World War II Almanac: 1931-1945 [antikvár]

IntroductionThis chronological account of World War II begins in 1931, eight years before the outbreak of hostilities. No one can understand how war began without going back to its origins. It seemed that 1931 was the pivotal year in which events, political and military, began unfolding which led directly to the global conflict.World War II was mankind's greatest cataclysm. What we did to each other is almost beyond human conception. More than 50 million people were killed. The economic cost can never iDe fully calculated, but the conservative estimates of at least $2 trillion indicate its dimensions. There is hardly a person alive today whatever the agewho has not felt its impact. For the 85 million men and women who served as combatants and survived, the influence of the war was direct and profound. All others, including today's youngest children, have been touched by the political, economic, and social consequences of the world's first total war. More than twice as many civilians died than did uniformed soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Young and old of all races and religions perished as innocent victims of the juggernaut of war and genocide.There is an understandable fascination which is neither macabre nor militaristicabout World War II. Any event approaching its ghastly dimensions would command infinite attention.The experience is still near enough in time to provide retrospective interest for those who lived through it and to spark intellectual curiosity among those unborn at the time. This book was thus compiled for virtually everyone, and if it encourages objectivity beyond narrow nationalisms, so much the better.A word on dates and data. It is surprising how often participants and historians disagree on them. Wherever possible, I have tried to go back to original or basic sources where conflicts existed. The dates are those of the area in which the event occurred. Pearl Harbor was attacked December 7, Hawaiian time, and is so recorded in this book, even though it was December 8 in Japan.As for geographical name confusion, the style was to stick to the spelling of the country which possessed the city or territory when the war began. For example, Brno is the Czech form, used in preference to the German Briihn. When the name differs from today's designation, I have provided wherever possible the present-day name and/or spelling in parentheses. Manchukuo did exist as a Japanese-sponsored state, and as a governmental entity it is referred to as such, but Manchuria was the choice for general references to the region.