This book, inspired by the concerns of countless readers, "Where and how should I begin to learn about World War II?", presents the history of the war, which has been difficult to approach due to its enormous volume, complex list of names of people and places, and numerous battles and events, in an accessible and engaging way, like a novel.
The author, a former military officer, accurately conveys historical facts based on various documents and materials, while composing the book in a storytelling style that makes it accessible to everyone.
The photographs at the end of each chapter, capturing crucial moments in history, help readers feel more present and understand the content.
Rather than a rigid chronological listing, the story focuses on the characters' perspectives and dramatic events, and the introduction and commentary of interesting episodes hidden throughout make it an enjoyable read even for readers new to World War II.

It illuminates the crucial moments of World War II in a three-dimensional way, such as how Hitler seized power during Germany's chaos, whether the collapse of France in the Ardennes Forest was truly due to the German army's meticulous blitzkrieg, how General Rommel, the Desert Fox who repeatedly wrote legends on the battlefield, was defeated on the North African front, and how the Japanese myth of the emperor's decision putting an end to the war was born.
Also, famous battlefield scenes that changed the course of world history, such as the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway, the Normandy Landings (D-Day), and the Battle of Stalingrad, are realistically presented as if you were there.
Through this book, readers will experience not just a simple list of battles, but the "real" history of war, the choices and tragedies that humanity has made, and the hope that blossomed within them.

A moment later, Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu, representing the defeated Empire of Japan, stepped forward to sign.
He limped to the signing table, symbolizing the image of a defeated nation.
It was because his right leg was amputated and he wore a prosthetic leg due to the righteous deed of Dr. Yun Bong-gil that took place in Hongkou Park in 1932.
It may seem like something that has nothing to do with us, but even in this scene that marked the end of World War II, we can find traces of our country's independence movement.
--- From the author's note

A man appears like a comet in the Munich area of ​​southern Germany.
…the man, under orders from his superior, heads to a shabby bar, the main meeting place of the political group.
But at the political rally where he was supposed to be monitoring, the man was actually impressed.
The useless talk and empty discussions seemed like empty promises from cowardly idealists to him, who had personally experienced the war in the field.
The man's discontent reaches its climax when he steps up to the podium and begins to tell his story.
… Word of the man's speech spread like wildfire, and on the days he appeared, the beer halls of Munich were soon packed.
…this man's name is 'Adolf Hitler'.
--- From the "Prologue"

The German units, having completed their preparations, only checked the situation of the neighboring units and then immediately advanced to the rear of the French forces.
German tanks also rushed towards the rear area where the French command was located.
Then, a rumor quickly began to spread among the French 55th Infantry Division that 'tanks have appeared!'
In the end, the French army, psychologically shocked, collapsed without even being able to launch a proper counterattack at the division level.
…As it was later revealed, the German tanks had not yet advanced near the headquarters.
It was truly a misfortune for the French army.
To be crushed by German tanks that hadn't even advanced yet! The 55th Infantry Division was a hastily organized reserve division to defend the Ardennes Forest, so focused on bunker construction that they even self-deprecatingly called themselves construction workers, not soldiers.
Therefore, the psychological shock from even a small German tank unit's attempt to break through was enormous, and as rumors gradually spread among the soldiers on the front lines, the French army collapsed on its own.
--- From Chapter 4

The U.S. shipbuilding industry has just warmed up, churning out countless transport ships and destroyers, and is also starting to produce medium-sized aircraft capable of long-range air strikes.
With the enormous production capacity of the United States, more transport ships were built than were sunk by U-boats, and the U-boats' role began to fade.
Moreover, while the Allied air power steadily grew, the German air power that had to deal with it gradually weakened.
The German Air Force had long since lost the formidable air power it had enjoyed at the beginning of the war, and so U-boat crews were forced to constantly keep a close eye on the air defenses, their eyes fixed on the sky.
--- From Chapter 8

On January 30, 1943, the year changed, Paulus, who was trapped in the Stalingrad encirclement, received news of his promotion to Marshal.
It was like an unofficial suicide order from Hitler.
Because, in the tradition dating back to the Prussian era, not a single marshal ever surrendered.
…On January 31, the day after his promotion to Marshal, Paulus was captured by Soviet troops at his 'command center' in the basement of a department store in Stalingrad.
When the Soviet troops stormed his command post, the sight of Paulus slowly rising from a huge pile of garbage and waste was quite shocking to the Soviet troops.

--- From Chapter 13

But just as the Japanese were preparing to launch a new attack, American aircraft reappeared over Hiryu.
They rain down dozens of dive bombs on Hiryu, and he is literally pummeled.
However, there were no problems with the voyage itself, except that the deck was blown away, making takeoff and landing of aircraft impossible, thanks to the concentrated damage on the deck.
However, the battle's outcome was virtually certain, as the deck had been destroyed, making it impossible for aircraft to take off or land.
--- From Chapter 14

Against the Yamato battleship's 18.1-inch main guns, the American light aircraft carriers resisted to the end, firing their own paltry 5-inch guns.
He was literally struggling, throwing away everything he could get his hands on.
It was a desperate situation.
Then, suddenly, American destroyers began to rush toward the enemy.
A 2,500-ton American destroyer launched a reckless assault on the 72,000-ton Yamato.
In order to save the precious aircraft carrier, the destroyer gave up its survival and decided to become a cannon fodder for the battleship.
All but one of the four American destroyers that attempted the attack were sunk, but their courage was truly remarkable.
They approached a battleship of incomparable size to theirs and fired torpedoes, and the battleships Yamato and Nagato, which were trying to evade the attack, suffered a disaster by being blown away from the battlefield in the same direction they were turning.

--- From Chapter 19