Following the fall of France in June 1940, Britain was all but alone in Europe to carry on the fight against Nazi Germany.

In the spring of 1941 most of Europe was under German control. In the West only Britain remained in the fight. But it was largely a fight for survival.

For many, the Normandy landings in June 1944 are most associated with the liberation of Europe. But it was almost exactly the year before that parts of mainland Europe began to throw off the Nazi yoke.

Japan had been at war with China several years before the outbreak of the Second World War. As a result, her war machine was already up to speed as the wider conflict developed.