World War Two Explained: The Key Battles and Dates

Summary

This script recounts the devastating scale and impact of World War II, the deadliest conflict in history, which reshaped the global landscape. It details the rise of the Axis powers, significant battles like the Battle of Britain and Stalingrad, and the pivotal moments that turned the tide, including D-Day and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The war's end marked the emergence of the USA as a superpower and the beginning of the Cold War era, with lasting effects on nations and societies worldwide.

Takeaways

• 🌍 World War II was the largest and most destructive conflict in history, involving military activity across every continent, including Antarctica.
• 🔥 The war marked the first use of nuclear weapons and was fought in various environments, from trenches and horseback to space.
• 🌅 World War II resulted in significant geopolitical shifts, with European empires declining and the rise of superpowers USA and the Soviet Union.
• 🏰 The start of the war is debated, but it is generally considered to have begun with Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939, leading to declarations of war from Britain and France.
• 🇩🇪 Adolf Hitler's ambitions to expand Germany's empire and reclaim lost territories were central to the outbreak and progression of the war.
• 🇫🇷 The Battle of Britain was a pivotal air campaign where the Royal Air Force successfully defended against German attacks, preventing an invasion.
• 🇺🇸 The United States entered the war following Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, escalating the conflict to a global scale.
• 🇯🇵 Japan's aggressive expansion in Asia, driven by the need for resources, led to the invasion of multiple territories and a confrontation with the Allies.
• 🛳️ The turning point of the war came in 1942 with significant Allied victories at Midway in the Pacific and El Alamein in Africa.
• 🇺🇲 The D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe, with Allied forces establishing a foothold in Normandy.
• 🏳️ The war concluded with the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945 and Japan in September 1945, following the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Q & A

Which continents were affected by World War II?

Every continent was affected by World War II, including Antarctica.

What were the main motivations behind World War II?

The main motivations behind World War II were the desire for empire, territory, power, wealth, and resources.

Which countries were part of the Axis powers?

The Axis powers consisted of Germany, Italy, and Japan.

When did the United States enter World War II and why?

The United States entered World War II in December 1941 after Japan attacked the American Navy in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

What event is considered the start of World War II in Europe?

World War II in Europe is considered to have started in September 1939 when Adolf Hitler invaded Poland.

How did World War II affect the European empires?

World War II led to the decline and eventual end of the European empires, including those of Britain, France, and Holland.

What significant geopolitical changes occurred in Asia as a result of World War II?

In Asia, the Chinese Communist Party eventually gained victory, Korea was partitioned into North and South, and India gained independence.

What was the significance of the Battle of Britain?

The Battle of Britain was the first battle fought predominantly in the skies, where the German Air Force attempted to defeat the British RAF but ultimately failed.

How did the United States contribute to the defeat of Japan in the Pacific?

The United States contributed to the defeat of Japan by breaking Japanese naval codes, winning crucial battles like Midway, and conducting island-hopping campaigns that brought them closer to the Japanese home islands.

What was the impact of the atomic bombs on Japan and World War II?

The dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 led to Japan's unconditional surrender and the end of World War II.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 The Global Impact of World War II

World War II was the most destructive and widespread war in history, affecting every continent, including Antarctica. It was fought in various terrains and introduced new warfare methods, including nuclear weapons and space combat. The war significantly altered global power dynamics, leading to the decline of European empires and the rise of the USA and the Soviet Union as superpowers. It also had profound effects in Asia, leading to the Chinese Communist Party's victory and the partition of Korea.

05:00

🔍 The Origins and Early Stages of World War II

The origins of World War II are debated, with different perspectives on its start. The conflict was driven by the expansionist ambitions of Germany, Italy, and Japan. Tensions in the Pacific, especially the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, brought the USA into the war. In Europe, the war began in September 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland, leading Britain and France to declare war on Germany. This marked the beginning of a conflict that would involve numerous nations and empires worldwide.

