"Blood and Ruins: The Last Imperial War, 1931-1945" by Richard Overy reinterprets World War II as the culmination of a century of global imperial expansion, where nations like Germany, Japan, and Italy sought to challenge the existing imperial order. Overy argues that the war's origins lie in the "New Order" states' ambitions for territorial control and resources, mirroring the earlier scramble for colonies. The book expands the traditional timeline, beginning with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931, and emphasizes the global nature of the conflict, including the Asian theater and the war's impact on the imperial system itself.

>>24545524
Probably the best book on WWII I've ever read.