World War II was the greatest conflict of the 20th century. Fought on every continent except Antarctica and across every ocean, it was truly a "world war." Like many other wars, over time it evolved. Modern technology and strategic advancements changed the rules of combat forever, allowing for widespread attacks from the air, the ground, and the sea.The war encompassed the feats of extraordinary heroes and the worst villains imaginable, with thrilling triumphs and heartrending tragedies. Starting with the end of World War I in 1918 and the rise of Hitler, EUROPE IN FLAMES documents the German invasion of Poland in 1939, of Western Europe in 1940, and of the Soviet Union in 1941.