R.A.C. Parker

From the rise of the Nazi party, through the bombing of Pearl Harbor, to the ultimate defeat of the Axis nations and the first chills of the Cold War, this widely acclaimed history offers a completely comprehensive overview of the Second World War in one readable, compact volume. Parker deftly explores the causes of the war and why it lasted so long, how it was won and lost, and its consequences for humanity. He traces the key events in both the European and Far Eastern theaters, outlining the strategies of the participants and the strengths and weaknesses of their fighting forces. As he examines each decisive battles and its outcome, Parker conveys a vivid picture of the features that distinguished the Second World War from any war that preceded it, including mobile warfare, widespread forced migration, the Holocaust, and strategic and nuclear bombing. Parker also provides a clear summary of the aftermath, examining the rise of the Cold War from before the fall of Berlin to the start of the Korean War. Struggle for Survival presents an unprecedented one-volume history of the Second World War, offering a sweeping survey of events that omits none of the drama that filled the years between 1939 and 1945. With intriguing photographs and a number of helpful maps, it is a fascinating and objective look at the central struggle of our times.