World War II 365 Days

by Margaret E. Wagner, David M. Kennedy (Introduction), Library of Congress (Creator)

Drawn from the vast collections of the Library of Congress, World War II 365 Days is a unique compilation of riveting text and more than 500 images, many in color, that reveals the drama and complexity of the greatest war in human history.


Photographs, lithographs, political cartoons, maps, on-the-scene combat art, and other visual materials from all the major combatants, including much material rarely seen, combine to tell the interlocking stories of people caught in this epic conflict that raged across all the world's oceans and in countries from Norway to North Africa, Britain to Burma. Quotes from letters, diaries, speeches, and memoirs are included in the text and help capture the drama and scale of the war: the carnage and desperate bravery on battlefields from Normandy to Iwo Jima, the epic air and sea battles, the unparalleled brutality of the major Axis nations, the home-front sacrifices made by people in all walks of life and in all combatant countries and the miracle of mobilization that made the United States the "arsenal of democracy."


The book is organized into twelve chronological and thematic chapters that extend from prewar events that led to the conflict, through a year-by-year examination of the war itself, and into its aftermath. A timeline running throughout the book highlights pivotal events.

 

World War II 365 Days is much more than a gallery of major figures and events: it is a vivid mosaic of the battlefield and home front experiences of the "ordinary" people who endured years of destruction and rending uncertainty.

Genres: World War II, History, War

752 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

A senior writer-editor in the Publishing Office of the Library of Congress, Margaret E. Wagner is the coauthor and coeditor of The Library of Congress Civil War Desk Reference and The Library of Congress World War II Desk Reference and author of The American Civil War: 365 Days, World War II: 365 Days, and Maxfield Parrish and the Illustrators of the Golden Age.

Reviews

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly good WW2 overview in a unique format. Plenty of images (especially posters/prints but real photo's from the fronts and home fronts) that help to support the text. For those that don't know, this book uses the months and days as chapters (each day is 2 pages, one for text as well as a timeline on bottom with a few key events on that day of the month throughout the war and the opposite with images related to the larger text). These go mostly chronologically through the war and are a good overview for those who aren't super familiar with the war. Also a decent refresher with images though those with in depth knowledge of the war won't gain much. I should note, while it covers all fronts in decent depth, it is an American centric view so be prepared for a slightly larger American events focus from this. But if any of that strikes your fancy I do highly suggest it, low expectations but they were thoroughly blown through.

[Tobinjohnston Johnston · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like this book because the history and the art that was in it made it seem exciting.