World War II: Allied Triumph and Axis Collapse (1943-1945)

The Defeat of the Axis Powers

The balance of forces decisively shifted in favor of the Allies between 1943 and 1944. This shift was also due to the tremendous human and material losses inflicted by massive bombing in the German rear, the decisive efforts of the Soviet and American arms industries, and the sheer size of the military forces they managed to mobilize. The final Allied offensive took place simultaneously on several fronts:

• In Europe:
  • Eastern Front
  • Italian Front
  • Western Front (Atlantic)
• The Pacific Front

The Allied Campaign in Italy

In July 1943, British and American forces landed in Sicily from Africa. Mussolini's government was deposed by Victor Emmanuel III, and he was arrested. A new government was formed to begin peace negotiations with the Allies. However, the German army then occupied northern Italy. Mussolini, freed by German paratroopers, formed a new fascist government in the north. From the south, the Allies continued to fight the Germans. They conquered Naples and then advanced to Rome, which was taken on June 4, 1944, with great difficulty. The German troops retreated until their capitulation in April 1945.

The Eastern Front Collapse

After the pivotal battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, the Soviets freed Romania, Bulgaria, and much of Poland by 1945. The Russians then occupied the rest of Poland and advanced towards Berlin. Between January and April, they occupied Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria.

The Western Front: Operation Overlord

On this front, Operation Overlord took place on June 6, 1944, famously known as D-Day. Allied troops landed in Normandy, northern France, under the command of General Eisenhower. The troops began a combined ground, sea, and air offensive, advancing towards Paris, which was liberated on August 26.

End of the War in Europe

End of the War in the Pacific

Japanese Expansion in Asia

In 1931, Japan had occupied northeastern China, specifically Manchuria, where they established a puppet state called Manchukuo. This state had an emperor chosen by Japan and was totally subordinated to Japanese interests. In 1937, the Japanese government, under Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe, decided to undertake the definitive conquest of China. While the Japanese occupied the coast, the Chinese Nationalists remained strong inland and received aid from the USSR.