World War II
World War II was a global conflict that lasted for six years, from 1939 to 1945. It was the largest and deadliest war in history, with over 70 million casualties. The war was fought between the Allied Powers, which included the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and the United Kingdom, and the Axis Powers, which included Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan. The war began with the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, and ended with the Allied victory in Japan in September 1945. In between, there were many important events, such as the Holocaust, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
Causes
The devastation of the Great War (as World War I was known at the time) had greatly destabilized Europe, and in many respects, World War II grew out of issues left unresolved by that earlier conflict. In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. The resulting crisis plunged Europe into war within weeks. Austria-Hungary, with the backing of Germany, then invaded Serbia. Russia, allied with Serbia, mobilized to defend its fellow Slavic nation, and soon much of Europe was at war.
Course
The course of World War II was largely determined by the initial success of Germany's blitzkrieg strategy in the early part of the war. The blitzkrieg, or "lightning war," relied on speed and surprise to overwhelm opponents. In the first few years of the war, Germany used the blitzkrieg to conquer much of Europe. The tide began to turn against Germany, however, after its defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943. From that point on, the Allies slowly pushed back the German forces, until Germany finally surrendered in 1945.
Consequences
The devastation of the Great War (as World War I was known at the time) had greatly destabilized Europe, and in many respects, World War II grew out of issues left unresolved by that earlier conflict. In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. The resulting crisis plunged Europe into war within weeks. The conflict quickly became a world war, pitting the Central Powers—mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey—against the Allies—mainly France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and, from 1917, the United States. The war was fought on multiple continents, with major battles in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, the Pacific, and the Arctic. More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history. An estimated 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians died as a result of the war, a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents' technological and industrial advances. Aircraft and tanks first appeared on the battlefield, and chemical weapons were used for the first time. The Allies developed sophisticated technology, including radar, the Enigma machine (used to decode German messages), sonar, and the proximity fuse. The war ended in victory for the Allies, but at a tremendous cost: an estimated 50 to 85 million people perished, including 6 million Jews who were systematically murdered in Nazi concentration and extermination camps in an event known as the Holocaust.
Legacy
The Second World War was one of the most destructive conflicts in human history. It resulted in the deaths of millions of people, as well as the displacement of millions more. The war also had a profound effect on the world economy, with entire industries being destroyed or disrupted. In addition, the war led to the development of new technologies, which would have a lasting impact on the world. The legacy of the Second World War is still felt today, and it is important for young people to learn about this period in history.
