In this study of World War II, the author takes as his starting point the outcome of World War I and what that meant in particular for the defeated nations (including Russia), and how the developed world reacted to its first experience of mass warfare. Each phase of the war is illuminated by a survey of the strategic dilemmas facing one of the major combatants. Complete with insights into the characters and motives of the war leaders, these sections provide an overview of the grand strategy of both the allies and the axis powers. In addition, all the major ancillary activities to which the war gave rise are discussed in detail: war supply and production, the strategic bombing campaign, occupation and repression, the roles of intelligence, espionage and resistance, and the secret weapons programmes.