Willmott, a military historian, and coauthors Robin Cross (an author and journalist) and Charles Messenger (a World War II veteran and military historian) provide an illustrated survey of World War II in its many theaters of operations and from the seeds of unrest in pre-War Germany, Italy and Japan, to the Berlin Blockade, Chinese Cultural Revolution, and beginnings of the Cold War. Numerous maps, diagrams, timelines, and sidebars provide additional details on topics ranging from armaments and battles to wartime entertainment and civilian life. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)