The book, Historical Maps Of World War II offers a different perspective on the many battles fought in Europe during the war with each map reflecting the interests and concerns at the time it was drawn.  World War II was the defining period in the Twentieth Century.  Before it, there was a world without nuclear weapons, the Holocaust had yet to happen and it was a time when Great Britain was the only "superpower" with interests that covered almost a third of the world.  After World War II came the Cold War, a world dominated by the United States and the U.S.S.R. each holding large arsenals of nuclear weapons capable of destroying the world.  The nations of the world also had to deal with the reality that during World War II approximately 40 million civilian and military personnel became fatalities.  "Historical Maps Of World War II" seeks to provide a different view of the war and suggests pathways for further research.  In over one hundred maps, "Historical Maps Of World War II" looks at both the broad sweep of events including the Allied invasion of Europe and at details like the midget two-man submarine attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz, which collectively provides an interesting sample of how events during the war were mapped out.  Maps and various illustrations were a vital component of the planning and reconnaissance put together in advance of a particular attack.  After a given battle, there was always the debriefing, analysis of the success or failure of the battle and ultimately the redrawing of new troop positions and boundaries.  Of note is the fact that all the maps, illustrated in "Historical Maps Of World War II" were drawn from the Public Record Office (PRO) at Kew in west London and include maps derived from a number of different government agencies and departments.  "Historical Maps Of World War II" is sure to appeal to the World War II buff and will complement the bookshelf of any military history enthusiast.  This book is 144 pages and is in excellent condition.  The authors are Michael Swift and Michael Sharpe.  Edition published in 2000.