10:02

⚔️ The Battle of the Atlantic and Early European Conflicts

The early years of the war saw significant naval battles, such as the Battle of the Atlantic, where German U-boats targeted Allied shipping. In Europe, the Germans and Soviets quickly divided Poland. The Allies attempted an invasion of Norway to secure resources but faced setbacks. The invasion of Western Europe by German forces led to dramatic advances through Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium, and France, culminating in the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk.

15:04

🌐 The Global Expansion of the War

1941 marked significant shifts in the war, with the German invasion of the Soviet Union and Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, bringing the USA fully into the conflict. The war expanded globally, with Japanese advances in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and fierce fighting in North Africa. The Allies faced challenges on multiple fronts, from the deserts of Africa to the frozen battlefields of Eastern Europe.

20:05

🌪️ Turning Points and Allied Advances

1942 was a decisive year with critical battles such as the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Midway, where the Axis powers faced significant defeats. The Allies made substantial gains in North Africa and began planning invasions of Italy and France. These victories marked the beginning of a shift in momentum, with the Axis powers increasingly on the defensive across multiple theaters of war.

25:05

🔥 The Final Stages and Aftermath of World War II

As the Allies advanced on all fronts in 1944 and 1945, the Axis powers faced catastrophic defeats. The D-Day invasion marked the beginning of the end in Western Europe, while Soviet forces advanced into Germany from the east. The war in the Pacific culminated in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender. The post-war world saw the division of Germany, the rise of the USA and the Soviet Union as superpowers, and significant geopolitical changes across Europe and Asia.

Keywords

💡World War II

World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations, including all of the great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. The war was characterized by significant events such as the Holocaust and the use of nuclear weapons in warfare. In the video's narrative, World War II is the central theme, detailing its causes, major battles, and the far-reaching effects it had on the world.

💡Axis Powers

The Axis Powers were three major countries that formed an alliance against the Allies during World War II: Germany, Italy, and Japan. They were characterized by their dictatorial regimes and expansionist ambitions. The script mentions the Axis Powers' aggressive actions in the 1930s, their role in instigating the war, and their eventual defeat, which marked a significant turning point in global politics.

💡Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is a United States naval base located in Hawaii. The surprise military attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, led to the United States' formal entry into World War II. The script describes this event as a pivotal moment that brought the U.S. into the conflict, escalating the war into a global scale.

💡Holocaust

The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. It is one of the most significant and horrifying events of World War II. The script discusses the Holocaust's impact, the atrocities committed, and the lasting legacy it has on world history.

Highlights

World War II was the largest and most destructive war in history, involving military activity on every continent, including Antarctica.

The war was fought in various environments such as trenches, on horseback, in the air, under the seas, and for the first time in space and with nuclear weapons.

World War II led to the decline of European empires and the rise of the USA and the Soviet Union as superpowers.

The Chinese Communist Party's victory, the partition of Korea, and the birth of India as an independent nation were significant outcomes of the war in Asia.

The start of World War II is debated, with some considering the Japanese invasion of China in 1937 as the beginning, while others mark it from the German invasion of Poland in 1939.

Adolf Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939 led to Britain and France declaring war on Germany, marking the start of World War II in Europe.

The Battle of the Atlantic was a significant naval campaign that lasted throughout the war, targeting German submarines and ships.

The German invasion of Western Europe in 1940, known as the Battle of France, resulted in a swift German victory and the fall of France.

Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of the UK during the height of the Battle of France, leading Britain through the war with unwavering resolve.

The Battle of Britain was the first major air campaign, with the Royal Air Force successfully defending against the German Luftwaffe.

The Blitz was a German bombing campaign targeting British cities, particularly London, in an attempt to force Britain to surrender.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 brought the United States into the war against both Japan and Germany.

The tide of the war turned in 1942 with significant Allied victories at Midway in the Pacific and El Alamein in Africa.

