Author Description

The Long Shadows is the first book to offer global perspectives on the environmental history of World War II. Based on long-term research, the selected essays represent the best available studies in different fields and countries. With contributions touching on Europe, America, Asia, and Africa, the book has a truly global approach. The Long Shadows considers the profound and lasting impact World War II has had on global environments, encompassing polar, temperate, and tropical ecological zones. The first section of the book offers an introduction to and holistic overview of the war. The second section examines the social and environmental impacts of the conflict, while the third focuses on the history and legacy of resource extraction. A final section offers conclusions and hypotheses. Numerous themes and topics are explored in these previously unpublished essays, including the control of typhus fever, the environmental policies of the Third Reich, Japanese imperialism and marine resources, and the new innovative field of acoustic ecology. Aimed at researchers and students in the fields of environmental history, military history, and global history, The Long Shadows will also appeal to general readers interested in the environmental impact of the greatest military conflict in the history of the world. -- Back cover.