.
Call Number: D743.N49 2013ISBN: 9781579129446Publication Date: 2013-11-05
The World War Two Reader by
From highly respected field academic Gordon Martel, The World War Two Reader is a rarenbsp;work that provides a complete and up-to-date overview of the recent historiography on World War Two. Huge in scope, both geographically and thematically, this excellent reader examines twenty-one articles by some of the best known and most innovative scholars in the field.nbsp;Taking a global approach, Martel discusses all aspects of the war including: the military aspect the political and strategic backdrop ideology gender and women's roles the home front social aspects. Including a comprehensive introduction, chronology, guides to key terms and figures, and introductions to chapters providing context and historiographical background, The World War Two Readernbsp;provides wide ranging and innovative reading for all students of the history of the modern world.
Call Number: D743.W674 2004ISBN: 0415224020Publication Date: 2004-07-02
The Mantle of Command by
Based on years of archival research and interviews with the last surviving aides and Roosevelt family members, Nigel Hamilton offers a definitive account of FDR’s masterful—and underappreciated—command of the Allied war effort. Hamilton takes readers inside FDR’s White House Oval Study—his personal command center—and into the meetings where he battled with Churchill about strategy and tactics and overrode the near mutinies of his own generals and secretary of war. Time and again, FDR was proven right and his allies and generals were wrong. When the generals wanted to attack the Nazi-fortified coast of France, FDR knew the Allied forces weren’t ready. When Churchill insisted his Far East colonies were loyal and would resist the Japanese, Roosevelt knew it was a fantasy. As Hamilton’s account reaches its climax with the Torch landings in North Africa in late 1942, the tide of war turns in the Allies’ favor and FDR’sgenius for psychology and military affairs is clear. This intimate, sweeping look at a great president in history’s greatest conflict is must reading.
Call Number: D753.H25 2014ISBN: 9780547775241Publication Date: 2014-05-13
D-Day, June 6, 1944 : the climactic battle of World War II by
Stephen E. Ambrose's D-Day is the definitive history of World War II's most pivotal battle, a day that changed the course of history. D-Day is the epic story of men at the most demanding moment of their lives, when the horrors, complexities, and triumphs of life are laid bare. Distinguished historian Stephen E. Ambrose portrays the faces of courage and heroism, fear and determination--what Eisenhower called "the fury of an aroused democracy"--that shaped the victory of the citizen soldiers whom Hitler had disparaged.Drawing on more than 1,400 interviews with American, British, Canadian, French, and German veterans, Ambrose reveals how the original plans for the invasion had to be abandoned, and how enlisted men and junior officers acted on their own initiative when they realized that nothing was as they were told it would be. The action begins at midnight, June 5/6, when the first British and American airborne troops jumped into France. It ends at midnight June 6/7. Focusing on those pivotal twenty-four hours, it moves from the level of Supreme Commander to that of a French child, from General Omar Bradley to an American paratrooper, from Field Marshal Montgomery to a German sergeant. Ambrose's D-Day is the finest account of one of our history's most important days.
Call Number: D756.5.N6 A455 1995ISBN: 068480137XPublication Date: 1995-06-01
Overview Sources
- Internet History Sourcebooks - WWII The Internet Modern History Sourcebook is one of series of history primary sourcebooks. It is intended to serve the needs of teachers and students in college survey courses in modern European history and American history, as well as in modern Western Civilization and World Cultures.
- World War II resources from Library of Congress This guide gathers in one place links to World War II related resources throughout the Library of Congress Web site.
- Avalon Project - World War II : Documents The Avalon Project collects digital documents relevant to the fields of Law, History, Economics, Politics, Diplomacy and Government.
- World War II Military Situation Maps This collection contains maps showing troop positions beginning on June 6, 1944 to July 26, 1945. Starting with the D-Day Invasion, the maps give daily details on the military campaigns in Western Europe, showing the progress of the Allied Forces as they push towards Germany. Some of the sheets are accompanied by a declassified "G-3 Report" giving detailed information on troop positions for the period 3 Mar. 1945-26 July 1945. These maps and reports were used by the commanders of the United States forces in their evaluation of the campaigns and for planning future strategies.