CONTENTS INTRODUCTION A Global War That Divided the World 4 CHAPTER 1 Axis Statesmen in WWII CHAPTER 2 Allied Statesmen in WWII 12 CHAPTER 3 Key Military leaders and Soldiers in WWII 18 CHAPTER 4 Key Air Force leaders and Pilots in WWII 26 CHAPTER 5 Key Naval Leaders in WWII 36 FURTHER READING AND WEBSITES 45 GLOSSARY 46 INDEX 48
A GLOBAL WAR THAT DIVIDED THE WORLD World War II 1939 1945 was a time of great destruction Cities bridges roads and factories were bombed all over Europe and Asia More than 60 million people were killed It was also a time of invention There was a need for bigger and better weapons tanks and planes This led to new technology Scientists raced to invent jet engines missiles and atomic bombs The countries fighting in World War I belonged to one of two sides called the Axis and Allied forces or powers Three main countries formed the Axis powers Germany Italy and Japan The leaders of these countries wanted to expand their territories Germany wanted to control most of Europe Italy wanted control over the Mediterranean area And Japan wanted to expand into East Asia and the Pacific BELOW Many cities were bombed during WWII leaving people without homes stores and
RIGHT Many people contributed to the war effort including women who went to work in factories that produced War weaponry and supplies At the start of the war the Allied Union and the United States powers included Britain France and When China joined they became Poland Soon after they were joined by the Four Policemen Canada Australia New Zealand and South Africa The Soviet Union joined What Do You Know the Allies after Germany broke the pact Key people in WWII usually held high it had signed with the Soviet Union ranks in the armed forces such as Brazil China Denmark Greece Field Marshal the highest rank in an Norway the United States and other army countries joined later Together the Admiral of the Fleet the highest rank in a navy Allied countries called themselves the Brigadier General Air Commodore United Nations UN In 1945 the UN the highest rank in an air force more became an official organization and a Commander in Chief an officer allowed other countries to join in charge of a major section of a country's armed forces By 1942 decisions about the Allies a Supreme Commander the military actions were controlled by The Big officer commanding all forces on one side of a war Three They were Britain the Soviet
