World War II: Leaders & People

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Leaders & People of World War II

Fought on a global scale, World War II required the rapid expansion of armies and navies to meet the threat posed by the enemy. While the major combatants all possessed a core of professional officers and soldiers, these were soon supplemented by large numbers of volunteers and conscripts with over 100 million mobilized by war's end. As the fighting raged, less effective leaders were weeded out and replaced with those capable of achieving victory. Many of these successful soldiers and sailors became household names and would later play key roles in the postwar world.

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