Welcome to World War II, where you could find topics and information that are based on the years throughout the war. As well as, key terms, key people, an exam, a timeline, and an overview on the war. Hope you obtain enough information and find some interesting facts!
Overview of War World II
The introduction to the second world war can be a tangle of webs that historians have proudly figured out. Besides the more common comments, like World War II was such a gruesome and bloody war, we now know the years between WWI and WWII had an escalating effect that snowballed the world into another war. There remains controversial ideas of these interwar years, and how certain decisions could have been prevented the war from even happening in the first place. Nonetheless, a poignant moment in time was the treaty of Versailles in 1919. Although at the time people's discretion was not on the future, but rather punishing Germany for their actions in WWI. However, Germany was not even included at this conference for a treaty, and many decisions were made by superpower countries that had had heavy losses throughout the war. Therefore, the blame was placed on the Germans, and economically they were broke. Leading into the Great Depression,where many parts of the world had trouble stabilizing their economy from the expenses that the war had caused. By far, Germany had turned into a poor state, and millions were dying and jobless. While inflation was high, and hopes were down, one man saw an opportunity to use the power of speech to regain Germany as once was.Adolf Hitler, rapidly rose to power, injecting the German country with nationalism and fascism. By 1933, Hitler became the chancellor of Germany, enforcing his Nazi ideology. One thing is for sure, Germany was whole once again and steadily increasing their power. No one would have known, that one man and one country could cause devastation from the outcome of prior devastation. Fear was still palpable among the European nations, but regardless, war was on its way.
On August 23 a nonaggression pact was signed between Hitler and Stalin promising not to attack or invade each other’s country. Following the pact the master minds of Stalin and Hitler combined came to a conclusion that Poland should be divided between both leaders. Now, that Hitler invaded Poland France and Great Britain declared war on Germany and Hitler uses his newest strategic military plan,Blitzkrieg, to attack Poland and it was a success. Along the Maginot Line the French and the British assembled their troops, however the Germans and French waited for an attack from Germany which is why it was called the sitzkrieg which mean the sitting war in German. Hitler then invaded Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark, and Norway which was a path leading up to the attack of France. After France tries to fight back France is on the edge of being defeated so Benito Mussolini from Italy joins with Germany to fight against Britain and France. Germany then attacks Britain but then he wanted to stop fighting with Britain and turn his attention to Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. After Hitler ends the Battle of Britain, Italy and Germany invades North Africa due to Mussolini, therefore Germany went along with the plan and Italy helped Germany when Germany went into France. But, the British decided to fight back and the Italian soldiers suffered the most when Britain went into North Africa. Hitler knew he had to help Italy out and sent in Erwin Rommel to introduce a newly formed tank corps which was the Afrika Korps. From then on it was a battle between Rommel and the British, the British forced Rommel to where he started and the the British went to Tobruk, it was a loss for the Allies. Hitler came up with a plan to attack the Soviet Union which was his ally. For preparation for the invasion in the USSR Hitler went into the Balkan and Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary joined with Hitler in the Axis Power. Now with the Balkan on his side the invasion of the USSR was near. When the invasion happened about 1 million people died due to starvation under Hitler in Leningrad when he isolated the country in order for the city to surrender. Another city that caught Hitler’s eye in Russia was Moscow. Moscow was rescued and several Germans died. America on the other hand, learned from World War I to not aid the nations in war. So, it was illegal to send arms to the nations however if the Allies suffered so did the U.S. But, the U.S. Navy aided British ships with armed forces. The U.S. attack a German ship and President Roosevelt ordered the U.S. Navy to fire at the German ships.
