This course is a global history of the Second World War with an emphasis at the operational level and battlefield performance. The course focuses primarily on the land and naval campaigns in the Pacific and Asia, the German conquest of Western Europe, the titanic struggle between Germany and the Soviet Union in the east, and the final liberation of Europe made possible by the Allied landings at Normandy and the Soviet advance. Students will examine the strategy, organization, equipment, and leadership of the German, Japanese, Soviet, and Western Allied Armies. Students will also study the operations and the major battles of the war from 1939 to 1945. The course is replete with independent readings which students will find challenging, yet extremely rewarding. Prerequisite: EN 102