3 Minutes to Understand WWII's Greatest Battles

World War II (1939-1945) Summary:
World War II, which began with Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, became one of the largest and deadliest conflicts in history. The war was fought between the Allies (USA, UK, Soviet Union, France, and others) and the Axis Powers (Germany, Japan, Italy).

Causes of the War:
Treaty of Versailles: Harsh economic and political sanctions imposed on Germany after World War I.
Rise of Fascism: The strengthening of Nazism under Adolf Hitler in Germany and Fascism under Mussolini in Italy.
Japanese Imperialism: Japan’s aggressive expansionist policies in Asia and the Pacific.
Munich Agreement (1938): Major powers allowed Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia without resistance.
Invasion of Poland: Germany’s attack on Poland caused Britain and France to declare war.
Major Events:
1939: Germany’s invasion of Poland started the war.
1940: Germany occupied France and launched the Blitz air raids on Britain.
1941: Germany invaded the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), and Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor brought the USA into the war.
1942-1943: The Allies achieved victory in the Battle of Stalingrad and defeated Axis forces in North Africa.
1944: The Normandy invasion (D-Day) began the liberation of Western Europe.
1945: Germany surrendered on May 8, and Japan surrendered on September 2 after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Consequences:
Over 50 million deaths: Huge military and civilian losses.
Establishment of the United Nations: To maintain international peace.
Start of the Cold War: Rivalry between the USA and the Soviet Union.
Reconstruction of Europe: The Marshall Plan supported the rebuilding of Western European economies.
Division of Germany: Germany was split into East and West.
World War II drastically changed global politics, economies, and societies, leaving a legacy that continues to influence the world today.
#war