World War II was a global conflict in every sense. The struggle for mastery affected every continent and the destinies of millions hinged on the great turning points of the war. These were the major battles waged by the Allies and their enemies in the Atlantic and Pacific seas, in the skies over Britain, in the desert of North Africa and the plains of Europe. Each was crucial to the outcome of the war itself. This volume is a study of five such battles. Each is given a separate in-depth strategical and tactical examination from beginning to end by military historians. This analysis is balanced by first-hand accounts which portray the excitement and tension of battle. Accompanied by photographs, illustrations and maps, the accounts reveal the ways in which World War II was won and lost.