• An authoritative account of two of the deadliest conflicts in human history, with details of decisive encounters and landmark engagements. • Expert commmentary on the political and economic factors leading to each conflict, the key turning points of the wars, and the impact that technology had on the way that each war was fought. • Describes the most successful weapons from both wars, with specification boxes that provide technical information. This comprehensive history begins by looking at the origins of WWI and then chronicles the war a year at a time. The second half of the book details the history of WWII, from the rise of Hitler and the persecution of the Jewish race to the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the dropping of the atom bombs. All aspects of war are covered including war illnesses, espionage, propaganda and the atrocities on all sides. There are special features dedicated to the weaponry and tactics that shaped the wars. Written by experts in their field and illustrated with over 1000 photographs, battle plans and maps, it is a fascinating guide for both specialist and general readers. About the Authors: Donald Sommerville is a writer and freelance editor specializing in military history. Amongst his many books is World War II Day by Day. Ian Westville has written more than 15 books on all aspects of military history, including World War I Day by Day.