The European and North African fronts were where World War II began and where many of its defining events took place. In this engrossing volume, readers learn the stories and strategies behind many of the seminal moments of World War II—from the invasion of Poland to the storming of Normandy's beaches on D-Day. A helpful timeline pinpoints the most important dates in the European and North African theaters, as well as on the Pacific front. Additional chapter-by-chapter timelines accompany wartime photographs and maps to further explain the scope of this war.