The Soviet Union's counteroffensive at Stalingrad marked a major defeat for Germany and a turning point on the Eastern Front.

The D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, was a critical Allied operation to establish a foothold in Western Europe and begin the liberation of France.

The Battle of the Bulge was Germany's last major offensive on the Western Front, resulting in a significant defeat and the beginning of the end for Germany.

The use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 by the United States led to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.

The aftermath of World War II saw a transformation of the global political landscape, with the rise of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers and the decline of European empires.

Transcripts

the second world war was the biggest

most destructive bloodiest war in

history every continent was touched by

the war yes even the Antarctic there was

military activity in China France Hawaii

Iceland Somalia Sri Lanka the Arctic and

far beyond it was fought in trenches on

Horseback in the air under the Seas it

was fought for the first time ever in

space and with nuclear weapons World War

II changed the world the European

Empires of Britain France Holland and

others never recovered the rest of the

20th century would be dominated by the

superpowers the USA and the Soviet Union

in Asia the war led eventually to the

victory of the Chinese Communist party

it also caused the partition of Korea

into two zones and the birth of India as

an independent country so when was it

what happened and who fought where this

is all you need to

know when did World War II start well

that depends on your point of view World

War II was caused by the desire for

Empire for territory for power for

wealth and resources three dictatorships

Germany Italy and Japan known as the

Axis powers had spent the 1930s

expanding their Empires Germany in

Europe Japan in northern China Italy in

Africa Japan and China have been locked

in a huge struggle since 1937 at least

some people think this should count as

the start of the war the Americans were

actually dragged into this Pacific

region war in December 1941 when Japan

attacked the American Navy in Pearl

Harbor Hawaii so it started for the USA

in 194 1 Europeans Canadians Australians

Indians and anyone else in the European

Empires which at that time was nearly

everyone count the start of the war from

September

1939 at the start of that month Adolf

Hitler the German dictator invaded

Poland at that point lots of countries

declared war on Germany and the second

world war in Europe was

underway when the war ended that's a

little clearer Germany and Japan were

catastrophically defeated and occupied

in

1945 so why does September 1939 matter

in Europe Adolf Hitler's Nazi party had

seized power in Germany he' done away

with democracy he was a dictator he has

started the persecution of political

opponents of Jews of other minorities He

is building concentration camps his aim

expand ing Germany he wanted to seize

back all the territory that Germany had

lost after it been defeated in the first

world war in

1918 so in 1938 he sees Austria then

parts of Czechoslovakia but he wanted

more he wanted an empire in the East the

rich farmlands of Ukraine the oil of the

Caucasus he dreamed of a vast German

Empire so he's grabbing bits of Europe

that he claims have always really been

part of Germany he's returning Germany

to Greatness and his next Target is

Poland Western Poland used to be part of

Germany until defeating the first world

war Hitler thinks it should be part of

Germany again so he does a deal with the

Communist dictator Joseph Stalin in

Russia or the USSR as it was properly

known at the time and they decide

they're going to invade Poland and split

it between them 1st of September 1939

boom we're off German troops in vain

Hitler thought Britain and France would

let him do it they'd reluctantly agreed

to allow him to snap up Austria and

parts of Czechoslovakia over the

previous couple of years but this was a

step too far they declared war on

Germany Hitler has got himself into

another world war what now he asked his

foreign

minister with Britain and France

come some mighty Empires Canada India

Nigeria South Africa New Zealand

Australia and lots beside all now in the

fight so what happens buckle up pretty

quickly Germany and the Soviets divide

up Poland the British and French aren't

much help the French do launch a little

invasion of Western Germany but only

Advance a couple of Miles their heart

wasn't in it they withdraw once German

troops flooded back flush from their

victory in Poland

the Soviets have less success with an

invasion of Finland which ends in an