On December 7,1941 was “a date which will live in infamy” says President Roosevelt. In 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese ships and took down several U.S. fleets. This started with the Japanese plan to invade Southeast Asian colonies. Two of those colonies that Japan wanted to invade were the Philippine Islands and Guam which were controlled by America. America knew that the invasion would affect their country as well. After Japan invaded French Indochina President Roosevelt stopped all oil shipments to Japan. Japan became furious and decided to attack the U.S. unexpectedly. That was when the attack of Pearl Harbor occurred, and the U.S. declared war with Japan the next day. Japan decided to invade other Pacific colonies and went into Guam and Wake Island and the Philippines. Japan also went into Burma which is between China and India. Following the invasion the Bataan Death March happened, which was when Filipinos and Americans were held as prisoners by the Japanese. The Allies furious about the attack decided to bomb Tokyo in Japan. Japan later headed toward the Midway Island which was west of Hawaii and an American airfield. However, American knew about the attack before Japan put the plan into action and American attacked Japanese fleets. That was when Japan withdrew from the war, but it does not end because American learned about Japan building an air base in Guadalcanal and Solomon. In 1942 the Allies fought against the Japanese in Guadalcanal and the battle finally ended in 1943.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor sparked America to join World War Two which fostered a positive conquest for the conflict over the Pacific after the victory of the Allied Forces in Europe. As a result of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor American forces attacked the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs on August 6th and 9th 1945, hindering Japan’s power in the war to the point of their defeat. After these bombs were dropped the Imperial government of Japan consulted with Emperor Hirohito in hopes to convince him to surrender. Thus, on September 2nd 1945 Hirohito agreed in theory to surrender after which on August 15th 1945 Japan formally surrendered, ending World War Two entirely.
The end of World War II had caused just as much devastation and destruction as the first world war had. Europe, being the one hit the most, had severe losses, close to 40 million Europeans had died. Many homes, shops, and even the countryside were turned to rubble from the constant bombing and shelling. To the east, the situation, if even possible, was far worse. Poland's capital, Warsaw, had almost been wiped out completely, with only 153,000 people remaining. In Berlin, the city consisted of dead and damages, having 95 percent of the city demolished by the Allied powers. Furthermore, many people were displaced from their homes, either from being forced to leave or voluntarily. In addition, these lost people would join up bands and included survivors of concentration camps, prisoners of war, and refugees from the Soviet army. Politics in the aftermath was focused on the reconstruction of Europe, and an important attempt at justice. The Military Tribunal, in 1946, represented 23 nations that persecuted Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg, Germany. This was referenced as the Nuremberg trails, accusing Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels, Marshall Hermann Goring, and Rudolf Hess of crimes against humanity. Many of them were never tried because they killed themselves. Moreover, even after the atomic bombings in Japan, some people still wanted to fight, therefore the U.S. occupied Japan under the watch of General MacArthur.He proceeded to disband the Japanese armed forces, also known as demilitarization Japan, like many European nations now, changed its empire into a parliamentary democracy on May 3, 1947. Eventually, after the formal peace treaty in 1951, Japan and the U.S. become allies. The political spectrum had radically changed in the world, those that were called friends became foes. However, out of this chaos, destruction, and pain came a silver lining of an important lesson the world had learned. As much as power seems to be beautiful, the beauty is just as deadly. This war will forever remain a reference point in history to look back upon, and remember to not make the same mistake twice.
On August 23 a nonaggression pact was signed between Hitler and Stalin promising not to attack or invade each other’s country. Following the pact the master minds of Stalin and Hitler combined came to a conclusion that Poland should be divided between both leaders. Now, that Hitler invaded Poland France and Great Britain declared war on Germany and Hitler uses his newest strategic military plan,Blitzkrieg, to attack Poland and it was a success. Along the Maginot Line the French and the British assembled their troops, however the Germans and French waited for an attack from Germany which is why it was called the sitzkrieg which mean the sitting war in German. Hitler then invaded Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark, and Norway which was a path leading up to the attack of France. After France tries to fight back France is on the edge of being defeated so Benito Mussolini from Italy joins with Germany to fight against Britain and France. Germany then attacks Britain but then he wanted to stop fighting with Britain and turn his attention to Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. After Hitler ends the Battle of Britain, Italy and Germany invades North Africa due to Mussolini, therefore Germany went along with the plan and Italy helped Germany when Germany went into France. But, the British decided to fight back and the Italian soldiers suffered the most when Britain went into North Africa. Hitler knew he had to help Italy out and sent in Erwin Rommel to introduce a newly formed tank corps which was the Afrika Korps. From then on it was a battle between Rommel and the British, the British forced Rommel to where he started and the the British went to Tobruk, it was a loss for the Allies. Hitler came up with a plan to attack the Soviet Union which was his ally. For preparation for the invasion in the USSR Hitler went into the Balkan and Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary joined with Hitler in the Axis Power. Now with the Balkan on his side the invasion of the USSR was near. When the invasion happened about 1 million people died due to starvation under Hitler in Leningrad when he isolated the country in order for the city to surrender. Another city that caught Hitler’s eye in Russia was Moscow. Moscow was rescued and several Germans died. America on the other hand, learned from World War I to not aid the nations in war. So, it was illegal to send arms to the nations however if the Allies suffered so did the U.S. But, the U.S. Navy aided British ships with armed forces. The U.S. attack a German ship and President Roosevelt ordered the U.S. Navy to fire at the German ships.
