World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a war fought from 1939 to 1945 in Europe and, during much of the 1930's and 1940's, in Asia. The war in Europe began in earnest on September 1st, 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, and concluded on September 2nd, 1945, with the official surrender of the last Axis nation, Japan. However, in Asia the war began earlier with Japanese interventions in China, and in Europe, the war ended earlier with the unconditional surrender of Germany on May 8th, 1945. The conflict spilled over into Africa, included a handful of incidents in the Americas, and a series of major naval battles. It was the largest armed conflict in history, spanning the entire world and involving more countries than any other war, as well as introducing powerful new weapons, culminating in the first use of nuclear weapons.
Causes for the War
Some believe that World War II was caused by the surrender of Germany in 1918 at the end of World War I, in which the German people wished for revenge on it's foes, while many others believe that it was because Adolf Hitler wished for more space for Germany, or as he said in his personal autobiography, "Mein Kamph," meaning "My Struggle," breathing room. It is said that Hitler initially invaded Poland in 1939 because of famine the country had been suffering. The same is said for Japan and it's invasion on China and Manchuria. Germany's agricultural areas, at the time, were in little numbers and very dispersed throughout the nation. As it's said, Hitler wanted to conquer the land to provide more space for farms which would generate more food, which, in turn, would lower the famine for the Fatherland. Most believe that it was because Hitler merely wished to rule the world, like a modern day Napoleon or Alexander. Japan would soon join the Axis powers on their conquests throughout Europe and Asia. Germany soon invaded Western Soviet Union in 1941, code named "Operation Barbarossa," breaking a peace treaty between the two nations. Japan would bring the US into the conflict because of its bombings on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in December of 1941, which was a failed attempt to keep the US neutral in the war. However, the US was already aiding the Allied powers in the fighting of Germany and Italy. After this incident, the United States, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain, which were the main three nations in the Allied powers, would continue to fight Germany, Japan, and Italy, the three main Axis powers, until 1945.
Countries Involved
AlliesUnited States
USSR Great Britain France China Poland Canada Australia India Greece Yugoslavia Netherlands Belgium New Zealand South Africa Norway Denmark Luxembourg Czechoslovakia Ethiopia Brazil Mexico Columbia Cuba Philippines Mongolia |
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AxisTripartite Pact
Germany Japan Italy Affiliate States Romania Hungary Bulgaria Slovakia Thailand Independent State of Croatia |
Political Systems of the Allied Nations
United States
The United States was, and still is a democratic nation, meaning that every person in the nation has a political stance. It was also a presidential democracy, which meant that a leader was to be elected, meaning that the people pick who they want to lead their nation.
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England
England was, and still is a constitutional monarchy, where there is a King or Queen, bu their power remains restricted by a Constitution, and all changes in laws or rules must first go through parliament. This differs from an absolute monarchy, where the King or Queen hold absolute power.
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Soviet Union
The Soviet Union was a Communist nation, which meant that all property was publicly owned and workers were paid based on their abilities and needs. This political system was derived from Karl Marx, a German philosopher who theorized social and economic activity.
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Political Systems of the Axis Powers
Germany
Germany was, at the time, a right-wing dictatorship, meaning that it was a fascist dictatorship. This means that Germany was an authoritarian nation which glorified the military, denounced international organizations and cooperation, and considered war an acceptable means for achieving national goals.
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Italy
The Kingdom of Italy was also a right-wing dictatorship. The only real difference was the two nations rulers, people, and geography.
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Japan
For the most part, Japan was a constitutional monarchy, but also supported militaristic actions, such as the invasions on China and Manchuria.
