This collection of maps tells the story of World War II in Europe and Africa (1939–1945), a global conflict that emerged from unresolved tensions after World War I, economic instability, expansionist ambitions, and the rise of totalitarian regimes.
Beginning with the invasion of Poland in 1939 by Germany, the war expanded across Europe, Africa, and Asia, involving the Axis Powers (notably Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allied Powers (including Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States). Characterized by mechanized warfare, aerial bombardment, genocide, and total mobilization, the conflict resulted in unprecedented destruction and the deaths of tens of millions. The defeat of the Axis powers reshaped borders, divided Europe during the Cold War, and transformed the global balance of power for the remainder of the 20th century.
