World War II

World War II lasted from September 1, 1939, to September 2, 1945, involving most nations organized into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Axis.

The Axis Powers, led by Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan, sought territorial expansion and ideological dominance, while the Allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China, aimed to halt aggression.

The war began with Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

The invasion of Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941, brought the United States into the war. The next day, the U.S. declared war on Japan and, later, on Germany and Italy.

The Holocaust, perpetrated by Nazi Germany, resulted in the systematic genocide of six million Jews and millions of others, including Romani people, Poles, Soviet POWs, disabled individuals, and others.

The Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943) on the Eastern Front between Germany and the Soviet Union was a turning point, marking the first major German defeat and the beginning of the Soviet advance.

The Normandy Invasion, also known as D-Day, on June 6, 1944, involved the Allied landing on the beaches of Normandy, France, and marked the start of the campaign to liberate Western Europe from German occupation.

The Pacific island-hopping campaign by the Allies aimed to recapture strategic islands from Japanese control, leading to key battles like Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

The Battle of Midway (June 1942) was a decisive naval battle in the Pacific, resulting in a significant setback for the Japanese Navy and a turning point in the Pacific War.

The dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945) by the United States led to Japan’s surrender, marking the end of World War II.