World War II was known as a global war. In fact, it was the most wide-spread war in history. It began in 1939 and lasted until 1945. This war involved 100 million people from 30 different countries.
WWII began on September 1, 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Germany. France and the UK then declared war on Germany. Germany formed the Axis alliance with Italy and later Russia and went on to conquer much of Europe. The UK and Britian invaded Russia in June, 1941. Then in December, 1941 Japan attacked the United States and Europe in the Pacific Ocean. The Axis advance was finally stopped in 1942 when Japan lost a critical battle near Hawaii and Germany was defeated in North Africa. The Allies invaded Italy in 1943 and the nation surrendered.
In 1944 the Western Allies invaded France while Russia invaded Germany and its' allies. At this time, the United States defeated the Japanese Navy. The war in Europe ended when the Allies invaded Germany and captured the city of Berlin. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. The war in Asia ended on August 15, 1945 following the dropping of atomic bombs by the United States on the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Following the war's end, the United States, the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, and France created the United Nations.
To date, WWII is considered the deadliest conflict in history with 50-85 million fatalities. It was also the first time nuclear weapons were used in military combat.
WWII began on September 1, 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Germany. France and the UK then declared war on Germany. Germany formed the Axis alliance with Italy and later Russia and went on to conquer much of Europe. The UK and Britian invaded Russia in June, 1941. Then in December, 1941 Japan attacked the United States and Europe in the Pacific Ocean. The Axis advance was finally stopped in 1942 when Japan lost a critical battle near Hawaii and Germany was defeated in North Africa. The Allies invaded Italy in 1943 and the nation surrendered.
In 1944 the Western Allies invaded France while Russia invaded Germany and its' allies. At this time, the United States defeated the Japanese Navy. The war in Europe ended when the Allies invaded Germany and captured the city of Berlin. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. The war in Asia ended on August 15, 1945 following the dropping of atomic bombs by the United States on the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Following the war's end, the United States, the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, and France created the United Nations.
To date, WWII is considered the deadliest conflict in history with 50-85 million fatalities. It was also the first time nuclear weapons were used in military combat.
Famous Points of the War
"The
"The Invasion of Poland"
This marked the beginning of WWII on September 1, 1939. Poland was invaded by Germany, the Soviet Union and a small Slavic contingent. Poland was conquered on October 6, 1939. This occurred shortly after German forces invaded from the north, south, and west. Inresponse, Polish forces withdrew from their forward operating bases that were close to the Polish/German border to establish defensive positions in the east. After Poland was defeated at the Battle of Bzura, the Germans had a major advantage. The Polish troops retreated to the south east and prepared to defend the Romanian bridgehead. They were awaiting support from France and the UK but when help came it was very limited. The Red Army invaded Poland on September 17th, crushing Polish defenses. Poland lost the bridgehead and evacuated all troops to neutral Romania. Poland was officially defeated at the Battle of Kock and German and Soviet forces took total control of the country.
"The Battle of Midway"
Known as the turning point in the war in the Pacific, this four day battle was fought between Japanese and U.S. aircraft in June, 1942. The U.S. destroyed hundreds of Japanese aircraft and regained control of the Pacific.
"Stalingrad"
On June 22, 1941 about 4 million German troops rushed the Russian border and within one month over 2.5 million Russians were killed, wounded, or captured. Germany seemed to be unstoppable but then winter hit and the German soldiers were unprepared to deal with the bitterly cold weather. They had only summer uniforms and weren't able to cope with the harsh Russian winter conditions. Russia increased its troops in the area by 2 million and in a last ditch effort the battle swung in its' favor. By the end of this 9 month battle, Germany's Sixth Army was almost completely destroyed.
"D-Day"
D-Day occurred on June 6, 1944 when General Dwight Eisenhower led the U.S. and Allied troops in an invasion of Normandy, France. Russian troops fought from the east and the armies moved through France, Belgium, and into Germany. This led to Germany's surrender on May 7, 1945.
"Hiroshima and Nagasaki"
Even after the war in Europe ended, Japan continued to fight. In an effort to bring the long-lasting war to an end and prevent more U.S. casualties, the U.S. decided to use atomic weapons. The plane, the Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, killing about 78,000 people and injuring 100,000 more. A second bomb was dropped 3 days later on Nagasaki, killing another 40,000 people. Faced with the threat of future attacks, Japan finally surrendered.
"The Holocaust"
The Holocaust was the systematic persecution and murder of approximately 6 million Jewish people by the German Nazi regime. The Nazi party led by Adolf Hitler came to power in January 1933 and held the belief that Germans were racially superior to other races. They believed other groups like Jews, Gypsies, Polish, and Russian people were inferior and set out to eradicate them. By 1945. two out of every three European Jews had been murdered. Hitler's reign of terror ended with Germany's surrender and his suicide shortly thereafter.
This marked the beginning of WWII on September 1, 1939. Poland was invaded by Germany, the Soviet Union and a small Slavic contingent. Poland was conquered on October 6, 1939. This occurred shortly after German forces invaded from the north, south, and west. Inresponse, Polish forces withdrew from their forward operating bases that were close to the Polish/German border to establish defensive positions in the east. After Poland was defeated at the Battle of Bzura, the Germans had a major advantage. The Polish troops retreated to the south east and prepared to defend the Romanian bridgehead. They were awaiting support from France and the UK but when help came it was very limited. The Red Army invaded Poland on September 17th, crushing Polish defenses. Poland lost the bridgehead and evacuated all troops to neutral Romania. Poland was officially defeated at the Battle of Kock and German and Soviet forces took total control of the country.
"The Battle of Midway"
Known as the turning point in the war in the Pacific, this four day battle was fought between Japanese and U.S. aircraft in June, 1942. The U.S. destroyed hundreds of Japanese aircraft and regained control of the Pacific.
"Stalingrad"
On June 22, 1941 about 4 million German troops rushed the Russian border and within one month over 2.5 million Russians were killed, wounded, or captured. Germany seemed to be unstoppable but then winter hit and the German soldiers were unprepared to deal with the bitterly cold weather. They had only summer uniforms and weren't able to cope with the harsh Russian winter conditions. Russia increased its troops in the area by 2 million and in a last ditch effort the battle swung in its' favor. By the end of this 9 month battle, Germany's Sixth Army was almost completely destroyed.
"D-Day"
D-Day occurred on June 6, 1944 when General Dwight Eisenhower led the U.S. and Allied troops in an invasion of Normandy, France. Russian troops fought from the east and the armies moved through France, Belgium, and into Germany. This led to Germany's surrender on May 7, 1945.
"Hiroshima and Nagasaki"
Even after the war in Europe ended, Japan continued to fight. In an effort to bring the long-lasting war to an end and prevent more U.S. casualties, the U.S. decided to use atomic weapons. The plane, the Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, killing about 78,000 people and injuring 100,000 more. A second bomb was dropped 3 days later on Nagasaki, killing another 40,000 people. Faced with the threat of future attacks, Japan finally surrendered.
"The Holocaust"
The Holocaust was the systematic persecution and murder of approximately 6 million Jewish people by the German Nazi regime. The Nazi party led by Adolf Hitler came to power in January 1933 and held the belief that Germans were racially superior to other races. They believed other groups like Jews, Gypsies, Polish, and Russian people were inferior and set out to eradicate them. By 1945. two out of every three European Jews had been murdered. Hitler's reign of terror ended with Germany's surrender and his suicide shortly thereafter.