World War II

dingdong77
4 min readOct 1, 2023

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World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries, making it the largest war in history. The war began with the invasion of Poland by Germany on September 1, 1939, and ended with the surrender of Germany and Japan on September 2, 1945.

Causes of World War II

There were many factors that contributed to World War II, including:

  • The failure of the League of Nations to prevent the expansionism of Germany, Japan, and Italy.
League of Nations
  • German dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I.
Treaty of Versailles
  • The rise of fascist governments in Germany, Italy, and Japan, which promoted expansionism and imperialism.
Fascist governments in Germany, Italy, and Japan
  • The global economic crisis of the 1930s, which created political and social instability.

War in Europe

The war in Europe began with the invasion of Poland by Germany on September 1, 1939. This invasion triggered a declaration of war from Britain and France, which began World War II.

In 1940, Germany quickly defeated France and the Netherlands. Germany then invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, which led to the long and bloody Eastern Front.

In 1942, the Allies began to launch a counter-offensive in Europe. The Allies defeated Germany in North Africa in 1943, and then invaded Italy in 1943.

In 1944, the Allies invaded France and Belgium. On June 6, 1944, D-Day, the Allies landed in Normandy, France. This landing marked a turning point in the war in Europe.

In 1945, the Allies defeated Germany in Europe. Berlin fell on May 2, 1945, and Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 7, 1945.

War in Asia

The war in Asia began with the invasion of Manchuria by Japan in 1931. Japan then invaded China in 1937, which led to the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Second SinoJapanese War

In 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which led to the United States entering World War II.

Pearl Harbor attack

Japan then invaded the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. In 1942, the Allies defeated Japan at the Battle of Midway, which marked a turning point in the war in Asia.

The Battle of Midway

In 1944, the Allies began to launch a counter-offensive in Asia. The Allies defeated Japan in the Philippines in 1944, and then invaded Iwo Jima and Okinawa in 1945.

In 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. These bombs led to Japan’s unconditional surrender on September 2, 1945.

Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Consequences of World War II

World War II had a devastating impact on the world. The war caused the deaths of over 60 million people, including 6 million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. The war also caused widespread physical destruction in Europe and Asia.

World War II also had a significant impact on the politics and economy of the world. The war led to the founding of the United Nations, which aims to prevent war in the future. The war also led to the rise of the United States as a dominant global power.

Conclusion

World War II was one of the most important events in modern history. The war caused major changes in the world order, and its effects are still felt today.

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