World War II in Global Perspective, 1931-1953 A Short History

A comprehensive review of World War II that offers a global-level analysis

Written for academics and students of history, World War II in Global Perspective, 1931-1953 presents a dynamic and global account of the historical events prior to, during, and after World War II. The author—a noted expert on the topic—explores the main theaters of the war and discusses the connections between them. He also examines the impact of the war on areas of the world that are often neglected in historical accounts, including Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and the so-called ‘neutral’ countries. This comprehensive text clearly shows how in the struggle against the Axis powers, the United States replaced Britain as the global superpower.

The author discusses the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and the Korean War (1950-1953) and argues that the core years of the war (1939-1945) cannot be understood without considering the turbulent events that framed them. The text puts World War II in context as a series of large regional conflicts that intersected and overlapped, finally emerging as a genuine “world war” with the formal entry of the United States in late 1941. This vital text: 

• Offers a comprehensive review of World War II that frames it in a global context
• Gives weight to the economic and political developments of the war
• Provides a robust account of the main military campaigns
• Contains illustrations and maps that themselves highlight little-known aspects of the global war

ANDREW N. BUCHANAN is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Vermont. A specialist in Global and Military history, he is the author of American Grand Strategy in the Mediterranean during World War II and has published articles on World War II in the Journal of Contemporary History, Diplomacy and Statecraft, Journal of Transatlantic Studies, Global War Studies, and American Quarterly.

List of Illustrations ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

1 The Crisis of the Old World Order 7

2 The Great Depression and the Opening Guns of World War II 21

3 1940: Axis Victories and New Strategic Choices 43

4 1941–1942: Axis Flood Tide 65

5 1942–1943: Turning Points 87

6 War Economies 107

7 1943: Total War and the Emerging Contours of the Postwar World 133

8 1944: The Allies March Towards Victory 155

9 1945: The War Ends, Fighting Continues 181

10 War and Postwar, 1945–1953 201

Epilogue 227

Index 231

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