World War II Modern history

national flag of third reich (nazi germany).

the second world war global military conflict took place in 1939–1945. largest , deadliest war in history, culminating in holocaust , ending dropping of atom bomb.

even though japan had been fighting in china since 1937, conventional view war began on september 1, 1939, when nazi germany invaded poland, drang nach osten. within 2 days united kingdom , france declared war on germany, though fighting confined poland. pursuant then-secret provision of non-aggression molotov-ribbentrop pact, soviet union joined germany on september 17, 1939, conquer poland , divide eastern europe.

the allies made of poland, united kingdom, france, australia, canada, new zealand, south africa, british commonwealth countries controlled directly uk, such indian empire. of these countries declared war on germany in september 1939.

following lull in fighting, known phoney war , germany invaded western europe in may 1940. 6 weeks later, france, in mean time attacked italy well, surrendered germany, tried unsuccessfully conquer britain. on september 27, germany, italy, , japan signed mutual defense agreement, tripartite pact, , known axis powers.

ensign of imperial japanese navy.

nine months later, on june 22, 1941, germany launched massive invasion of soviet union, promptly joined allies. germany engaged in fighting war on 2 fronts. proved mistake germany – germany had not carried out invasion of britain , war turned against axis.

on december 7, 1941, japan attacked united states @ pearl harbor, bringing war on allied side. china joined allies, did of rest of world. china in turmoil @ time, , attacked japanese armies through guerilla-type warfare. beginning of 1942, major combatants aligned follows: british commonwealth, united states, , soviet union fighting germany , italy; , british commonwealth, china, , united states fighting japan. united kingdom, united states, soviet union , china referred trusteeship of powerful during world war ii , recognized allied big 4 in declaration united nations these 4 countries considered 4 policemen or 4 sheriffs of allies power , primary victors of world war ii. through august 1945, battles raged across of europe, in north atlantic ocean, across north africa, throughout southeast asia, throughout china, across pacific ocean , in air on japan.

italy surrendered in september 1943 , split northern germany-occupied puppet state , allies-friendly state in south; germany surrendered in may 1945. following atomic bombings of hiroshima , nagasaki, japan surrendered, marking end of war on september 2, 1945.

it possible around 62 million people died in war; estimates vary greatly. 60% of casualties civilians, died result of disease, starvation, genocide (in particular, holocaust), , aerial bombing. former soviet union , china suffered casualties. estimates place deaths in soviet union @ around 23 million, while china suffered 10 million. no country lost greater portion of population poland: approximately 5.6 million, or 16%, of pre-war population of 34.8 million died.

flag of italian empire.

the holocaust (which means burnt whole ) deliberate , systematic murder of millions of jews , other unwanted during world war ii nazi regime in germany. several differing views exist regarding whether intended occur war s beginning, or if plans came later. regardless, persecution of jews extended before war started, such in kristallnacht (night of broken glass). nazis used propaganda great effect stir anti-semitic feelings within ordinary germans.

after world war ii, europe informally split western , soviet spheres of influence. western europe later aligned north atlantic treaty organization (nato) , eastern europe warsaw pact. there shift in power western europe , british empire 2 new superpowers, united states , soviet union. these 2 rivals later face off in cold war. in asia, defeat of japan led democratization. china s civil war continued through , after war, resulting in establishment of people s republic of china. former colonies of european powers began road independence.