This illustrated WWII history explores how the UK survived attack and prepared for battle with fascinating then-and-now comparison photos. Following the fall of France in June 1940, Britain stood alone against Germany until the first American soldiers began arriving in Britain in January 1942. At that time the only active 'battlefront' was in North Africa, yet the Home Front played a vital role in preparing a secure base for the eventual liberation of Europe. This volume offers a fascinating look at life in Britain over the course of the entire war, from 1939 to 1945. With copious photographs, maps, and other reproductions, it captures the people who served, the equipment they used, and historic locations as they appeared then—and as they are today.