World War II (sep 1, 1939 – jan 1, 2195)

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World War II is considered the most deadly conflict in human history and mostly occurred in Europe, though there were also battles in Africa and Asia. It was a fight against the Allies and the Axis Powers. The Allies comprised the following countries throughout World War II: the United States of America, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, China, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Brazil, Poland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Yugoslavia, and many others. The Axis Powers comprised Germany, Italy, Japan, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Croatia, and Finland.

World War II has many causes, but I have found a couple in my brief description. The Treaty of Versailles resulted in harsh penalties on Germany, such as loss of territory, military, and war reparations, ultimately resulting in resentment and economic hardship for the nation. Germans considered these penalties and restrictions as unfair and humiliating, further resulting in the rise of nationalist movements. Due to the economic hardship that Germany faced in the 1920s, it created space for a new person in charge. This led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in 1933. Hitler wanted to bring the strength back to Germany. In Italy, Benito Mussolini took control in 1922, wanting to expand Italy's territories. In Japan, Hideki Tojo and Emperor Hirohito took over, aiming to take the whole of Asia up. Finally, in Russia, Joseph Stalin ruled over Russia. These are all examples of the rise of totalitarian regimes throughout the Second World War.

During World War II, Germany remilitarized Rhineland, Austria, and Sudetenland, Italy invaded Ethiopia, and Japan invaded Manchuria and China. The invasion of the Japanese into Manchuria and China resulted in many deaths, for example, the Nanjing Massacre. The World War was a time of expansion and aggression throughout many nations. The League of Nations was also created after World War I, trying to create international peace, but ultimately failed because it was too weak to fight the opposing aggression. Another way World War II was rising was due to Britain and France letting Hitler take over Czechoslovakia in 1938, also known as the Munich Agreement, to avoid war. Instead of seeing it as a peace treaty, Hitler thought it was a sign that the Allies would be unable to stop him. World War II officially began in September 1939. On September 1, Germany invaded Poland. Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Through Blitzkrieg, also known as the Lightning War, Germany conquered Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, and France. Finally, through many battles and oppression, France surrendered to Germany on June 22, 1944. The Battle of Britain in 1940 was when Germany bombed Britain in an air campaign, also known as the Blitz, but failed to make Britain surrender. Britain, led by Winston Churchill, resisted the continuous German attacks. On June 22, 1941, Hitler broke the pact he once had with Stalin and invaded the Soviet Union. Germans reached Moscow but were stopped by the harsh Russian winter conditions. Instead of coming out victorious, this invasion led to a disaster for Germany. The Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entry into the World War is recognized worldwide. On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. A day later, the United States of America declared war against Japan. Part of the Axis Powers, Germany, and Italy declared war against the United States of America three days later. The Battle of Stalingrad lasted from August 1942 to February 1943. This battle was when the Soviet Union defeated Germany in one of the bloodiest battles in history. In June of 1942, the U.S. defeated Japan in the Battle of Midway, taking control over the Pacific.

The Allies began to fight back, starting on June 6, 1944, which is known as D-Day. This was when the U.S., Britain, and Canada invaded Nazi-occupied Normandy, France. On April 30, 1945, Hitler committed suicide in Berlin, Germany. On May 8, 1945, known as V-E Day, Germany surrendered to the Allies. Also, in 1945, the U.S. started its efforts to retake control over the Pacific. On August 6, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, later dropping a second bomb three days later in Nagasaki, Japan. On August 15, on what is known as V-J Day, Japan surrendered, ending World War II.

There were many consequences of World War II, such as an estimated 70 to 85 million deaths. The Holocaust also occurred during World War II, when over 6 million Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany. After World War II, the U.S. and the Soviet Union were considered superpowers, and their tensions led to the Cold War. After World War II, the United Nations (UN) was created in 1945, which, unlike the League of Nations, had more power to prevent future international conflicts. After World War II, Germany was also divided into the East and West, where the East was Soviet-controlled, and the U.S. and Allies controlled the West. Japan was also occupied by the U.S. and rebuilt to become a democracy.

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