In his introduction, John Keegan discusses Churchill's historical methods and the extraordinary achievement of The Second World War. This volume also includes appendices, an index, maps and diagrams.

Winston Churchill's six-volume history of the cataclysm that swept the world remains the definitive history of the Second World War. Lucid, dramatic, remarkable both for its breadth and sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, it is universally acknowledged as a magnificent reconstruction and is an enduring, compelling work that led to his being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Closing the Ring chronicles the period between June 1943 and July 1944 as the Allies consolidated their gains towards a drive to victory: the fall of Mussolini, Hitler's 'secret weapon', the mounting air offensive on Germany, strategies to defeat Japan and the plans for D Day.

BOOK I

THE FALL OF FRANCE

THE NATIONAL COALmON

THE BATTLE OF FRANCE

The First Week. Gamelin

THE BATTLE OF FRANCE

The Second Week. Weygand

THE MARCH TO THE SEA

THE DELIVERANCE OF DUNKIRK

THE RUStI FOR THE SPOILS

BACK TO FRANCE

HOME DEFENCE. June

THE FRENCH ACONY

TIlE BORDEAUX ARMISTICE

ADMIRAL DARLAN AND THE FRENCH FLEET. ORAN

THE APPARATUS OF COUNTER-ATTACK. 1940

AT BAY

THE INVASION PROBLEM

OPERATION "SEA LION"

BOOK II

ALONE

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

THE BLITZ

"LONDON CAN TAKE IT"

THE WIZARD WAR

UNITED STATES DESTROYERS AND WEST INDIAN BASES

EGYPT AND THE MIDDLE EAST

THE MEDITERRANEAN PASSAGE

SEPTEMBER TENSIONS

DAKAR

MR. EDEN'S MISSION

RELATIONS WITH VICHY AND SPAIN

MUSSOLINI ATTACKS GREECE

LEND-LEASE

GERMANY AND RUSSIA

OCEAN PERIL

DESERT VICTORY

INDEX