Overview
World War II (1939–1945) was a global conflict between the Allied and Axis powers, resulting in massive destruction, immense loss of life, and significant changes to the world order.
Causes and Outbreak
- Treaty of Versailles and unresolved issues from World War I created tension in Europe.
- Rise of fascism in Germany (led by Hitler), Italy (Mussolini), and militarism in Japan.
- Pre-war events: Japan invaded Manchuria (1931), Italy invaded Ethiopia (1935), Spanish Civil War (1936–1939).
- Germany annexed Austria (Anschluss), Sudetenland, and invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, starting WWII.
- UK and France declared war on Germany; Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland.
Major Participants and Leaders
- Allied Powers: UK (Churchill), USA (Roosevelt), Soviet Union (Stalin), China (Chiang Kai-shek), France.
- Axis Powers: Germany (Hitler), Italy (Mussolini), Japan (Emperor Hirohito/Tojo).
Key Events and Turning Points
- Blitzkrieg tactics led to rapid German victories in Europe (France 1940).
- Battle of Britain (1940) halted German invasion plans.
- Operation Barbarossa: German invasion of the Soviet Union (1941).
- Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (Dec 1941), leading to U.S. entry.
- Major battles: Stalingrad, Midway, El Alamein, D-Day (Normandy landings 1944).
- Defeat of Axis in North Africa, Soviet victories in the East, Allied push in Western Europe.
End of the War
- Germany surrendered unconditionally on 8 May 1945 after the fall of Berlin.
- U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
- Japan surrendered on 2 September 1945, ending WWII.
Aftermath and Impact
- Creation of the United Nations to promote peace and cooperation.
- Europe was divided into Western and Soviet spheres, leading to the Cold War.
- Decolonization movements in Asia and Africa accelerated.
- Massive casualties: estimated 70–85 million deaths, including the Holocaust and other genocides.
- Economic recovery aided by the Marshall Plan; significant shifts in global power.
Technological and Social Changes
- Advanced weaponry: tanks, aircraft, submarines, and, notably, nuclear weapons.
- Use of codebreaking (Enigma/Ultra), radar, and strategic bombing.
- Civilian populations targeted; war crimes and atrocities on a large scale.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Allies — Coalition opposing the Axis, led by the UK, USSR, USA, France, and China.
- Axis Powers — Alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan (later joined by others).
- Blitzkrieg — “Lightning war” strategy using fast-moving, coordinated attacks.
- Holocaust — Systematic genocide of ~6 million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany.
- Cold War — Political and military tension post-WWII between the U.S. and Soviet Union.
- United Nations (UN) — International organization founded in 1945 to foster global peace.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review major WWII battles and turning points for further detail.
- Study the impact of WWII on postwar international relations and decolonization.
- Prepare notes on the Holocaust, war crimes, and technological advancements.