Overview of World War II
World War II, spanning from September 1, 1939, to September 2, 1945, was a global conflict involving most nations and resulting in over 70 million deaths. It began with Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland, prompting declarations of war by France and the United Kingdom. The war pitted the Axis powers (primarily Germany, Italy, and Japan) against the Allies (including the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and China). Key phases included the rapid expansion of Axis territories in Europe and Asia, followed by Allied counteroffensives that led to victory.
Major Phases and Turning Points
The war unfolded in distinct phases: the Blitzkrieg conquests of 1939-1940, including the fall of France and the Battle of Britain; Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, drawing the United States into the conflict; and the Eastern Front's brutal stalemate after Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. Turning points included the Allied victory at the Battle of Midway in 1942, which halted Japanese expansion in the Pacific, and the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943), marking the beginning of Germany's retreat in Europe.
Key Example: D-Day Invasion
A pivotal event was Operation Overlord, or D-Day, on June 6, 1944, when Allied forces launched the largest amphibious assault in history on Normandy, France. Over 156,000 troops from the U.S., Britain, Canada, and other nations landed on five beaches, supported by airborne divisions and naval bombardment. This invasion opened a second front in Western Europe, weakening German defenses and accelerating the liberation of occupied territories, ultimately contributing to the fall of Nazi Germany.
End of the War and Global Impact
The war concluded with Germany's unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945 (VE Day), following the Soviet capture of Berlin and Adolf Hitler's suicide. In the Pacific, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender on September 2 (VJ Day). The conflict reshaped international relations, leading to the formation of the United Nations, the division of Europe into Cold War blocs, and decolonization movements worldwide, while highlighting the horrors of total war and genocide.