The second volume focuses on the lead-up to Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, and the first three months of the Great Patriotic War. It provides a detailed analysis of fascist plans to establish global dominance and destroy the Soviet state, as well as the inconsistent nature of the pre-war policies of Western European democracies and the United States. The volume includes extensive factual material on the Soviet Union’s preparations to counter fascist expansion. It vividly depicts the tense and dramatic circumstances in which the country found itself—unprovoked aggression that caught the nation off guard—and highlights the dedication and heroism of Red Army soldiers who thwarted Hitler’s "lightning war" plan. The book also portrays the transformation of the Soviet Union into a unified wartime front, illustrating how the entire society shifted from peace to total war in defense of the homeland and its sacred values. A compelling read for a broad audience interested in the history of the Motherland.