embarrassing defeat although the

following year they try again and do

take a bit of territory on the oceans

German submarines and ships try to

destroy Britain's trade and cut off

supplies a German uboat or submarine

sinks a passenger ship the athenia

within hours of the war starting this is

known as the battle of the Atlantic and

it will rumble on until the last days of

the second world war further a field any

German naval ship on the high seas is

hunted down and destroyed a British

Force sank the German Cruiser Admiral

graph in the battle of the River Plate

off the coast of South

America back in Europe though there was

a standoff both sides eyeballing each

other across the French German Border in

Britain at this time more people were

killed in road traffic accidents because

street lights were were blacked out then

members of the Armed Forces were killed

in combat but that would change in April

1940 both the allies and the Germans

decided to invade Norway to secure its

precious resources the iron oil which

was exported to Germany through the

Norwegian Port of narik was essential

for German steel production the Germans

moved North through Denmark conquering

it in the space of hours they also sent

a fleet to invade Norway which managed

to avoid the British Navy partly due to

bad

we the Allies attempted to move troops

into Norway to bolster Norwegians but

the Germans were too strong by the end

of May the final Allied troops were

evacuated along with the Norwegian royal

family this was very embarrassing for

the British and French allies and after

huge criticism in Parliament of the way

the war was being run the British

government collapsed iname a new prime

minister you might have heard of him

Winston Churchill he didn't have long to

ease himself into the the job the very

day he went to see the king and move

into Downing Street the Germans launched

the invasion of Western Europe a massive

German Force crossed into Luxembourg

Holland Belgium and France What followed

was one of the most dramatic upsets in

the history of war the Germans used

tanks aircraft and vehicles to Surge

through enemy territory surrounding and

surprising while the Allies moved to

counter the German troops marching

through Belgium as they had in the first

world war the Germans completely

surprised them with another thrust

through the Woody hilly Arden region

which most planners had thought was

impossible this thrust caught everyone

off balance and within just 10 days the

Germans were at the English Channel all

the Allied troops that had marched North

into Belgium to stop the Germans were

now cut off from the rest of their

forces in France the British and French

had been SL I in half the surrounded

forces in Belgium had no choice they had

to head to the coast and hope the Royal

Navy would rescue the Allies retreated

to a defensive perimeter around the town

of Dunkirk the Navy frantically

organized ships to go to their rescue

including eventually little boats

rivercraft barges and Yachts which could

pick soldiers up directly from the beach

rather than rely on limited Port

facilities many of which had been ruined

by German bombing the British hoped to

evacuate 45,000 men in the two days

before the Germans captured duner but

Hitler called his forces to a halt he

was concerned that his tanks and men

were stretched and needed to consolidate

the Germans were worried also the ground

around Dunkirk was too boggy for heavy

tanks this gave the British a precious

window over a week an astonishing

340,000 Allied soldiers were rescued

some called it a miracle

Britain had rescued its Army even if

they left nearly all their heavy weapons

behind Hitler's axis partner Italy

thought the writing was on the wall and

chose this moment to jump into the war

Italian troops launched an invasion of

Southern France after Dunkirk German

forces were free to turn South and

concentrate on the rest of the French

army within weeks France fell Hitler

visited Paris for some gloating shots

for social media Germany now dominated

Western and Central Europe inspired by

Winston Churchill the British and their

empire Beyond the Seas made the firm

decision not to give in Hitler had a

British problem he needed to make peace

with Britain or defeat Britain totally

or they'd make a nuisance to themselves

when Hitler turned East to fulfill his

real dream that huge Empire stretching

off into the Russian

States so Hitler told his army to draw

up plans to invade while he used his Air

Force to try and force Britain to the

negotiating table What followed was the

Battle of Britain the first battle

fought in history predominantly in the

skies German bombers flew over Britain

striking military targets they focused

at first on the Royal Air Force trying

