World War, 1939-1945 · Weltkrieg (1939-1945) · WORLD WAR (1939-1945)
A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II by Gerhard L. Weinberg — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
19941178 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 4.0 (1)
Rate it
What is A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II about?
From the Publisher: In a new edition featuring a new preface, A World of Arms remains a classic of global history. Widely hailed as a masterpiece, this volume remains the first history of World War II to provide a truly global account of the war that encompassed six continents. Starting with the changes that restructured Europe and its colonies following the First World War, Gerhard Weinberg sheds new light on every aspect of World War II. Actions of the Axis, the Allies, and the Neutrals are covered in every theater of the war. More importantly, the global nature of the war is examined, with new insights into how events in one corner of the world helped affect events in often distant areas.
A glimpse inside
A Global Perspective Beyond Europe
Weinberg’s central innovation is to treat World War II as a genuinely global conflict, not just a series of campaigns in Europe and the Pacific. He integrates events in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and even the neutral countries, showing how decisions and developments in one region reverberated across the world. This approach reveals the interconnectedness of military, political, and economic actions, and highlights the war’s impact on societies far from the main battlefields.
The War’s Origins in Interwar Instability
Rather than starting with the outbreak of hostilities in 1939, Weinberg traces the roots of the conflict to the unresolved tensions and political changes after World War I. He examines how the Treaty of Versailles, the economic depression, and the rise of radical ideologies set the stage for renewed global conflict. This context helps readers understand why the war spread so widely and why its stakes were so high.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 4.0 / 5
1 ratings
✦
Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1A Global Perspective Beyond Europe
- 2The War’s Origins in Interwar Instability
- 3Axis and Allied Decision-Making
- 4The Home Fronts and Civilian Experience
- 5The Role of Neutral and Minor Powers
Frequently asked
From the Publisher: In a new edition featuring a new preface, A World of Arms remains a classic of global history. Widely hailed as a masterpiece, this volume remains the first history of World War II to provide a truly global account of the war that encompassed six continents. Starting with the changes that restructured Europe and its colonies following the First World War, Gerhard Weinberg sheds