"The material in this book has previously appeared in the books The essential weapons identification guide : Small arms 1914-1945 and The essential weapons identification guide : Small arms 1945-present."--Title page verso.

Volume one : 1914-1945 -- World War I : Western Front and Dardanelles -- World War I : Eastern Front, Italy and the Balkans -- Interwar years -- World War II : Poland and Western Theatre -- World War II : Eastern Front -- World War II : Pacific Theatre -- Volume two : 1945-present -- Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Wars in Asia, 1947-89 -- Middle East and Africa, 1950-2000 -- Latin America, 1950-present -- Modern wars -- Peacekeeping, counter-terrorism & law enforcement -- Appendices -- Glossary.