to knock them out so Germans could

control the sky

and forced the British government to

yield through bombing but the RAF proved

tenacious German raids were pounced on

by RAF hurricane and spitfire Fighters

German bombers were shot down in

unsustainable numbers the RAF had

invented an ingenious system to identify

and attack German raids pioneering radar

was used to spot German aircraft the

information was then passed to groups of

fighter aircraft who could Dash up into

the sky and shoot them down as the

summer went on the RAF seemed

unbreakable the Germans switched tactics

and started pounding London hoping to

force the British to change their minds

and sue for peace it was the start of

what Brits call The Blitz the systematic

bombing of civilians in cities by the

Germans but by the middle of September

it was clear that the Germans have been

defeated in the air the RAF was still a

formidable presence and the bombing of

London was taking far too higher toll on

German aircraft and crew Hitler admitted

he would not be able to knock Britain

out of the war he certainly couldn't

launch an invasion with the RAF

undefeated and the Royal Navy ready to

pounce on any German invasion Fleet

Germany switched to bombing British

cities at night but the invasion plans

were

shelled while Britain had been fighting

for survival it also had to fight the

Italians in the Mediterranean where

their Empires rubbed do alongside each

other in North and East Africa the

British seized Italian Ethiopia but the

fighting in Libya and Egypt would prove

much

tougher 1941 would be a big year as

fighting between the axis and the

British Sea sword in North Africa the

Italian invasion of Greece which they

launched right at the end of 1940 was

going badly wrong the Italians were

forced into humiliating treats they

turned to Hitler to bail them out well

he couldn't stand by and let his allies

embarrass him so he invaded Southeast

Europe overrunning Yugoslavia and Greece

pretty quickly but that wasted valuable

time and resources for the axis because

that summer they had a big plan the

invasion of the Soviet Union One of

history's most terrible struggles was

about to begin in June Hitler shocked

his former Ally Stalin by launching the

most massive invasion in history nearly

4 million men 3 and a half th000 tanks

over 8,000 other vehicles and thousands

of aircraft plus over half a million

horses the Soviets were completely

outclassed millions of men were killed

or captured and sent to camps where most

of them stared to death even Stalin's

son was among the prisoners who would

perish by December German spearheads

were at the outskirts of Moscow but

ferocious Soviet resistance and shocking

cold weather stopped them in their

tracks and the Soviets launched a

Counterattack that was even able to push

them back Hitler had believed as he put

it that by kicking in the front door the

whole rotten structure would come

crashing down instead the Soviets had

retreated but they hadn't collapsed they

were still in the fight the stage was

set for a long terrible struggle while

the Germans were falling just short of

taking Stalin's Capital thousands of

miles away another surprise attack was

about to take place Japan was struggling

to win its War in China they needed raw

materials Rubber and oil these could be

found in Southeast Asia places like

Malaysia the Japanese thought the United

States would stop them from invading

these territories so they decided to

strike first knock out the American Navy

in the Pacific then they could seize all

the territory they liked so in early

December 1941 six Japanese aircraft

carriers headed for Hawaii on the 7th of

December

1941 the Japanese struck bombs and

Torpedoes rained down on the US Pacific

Fleet headquarters at P Harbor on aahu

eight battleships were sunk or damaged 2

and a half th000 Americans were killed

President Roosevelt called it a day of

infamy and declared war on Japan then

remarkably Adolf Hitler declared war in

America the USA was in the war with both

Japan and Germany the war in Europe and

the war in Asia was now a global one the

Japanese didn't just attack the

Americans they also put into plan their

attempt to secure the resources of

Southeast Asia at the same time those

bombs were falling on Pearl Harbor the

Japanese invaded British controlled

Malaya then Indonesia and the

Philippines within months all of them

would fall to

Japan

1942 would be the decisive

year

1942 started with axis

advances but ended in terrible defeats

the Japanese continued to expand across

Asia and the Pacific they captured Burma

they arrived at the gates of India they

bombed Australia and Sri Lanka the

Germans and their axis allies charged

