The Oxford Companion to World War II

A book with the word "Cambridge" or "Oxford" in the title is guaranteed to be authoritative, written by top-notch scholars, contain excellent maps and charts, and be as dryasdust. The "Oxford Companion to World War II" is no exception. Within these 1,000 pages is an enormous amount of information on countries, people, events, and battles of WW II. One can, for example, look up "Riom Trial" and get a two paragraph description of a trial of those held responsible for the fall of France. Or a 4-line description of "Force Viper" a small British marine force in Burma. Unfortunately, the selection of the topics worthy of a separate entry was more than a little Anglo-centric. The US Marine Corps Raiders were far more important that "Force Viper" but for information about them one is referred to a section of the article on the USA. Likewise, the Soviet Union is slighted. The Raid at Dieppe gets 2 columns of attention; the Battle of Stalingrad gets less than 4 columns. Was Stalingrad more than twice as important as Dieppe? Yes! It was a thousand times more important. The space devoted to description of battles often seems arbitrary rather than rational. The Normandy invasion gets 12 columns of attention; the second largest amphibious operation of the war, Okinawa, gets one column. That's a travesty. Midway -- the crucial turning point in the war for for the United States -- gets one measly column of attention. Another travesty. India, a British colony, gets eight pages; the battle of Iwo Jima only one column. The most valuable parts of the book are the numerous charts illustrating nearly every facet of the war. For example, on page 480 is a chart of Japanese production during the war including tanks, planes, and ships. On page 306 is a list of the aggregate strength and equipment of a US infantry divison: 14,253 men, 2,012 vehicles, 58 band members, 13 chaplins, 157 30 caliber machine guns, etc. On page 117 is described and illustrated "the corkscrew maneuver," a defensive strategy for bombers under attack by fighters. These are samples of the gems of information found in this book that would be difficult to find elsewhere. The above complaints notwithstanding "The Oxford Companion to World War II" is a superb reference book and every serious student of WW II should have it on his bookshelf. Smallchief

This book is without question the most useful and comprehensive reference book on the Seond World War to appear in a single-volume, paperback format. It presents data ranging from amazing weapon specifications to wonderfully detailed biographies. Along with the many facts and dates of WWII, the book also includes information that while not common knowledge, is vital to a complete understanding of the conflict. For example, the book explains the strategies, theories, and the complex organization of the axis and allies. In addition, this wealth of information is presented in an easily accessible manner. While it can be read like a book, it is most useful as a quick reference. When I'm reading a book and come upon something I'm not familiar with, I just look in the Oxford Companion for a concise, yet complete explanation. It truly is a superb book.

This compilation of World War Two information is incredibly useful for all purposes. It has in-depth information that breaks down every aspect of the war, including detailed charts and statistics, historical biographies, and provides articles on countless subjects that a person may have regarding World War II. I used this as a major reference source during the preparation of my history class presentations I do each day about World War II. The charts and stats tables used throughout the book make it indispensable, and well worth the cost.

This book is one of the most resourceful world war two books that I have purchased so far. It is full of facts dealing with every aspect of the second world war ranging from political issues of the war to information on weapons used to information on all of the battles and important areas and people having to do with the war.The book is set up in an encyclopedia form that is easy to follow and makes it easier to quickly find what you are looking for. I have been purchasing books on World War Two for the past few years, and this is the most informative one yet. This is truly a great book for anyone who is greatly interested in learning much about the second world war.

The most comprehensive book on the Second World War that I have ever read, and most likely ever will. This is a must have for any serious student's library. The sheer depth and coverage of all the war's major battles and powers is staggering, and presents it all in a clear, concise and encyclopedic format. Without a doubt one of the best of its kind