Introduction -- Chronology -- Background to war -- The road to D-Day -- Warring sides -- A military audit -- Outbreak -- The Allies invade France -- The fighting -- From D-Day to victory -- Portrait of a soldier -- Donald Burgett -- The world around war -- Rationing and retaliation -- Portrait of a civilian -- Brenda McBryde -- How the war ended -- The road to VE Day -- Conclusion and consequences -- "The most devastating and costly war."