The Complete Idiot S Guide To World War I

Provides coverage of the causes leading to war, famous battles, weapons, and the influence on political and cultural development, and includes biographical information on key figures.

You’re no idiot, of course. You know that World War I was “the Great War,” and you’re familiar with its images: muddy trenches, poison gas, and a no–man’s–land of craters and barbed wire. But when it comes to understanding its causes, why it dragged on for four years, and how it set the stage for World War II, you’re lost behind enemy lines. Don’t wave the white flag just yet! The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to World War I gives you a comprehensive overview of the first global war, from the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the Treaty of Versailles. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • Broad coverage of the secret treaties and en-tangling alliances that led to war • Comprehensive analysis of some of history’s bloodiest battles, including the Somme, Tannenburg, Gallipoli, and Belleau Wood • Expert commentary on the development of weapons such as the tank, the dreadnought battleship, poison gas, and the German U-boat • Valuable insights into the war’s influence on this century’s political and cultural development

WWII began in 1939 as a European conflict between Germany and an Anglo-French coalition but eventually widened to include most of the nations of the world. It ended in 1945, leaving a new world order dominated by the United States and the USSR. This book features updated and expanded coverage of the fateful D-Day invasion, a critical timeline of major WW II events, and a WW II timeline highlighting the crucial and most important events of the war. It will include details about major battles on land, in the air, and on the sea - starting with Hitler's rise to power and his goal of European conquest; to Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbour; to the decisive battles such as D-Day and the Battle of Midway, which turned the tides of the war toward the Allies.

The Complete Idiots Guide® to World War II, Second Edition, will feature updated and expanded coverage of the fateful D-Day invasion, a critical timeline of major WW II events, and a WW II timeline highlighting the crucial and most important events of the war. It will include details about major battles on land, in the air, and on the sea-starting with Hitler's rise to power and his goal of European conquest, as well as Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor and the decisive battles such as D-Day and the Battle of the Midway, which turned they tides of the war toward the Allies.

Cold hard facts on the world’s hot spots. Now readers can make sense of the daily headlines with an examination of the sides and issues of evolving conflicts. This updated edition provides coverage of all of the hot conflict spots in our world today, background and history, new and added coverage of the war on terror, and up-to-date coverage on the Middle East, including Iraq. • As Iraq continues to dominate the news, there is, unfortunately, no shortage of other trouble spots—this guide looks at conflicts around the globe. • An accurate reference source for high school and college students, and a great overview for people who want more in-depth understanding of daily events.

A long ago war-still relevant today Misunderstanding remains, and a lot is still unknown, of the Vietnam War. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to the Vietnam War, Second Edition provides an updated and revised guide giving readers the facts. It assesses policies and the reasons for them, shedding light on the controversies regarding the Vietnam War, what has been called the most complicated armed conflict of the 20th century. It offers: • A big-picture look at the politics, public figures, and history of the war in Southeast Asia • Present-tense relevance of Vietnam to the current wars in which the United States, and the rest of the world, is involved • Clarification of details for those who lived through it and an explanation for younger generations

Puts world events in a context that is relevant for today's students and casual readers Updated to include the significant events from the past several years

In March 2010, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, the power team that produced the mega HBO hit 'Band of Brothers' will be releasing their second blockbuster series about WWII, 'The Pacific.' It will focus on the stories of the men and women who fought in the Pacific Theater of the war. To capitalize on the renewing interest that this series will create, we are revising The Complete Idiot's Guide® to World War II. The revision will focus on expanding the material in the book about the war in the Pacific with such important updates as: More details about the strategic battles such as Midway, Coral Sea. Detailed discussion about the submarine initiative and its impact on the Japanese economy. Details about the Japanese prisoner of war camps. The amazing history of the Navajo Code Talkers and their seminal role in the war This revised edition also includes a new selection of photos drawn from the U.S. military archives on the war in the Pacific as well.