World War II began on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. This act of aggression prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany on September 3, 1939, marking the official start of the global conflict.
How World War II start
Treaty of Versailles (1919)
The harsh terms imposed on Germany after World War I, including reparations and territorial losses, created economic hardship and resentment, fueling the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
Expansionist Policies
In the 1930s, Germany, Italy, and Japan pursued aggressive expansion. Germany annexed Austria (1938) and parts of Czechoslovakia (1938-1939), while Italy invaded Ethiopia (1935), and Japan invaded Manchuria (1931) and China (1937).
Appeasement
Britain and France initially adopted a policy of appeasement, hoping to avoid war by conceding to some of Hitler’s demands. This emboldened Germany to continue its expansion.
Invasion of Poland
The immediate trigger was Germany’s invasion of Poland, which was facilitated by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union that secretly divided Poland between them.
Global Spread
The war eventually expanded into a global conflict, involving most of the world’s nations, including the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) and the Allied Powers (Britain, France, the Soviet Union, the United States, and others). It ended in 1945 with the defeat of the Axis Powers.
Major Events of World War II
- 1940: Germany conquered much of Europe, including France.
- 1941: Germany invaded the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), and Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, bringing the U.S. into the war.
- 1942-1943: Turning points like the Battle of Stalingrad and Allied victories in North Africa and the Pacific.
- 1944: D-Day (Allied invasion of Normandy) began the liberation of Western Europe.
- 1945: Allied forces closed in on Germany from the east and west, while the U.S. advanced in the Pacific.
End of the World War II
- May 8, 1945 (V-E Day): Germany surrendered after Hitler’s suicide and the fall of Berlin to Soviet forces.
- August 15, 1945 (V-J Day): Japan surrendered after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9), and the Soviet Union declared war on Japan.
The war officially ended on September 2, 1945, when Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard the USS Missouri.
Consequences of World War II
- Over 70 million deaths, including civilians and Holocaust victims.
- The rise of the U.S. and Soviet Union as superpowers, leading to the Cold War.
- The establishment of the United Nations to prevent future conflicts.
- Decolonization and the reshaping of global political boundaries.