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Major Battles of World War II
Western Front
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Invasion of Normandy, which was a region in southern France. Operation Neptune, which is much more commonly known as D-Day, was a planned assault on Nazi-occupied western Europe. The invasion was planned to be commence June 5th, 1944, but was delayed a day later because of weather problems. When the allies did attack they stormed the five separate beaches surrounding Normandy: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches. US soldiers were assigned to Utah and Omaha, the British to Gold and Sword, and the Canadians to Juno. The primary objective of the operation was to establish, within the first day of the invasion, a force capable of resisting a counterattack for the amount of time necessary for the arrival of reinforcements in the following days. Rangers of the 2nd and 5th Battalion would made their way up Point du Hoc while the infantrymen on Utah and Omaha were doing the same. The night before, paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division would make a combat jump south of the beaches. Their goal was to protect against any enemy resistance coming that way, to provide support for the men on the beaches. Only 1 out of 6 landed where they were supposed to. As wave after wave of allied forces stormed the beaches and made their way up the cliff sides, the Germans would slowly succumb, eventually surrendering, allowing for full supplies and reinforcements to be shipped to them. Throughout the entire Battle of Normandy, over 450,000 allies and enemies were either dead, missing, or wounded.
Belligerents
Allies
Axis
Commanders
Allies
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Arthur Tedder
Bernard Montgomery
Trafford Leigh-Mallory
Bertram Ramsay
Axis
Erwin Rommel
Gerd von Rundstetd
Strength
Allies
1,452,000 troops (by the 25th of July)
2,052,299 (by the end of August)
Axis
380,000 troops (by 23 July) – 1,000,000+
2,200 – 2,300 tanks and assault guns
Casualties and Losses
Allies
225,606 to 226,386 casualties
4,101 planes
4,000 tanks
Allies
Axis
Commanders
Allies
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Arthur Tedder
Bernard Montgomery
Trafford Leigh-Mallory
Bertram Ramsay
Axis
Erwin Rommel
Gerd von Rundstetd
Strength
Allies
1,452,000 troops (by the 25th of July)
2,052,299 (by the end of August)
Axis
380,000 troops (by 23 July) – 1,000,000+
2,200 – 2,300 tanks and assault guns
Casualties and Losses
Allies
225,606 to 226,386 casualties
4,101 planes
4,000 tanks
Civilian Treatment
Almost everyone has heard of the atrocities of the Holocaust and what Hitler had done. Hundreds of concentration camps were set up for Jews, homosexuals, etc. The people being held within these camps were forced to labor all day, with virtually no water or food given to them. They also had to sleep in very close quarters. These camps were made to kill off the Jewish people living in Europe. Over 6 million Jews were killed from the time Hitler came into power and when Germany surrendered. The German people themselves were fine unless of course you were Jewish or homosexual. Japan treated their people as America does their own. Italy treated their people like they were trash. Mussolini would send his "Blackshirts" to the streets to beat people just to show a message of how powerful he is. America and England treated their people very well. But in America, if you were Japanese or were even Asian in general, you may have been relocated to the central states. Russia treated their people badly. They killed innocents and were merciless to all.
Civilian Contributions
In the US, you could have contributed to the war by giving a percentage of your pay in War Bonds, which helped finance military operations. People also gave out out food rations as a source to help. You may have also simply joined the military, if you hadn't been drafted in yet.
Surrender
The Axis powers surrendered. Italy had already surrendered in 1943 when Mussolini was thrown out of power. Germany had surrendered in May of 1945, when Adolf Hitler killed himself and the allies had conquered Europe. Japan surrendered in August of 1945 when the only two nuclear bombs ever used in war were dropped upon the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Aftermath
The US was left fine since it was never a target expect for Pearl Harbor. England, however, was under the constant bombing of the German Luftwaffe, so it's cities were left to rebuild. Russia's western front was left burnt to the ground. Almost all of Germany was destroyed and Italy was in the midst of a revolution. Japan was left burnt from air raids on it's major cities and the Marines took almost all islands surrounding Japan.
Prisoners of War
The prisoners captured after the was by the US, England, Australia, and Canada were given fair trials or were set free back to their homes. However, the prisoners of Russia were not so well off. Because of the sheer brutality the Germans let down upon the Russian people when they invaded, almost all Germans were tortured and/or executed. Almost all German prisoners of Russia were not freed.
New Policies
Japan was no longer allowed to have an army of a large size and Germany was left in ruins and without an army. Italy had already had a new leader and Mussolini had been killed.