through Ukraine into Southern Russia by

late summer they'd reached the city of

Stalingrad but their momentum stopped as

they struggled to secure the city in the

face of house to house

fighting that summer too the Japanese

suffered a catastrophic defeat the

Americans had broken the Japanese Naval

codes which allowed them to Ambush the

Japanese Fleet off Midway Island US

Naval dive bombers destroyed four

Japanese aircraft carriers ripping the

heart out of the Japanese Navy the tide

had turned the tide also turned in

Africa as well an impressive axis

Advance had taken their forces deep into

Egypt threatening the entire British

position in the Middle East but the

British attacked at El alamain in

October and forced the axis back it was

the start of a long

retreat days later the Americans arrived

in the western theater for the first

time in the war they and the British

landed in Morocco in Algeria threatening

to crush the axis between them and the

British army advancing from Egypt in

November

1942 the Soviets launched a massive

Counterattack on the German troops at

Stalingrad within days they were

surrounded the Germans held out

desperately but by February 1943 the

final Remnant surrendered it was a

devastating

defeat in

1943 the allies really turned the screws

in the skies of Europe fleets of bombers

smashed German cities and factories

night after night a daring raid in May

saw British bombers strike at German

dams disrupt hydroelectric and Water

Supplies in the industrial region of the

r in the Soviet Union the Germans

attempted one last big offensive they

attacked the Soviets around the city of

KK but the British had br broken German

codes and gave Stalin detailed

intelligence the Soviets built massive

defenses which took a terrible toll on

the Germans and then struck back at them

sending them reing back the Germans

would know only Retreats from this point

forward in the Atlantic British American

Canadian other Allied ships and planes

developed techniques to overcome the

threat of German

submarines in a series of battles Allied

ships sunk German submarines in such

large numbers the German Admirals

suspended all operations they would

never again enjoy the upper hand in the

spring of

1943 axis troops surrendered in North

Africa and in July the invasion of Italy

began with Landings in Sicily the first

Allied boots on the home turf of an Axis

power later that month the fascist

leader musolini was ousted from power

and arrested the Allies then invaded the

Italian mainland in early September

Italy agreed to surrender but German

forces in Italy seized control and

ensured that the Allies would have to

fight their way right up the Italian

peninsula in the Pacific the Americans

were on the offensive they hoed from

Island to Island in two main thrusts

there was a Southern Drive in which New

Guinea and its surrounding Islands would

be captured then there was a Thrust up

through the Central Pacific with attacks

on the Gilbert and Marshall Islands the

axis were on the retreat they now had no

chance of winning the war as the

situation worsened for the Germans their

genocidal campaign against Europe's Jews

and other groups accelerated millions of

Jews were killed in industrial murder

camps across Germany's shrinking Empire

the walls really closed in on the axis

powers in

1944 the Soviets launched offensive

after offensive millions of men surging

forward driving the axis forces before

them vast numbers of people were now

locked into bloody destructive awful

Fighting by the end of the year the

Soviets were on German soil in the

Pacific the USA inflicted defeat after

defeat on the the Japanese most their

Navy was wiped out in massive battles

like the Philippine Sea and the late

Gulf they captured Island after Island

cipan tinian Guam all fell from these

islands American bombers could now reach

the Japanese home islands and unleash

terrible destruction the Japanese

attempted a pathetic attempt to strike

at America they released Balloons with

explosives tied onto them one of them

killed six civilians in Oregon the only

Americans killed in the continental US

by Axis powers during the second world

war the Japanese also tried to invade

India but were held at battles at kohima

and infal before falling back the

Americans British Canadians and their

allies launched their invasion of

Western Europe on the 6th of June

1944

D-Day in just 24 hours around

150,000 men were landed in Normandy some

drop from aircraft but the majority

coming across the channel in 7,000 ships

and boats and storming up the beaches

hours of savage fighting were needed to

get off some of the beaches as the

German Defenders Unleashed a storm of

machine gun fire from concrete bunkers

but by the end of the day the Allies had

