I’ve been reading the roman side (as told by Livy) of the Second Punic War - You know the war with Hannibal crossing the Alps with elephants, and annihilating the Roman army at Cannae. There are quite a few parallels between it and World War II.

World war II

1. War is begun by the loser of the first world war
2. Lighting attack by the Germans through the "impassible" Ardennes forest, bypassing the main enemy forces waiting to block them.
3. Brilliant leaders on the German side.
4. Annihilation of the French and for all practical purposes, the British army.
5. Britain would not surrender, though without a army.
6. Germany could not take out England when they had a chance.
7. War was fought all over the place in multiple independent theaters
8. Brilliant leaders began emerging on the allied side.
9. The Allies after a long war push Germany up to the wall.
10. Germany would not surrender till beyond all hope was lost.

Second Punic War

1. War is begun by the loser of the first world war
2. Lighting attack by Carthage through the "impassible" Alps, bypassing the main enemy forces waiting to block them.
3. Brilliant leaders on the Carthagean side.
4. Aninnilation of the entire Roman army and then the second Roman army.
5. Rome would not surrender, though without a army.
6. Carthage could not take out Rome when they had a chance.
7. War was fought all over the place in multiple independant theaters
8. Brilliant leaders began emerging on the Roman side.
9. The Roman after a long war push Carthage up to the wall.
10. Carthage would not surrender till beyond all hope was lost.