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''The Second World War'' is a narrative history of World War II by British historian Antony Beevor. The book starts with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931,〔Beevor pp. 52-69〕 and covers the entire Second World War ending with the final surrender of Axis forces.〔Beevor pp. 770-783〕 ==Synopsis== In the introduction, Beevor tells the tale of Yang Kyoungjong, a Korean soldier forcibly conscripted by the Kwantung Army, then in turn taken prisoner by the Red Army and the Wehrmacht, eventually being captured by American troops. He also discusses the background of the war, including the rise of Nazism in post-World War I Germany, and the formation of alliances with Italy and Japan.〔Beevor pp. 1-10〕 Throughout the bulk of the book, Beevor jumps back and forth throughout the different theaters of war. He begins by detailing Germany's invasion of Poland, Germany's alliance with the Soviet Union, and the invasion of France.〔Beevor pp. 22-51〕〔Beevor pp. 79-98〕 Interspersed are chapters focusing on the Second Sino-Japanese War along with others building up a description of global events.〔〔Beevor pp. 140-153〕 The perspective then expands to include the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre, the Battle of the Atlantic, the Battle of Britain, and the Balkans Campaign.〔Beevor pp. 154-173〕 Following which, there is a major shift in focus onto the Eastern Front, detailing Operation Barbarossa, the Battle of Moscow, Operation Blau, and the epic Battle of Stalingrad, a conflict which Beevor had previously written about.〔Beevor pp. 186-206〕〔Beevor pp. 230-246〕〔Beevor pp. 327-343〕〔Beevor pp. 356-373〕 Simultaneously, he also depicts the events of Pearl Harbor, the ensuing events in Asia, the Pacific, North Africa, as well the Holocaust.〔Beevor pp. 247-267〕〔Beevor pp. 268-276〕〔Beevor pp. 312-326〕 As the Allies began to turn the war decisively in their favour. Alternating between the major events, Beevor details Operation Torch, American victories in the Pacific, and the Soviet counterattacks on the Eastern Front, the invasion of Sicily and Italy.〔Beevor pp. 374-486〕〔Beevor pp. 487-567〕 In what Beevor terms the "Spring of Expectations",〔Beevor pp. 567-585〕 the Allies launch major offensives against Axis forces on all fronts: The Soviets push westwards successfully, while the Western Allies launch Operation Overlord, and numerous defeats are inflicted upon the Japanese.〔Beevor pp. 567-708〕 As the war enters its final days, Beevor recounts the frantic race to Berlin between the Western Allies and the Soviets along with the downfall of the Nazi regime.〔Beevor, pp. 735-756〕 After the fall of Berlin, another topic Beevor has previously written about, Beevor turns to the dropping of the atomic bombs and the surrender of Japan. He concludes with a recount of the devastation caused by the war.〔Beevor, pp. 770-784〕 Multiple important figures in the war are covered in detail, not only including the important national leaders (Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Hideki Tojo, Chiang Kai-shek), but also individual generals (von Manstein, Rommel, Zhukov, Montgomery, Eisenhower, MacArthur, and others) and lesser-known political figures.〔Beevor, inside cover〕 Beevor devotes entire chapters to particularly important battles or operations, including Operation Barbarossa, the Battle of Moscow, Pearl Harbor, Operation Blau, the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Kursk, and the Battle of Berlin.〔Beevor, table of contents〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Second World War (book)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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