Talking Maps: World War II

Offering a solid overview of events leading up to and during World War II, Talking Maps: World War II is divided into two parts: the first covering Europe, beginning with post–World War I situations and the rise of Mussolini and Hitler; the second looking at the Pacific arena, illustrating how Japan's continuing conquests in the East coupled with the attack on Pearl Harbor pulled both greater Asia and the United States into the all-consuming conflict, which finally culminated in the first use of atomic bombs. The series format takes a creative approach to teaching history, combining a map of the relevant area that always appears in the background, a smaller inset picture presenting archival footage of the events being described, and onscreen graphics identifying important places, people, and dates. Other titles in the Talking Maps series include Civil War and World War I. Recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)