National Perspectives on the Global Second World War

This collection of essays, written by authors of different nationalities, explores the experiences of the countries that were not numbered among the Second World War’s major belligerents, including colonies, 'lesser' powers, and neutral nation states. The story of the war is often dominated by the experiences, actions, and historical narratives of the major belligerent powers. By focusing on the war history of ten diverse countries, this analysis of the conflict’s global manifestations facilitates greater empathy with the experience of polities and societies dragged into regional and international conflicts. The volume offers valuable insights on the war’s place in national culture and collective memory. National Perspectives on the Global Second World War is an essential contribution to the study of the Second World War and will be of particular interest to scholars of imperial and colonial history, military history, and global history.

Introduction Ashley Jackson 1. An Unexpected Ally: Brazil at War Vinicius Mariano de Carvalho 2. A Crucible of Contradiction: Jamaican’s Loyalty to and Alienation from Empire during the Second World War Dalea Bean 3. Colonial Cyprus in the Second World War: A Neglected Contribution Marios Siammas 4. Iceland in the Second World War Guðmundur Hálfdánarson 5. The Military Alliance between Cuba and America during the Second World War Servando Valdés Sánchez 6. The Second World War and the Evolution of Tunisian Nationalism Jonathan Hill 7. In the Rear of Japan’s ‘Holy’ War: Death, Mobilization, and Everyday Life in Wartime Korea, 1937–1945 Yumi Moon 8. The Impact and Legacies of the Second World War in Zambia Albert Tembo 9. Thailand in the Second World War: A Failed Decolonization Attempt Wasana Wongsurawat 10. The Cost of Victory: Some Thoughts on the British Experience of the Second World War Andrew Stewart

Ashley Jackson is Professor of Imperial and Military History at King’s College London and a Visiting Fellow at Kellogg College Oxford. He is the author of numerous works on the history of the British Empire, particularly during the Second World War.