Introduction -- Acknowledgements -- Section 1. From the German invasion of Poland to the fall of France -- Section 2. Britain alone and its allies -- Section 3. The Soviet Union becomes an Allied power -- Section 4. Japan and the United States enter the war -- Section 5. The unrelenting struggle, 1942 and beyond -- Section 6. The unarmed and the civilians. Section 7. Total war -- Section 8. Year of decision, 1944 -- Section 9. The defeat of Germany -- Section 10. The defeat of Japan -- Section 11. Global war -- Aftermath -- Epilogue -- Biliography -- Index.