The British official set is one of the benchmark histories of the Second World War. While not containing as many volumes as the US "green books", under the guidance of editor-in-chief Sir James Butler the volumes chronicle every aspect of British participation in the war from Narvik to Baghdad to Madagascar to Rangoon to Hong Kong to Batavia. In addition to the "ground" volumes (which include co-authors from each branch of service and provide an integrated air/land/sea approach to the topics), the military portion of The History of the Second World War includes sub-sets covering Grand Strategy, The War at Sea, The Strategic Air Offensive, and British Intelligence in the Second World War. The civil portion of the history (not listed here) includes the multi-volume British Foreign Policy in the Second World War by Sir Llewellyn Woodward and other detailed accounts such as Merchant Shipping and the Demands of War by C. B. A. Behrens, Manpower: Study of War-Time Policy and Administration by H. M. D. Parker, and so on.

As we've said before, there is much that must be left out of official histories (in more than one case, authors of the official histories have revisited their subject matter with unofficial books), but these make an excellent starting point for any grand survey of World War II, and there is still much here that appears nowhere else. Every one of these titles comes highly regarded and highly recommended.

The originals are unfortunately out of print, but Battery Press and the Imperial War Museum have begun a joint program of reprinting. Original HMSO editions can be found secondhand for wildly varying prices, but in no case are they inexpensive. Nevertheless, these are among the most important books for anyone building a WWII library.

Grand Strategy

Gibbs, N. H. Volume 1: Rearmament Policy. London: HMSO, 1976

Butler, J. R. M. Volume 2: September 1939 - June 1941. London: HMSO, 1957

Gwyer, J. M. A. Volume 3, part 1: June 1941 - August 1942. London: HMSO, 1964

Butler, J. R. M. Volume 3, part 2: June 1941 - August 1942. London: HMSO, 1961

Howard, Michael. Volume 4: September 1942 - August 1943. London: HMSO, 1970

Ehrman, John. Volume 5: August 1943 - September 1944. London: HMSO, 1956

Ehrman, John. Volume 6: October 1944 - August 1945. London: HMSO, 1956

The Mediterranean and Middle East

Playfair, I. S. O. et al. Volume 1: The Early Successes Against Italy. London: HMSO, 1954

Playfair, I. S. O. et al. Volume 2: The Germans Come to the Help of Their Allies. London: HMSO, 1956

Playfair, I. S. O. et al. Volume 3: British Fortunes Reach Their Lowest Ebb. London: HMSO, 1960

Playfair, I. S. O. et al. Volume 4: The Destruction of Axis Forces in Africa. London: HMSO, 1966

Molony, C. J. C. et al. Volume 5: Sicily and Italy. London: HMSO, 1973

Molony, C. J. C. et al. Volume 6: Victory in the Mediterranean, part 1: April - June 1944. London: HMSO, 1984

Jackson, General Sir William. Volume 6: Victory in the Mediterranean, part 2: June - October 1944. London: HMSO, 1987

Jackson, General Sir William. Volume 6: Victory in the Mediterranean, part 3: November 1944 - May 1945. London: HMSO, 1988

The War Against Japan

Kirby, S. Woodburn et al. Volume 1: The Loss of Singapore. London: HMSO, 1957

Kirby, S. Woodburn et al. Volume 2: India's Most Dangerous Hour. London: HMSO, 1958

Kirby, S. Woodburn et al. Volume 3: The Decisive Battles. London: HMSO, 1961

Kirby, S. Woodburn et al. Volume 4: The Reconquest of Burma. London: HMSO, 1965

Kirby, S. Woodburn et al. Volume 5: The Surrender of Japan. London: HMSO, 1969

Victory in the West

Ellis, L. F. et al. Volume 1: The Battle of Normandy. London: HMSO, 1962

Ellis, L. F. Volume 2: The Defeat of Germany. London: HMSO, 1968

Other titles

Collier, Basil. The Defence of the United Kingdom. London: HMSO, 1957

Derry, T. K. The Campaign in Norway. London: HMSO, 1952

Ellis, L. F. The War in France and Flanders, 1939-1940. London: HMSO, 1953

Roskill, S. W. Volume 1: The Defensive. London: HMSO, 1954

Roskill, S. W. Volume 2: The Period of Balance. London: HMSO, 1956

Roskill, S. W. Volume 3: The Offensive, part 1. London: HMSO, 1960

Roskill, S. W. Volume 3: The Offensive, part 2. London: HMSO, 1961

Webster and Frankland. Volume 1. London: HMSO

Webster and Frankland. Volume 2. London: HMSO

Webster and Frankland. Volume 3: Victory. London: HMSO

Webster and Frankland. Volume 4: Annexes and Appendices. London: HMSO, 1961