History of World War II: Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias and other reference works are a great way to get background information and discover suggested readings on your research topic.  The articles will help you understand events and identify key figures who played an important role in them.  Some references are specialized and focus entirely on a specific conflict or war.  Bibliographies are typically found at the end of each article and list readings recommended by the subject matter expert for further study.

In addition to print references listed in the boxes below, you can use the following electronic resources to find information to begin your research:

Encyclopedia Britannica:  Articles on a variety of topics including countries, wars and world histories

Salem Press Reference Shelf: Find articles from reference works including Great Events from History and Weapons & Warfare