On December 7,1941 was “a date which will live in infamy” says President Roosevelt. In 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese ships and took down several U.S. fleets. This started with the Japanese plan to invade Southeast Asian colonies. Two of those colonies that Japan wanted to invade were the Philippine Islands and Guam which were controlled by America. America knew that the invasion would affect their country as well. After Japan invaded French Indochina President Roosevelt stopped all oil shipments to Japan. Japan became furious and decided to attack the U.S. unexpectedly. That was when the attack of Pearl Harbor occurred, and the U.S. declared war with Japan the next day. Japan decided to invade other Pacific colonies and went into Guam and Wake Island and the Philippines. Japan also went into Burma which is between China and India. Following the invasion the Bataan Death March happened, which was when Filipinos and Americans were held as prisoners by the Japanese. The Allies furious about the attack decided to bomb Tokyo in Japan. Japan later headed toward the Midway Island which was west of Hawaii and an American airfield. However, American knew about the attack before Japan put the plan into action and American attacked Japanese fleets. That was when Japan withdrew from the war, but it does not end because American learned about Japan building an air base in Guadalcanal and Solomon. In 1942 the Allies fought against the Japanese in Guadalcanal and the battle finally ended in 1943.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor sparked America to join World War Two which fostered a positive conquest for the conflict over the Pacific after the victory of the Allied Forces in Europe. As a result of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor American forces attacked the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs on August 6th and 9th 1945, hindering Japan’s power in the war to the point of their defeat. After these bombs were dropped the Imperial government of Japan consulted with Emperor Hirohito in hopes to convince him to surrender. Thus, on September 2nd 1945 Hirohito agreed in theory to surrender after which on August 15th 1945 Japan formally surrendered, ending World War Two entirely.
The end of World War II had caused just as much devastation and destruction as the first world war had. Europe, being the one hit the most, had severe losses, close to 40 million Europeans had died. Many homes, shops, and even the countryside were turned to rubble from the constant bombing and shelling. To the east, the situation, if even possible, was far worse. Poland's capital, Warsaw, had almost been wiped out completely, with only 153,000 people remaining. In Berlin, the city consisted of dead and damages, having 95 percent of the city demolished by the Allied powers. Furthermore, many people were displaced from their homes, either from being forced to leave or voluntarily. In addition, these lost people would join up bands and included survivors of concentration camps, prisoners of war, and refugees from the Soviet army. Politics in the aftermath was focused on the reconstruction of Europe, and an important attempt at justice. The Military Tribunal, in 1946, represented 23 nations that persecuted Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg, Germany. This was referenced as the Nuremberg trails, accusing Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels, Marshall Hermann Goring, and Rudolf Hess of crimes against humanity. Many of them were never tried because they killed themselves. Moreover, even after the atomic bombings in Japan, some people still wanted to fight, therefore the U.S. occupied Japan under the watch of General MacArthur.He proceeded to disband the Japanese armed forces, also known as demilitarization Japan, like many European nations now, changed its empire into a parliamentary democracy on May 3, 1947. Eventually, after the formal peace treaty in 1951, Japan and the U.S. become allies. The political spectrum had radically changed in the world, those that were called friends became foes. However, out of this chaos, destruction, and pain came a silver lining of an important lesson the world had learned. As much as power seems to be beautiful, the beauty is just as deadly. This war will forever remain a reference point in history to look back upon, and remember to not make the same mistake twice.