Book excerpt: The Clever Teens' Guide to World War Two: The perfect guide for background reading or revision. The war that shaped the 20th century and the course of history; a total war covering the entire globe. Fought on land, sea, and air, World War 2 put the civilian, however young or old, in the frontline of war. It was by far the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by over 50 million fatalities. It began (arguably) with Germany’s invasion of Poland in September 1939 and finally finished six years later with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945. The Clever Teens’ Guide to World War Two covers all the major facts and events, giving you a clear and straightforward overview of the politics involved, the violence that ensued and how it changed the world in unimaginable ways.