penetrated this defensive wall and

cleared the beaches and huge numbers of

men and vehicles would land in the

coming days German reinforcements rushed

to Normy

and a brutal attritional battle followed

it wasn't until early August that the

Allies defeated the German forces

comprehensively and they raced across

northern France liberating Paris at the

end of the

month it seemed like the end of the war

might be near the Allies launched an

ambitious attempt to seize the bridge

across the rine at arnam but the Germans

were not defeated yet they fought back

and frustrated the plan the war would

drag on through another terrible winter

and at midwinter Hitler would launch his

last offensive with snow thick on the

ground the Germans struck at Allied

troops in Luxembourg and

Belgium they bent back the Allied line

into a bulge but could not break through

massive reinforcements were rushed to

the region and this Battle of the Bulge

Ended as another German defeat they'd

lost men tanks and fuel they could not

afford it was all over in

1945 but the axis fought hard to the end

causing huge unnecessary hardship trauma

and loss of life as the Snows melted in

the spring of 1945 the Allies swept

through Northern Italy finally

completing the

Liberation on their Western Front the

Germans blew up one of their biggest

dams causing flooding to slow the Allied

advance but in March the Western allies

gained footholds on the east side of the

the mighty River rine and advanced

across Germany by April they were just

50 mi from Berlin in the East the

Soviets rampaged across Poland and East

Germany nearly 2 and a half million men

proved far too much for the German

Defenders Stalin was desperate to get to

Berlin the enemy's Capital first and he

pushed his generals to beat the Western

allies to it they succeeded Berlin was

surrounded by Soviet troops by late

April on the 30th of April Hitler

married his longtime partner Eva Brown

then killed her and committed suicide

the third reich's short-lived second

furer Admiral donits surrendered

unconditionally a week later on the 7th

of May the war in the west was over 43

million had died 2third of Europe's

Jewish population had been murdered

cities had been erased Treasures

destroyed a continent lay in

Ruins Japan remained in the fight for

the moment its cities were incinerated

its Empire

humbled American forces moved ever

closer to the home Islands they captured

islands like iojima and Okinawa after

horrific fighting which saw suicidal yet

hopeless Japanese defense plans were

made to invade Japan itself but then

the USA stunned the world a single plane

dropped the most powerful weapon in

history a miracle weapon the atomic bomb

a top secret massive industrial and

scientific effort had been underway in

America to harness the power of the atom

and create a bomb of hitherto

unimaginable strength in July

1945 there had been a successful test

which had turned a patch of New Mexico

desert into glass in August the new

American President Truman who had

succeeded after the death of Roosevelt

in April took the decision to drop the

bomb on Japan to force their

unconditional surrender on the 6th of

August a single bomb was dropped on

Hiroshima followed by a second bomb 3

days later on

Nagasaki hundreds of thousands of people

were killed or suffered horrific

injuries in the two strikes at the same

time the Soviet Union finally entered

the war in the Pacific the day after

Hiroshima Stalin launched a massive

offensive against Japanese forces in

northern China bowing to the inevitable

the Japanese government surrendered the

official ceremony took place on the 2nd

of September

1945 on the American battleship in Tokyo

bay the second world war was over the

world was transformed in Europe the

eastern part of the continent was now

under Soviet communist occupation

Germany was divided in two the East

occupied by the Soviets the west by the

Western democracies nuclear armed

America was now a global superpower

totally replacing the British and the

French Empires which were weakened by

the exertions and the expense of war in

Asia Japan was occupied and rebuilt by

the Americans Korea was divided like

Germany between the democracies who

controlled the South and so forces who

installed a communist regime in the

North Vietnam had thrown off the French

Imperial yoke during the war and began

its independent struggle as the French

arrived back to take

control China was devastated by the war

and the Communist forces there redoubled

their efforts to seize power by 1949

mainland China was in the grip of the

Chinese Communist party in so many ways

we are still living in a world forged by

World War

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