World War II: Key Events and Impact

World War II

The Causes of War

Since Hitler's rise to power, German foreign policy was marked by aggression and expansionism. The Western democracies responded with appeasement, which Hitler perceived as weakness, emboldening his expansionist ambitions.

One hidden aspect of Nazi foreign policy was the planned invasion of Poland. Germany signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, including a secret protocol to partition Poland.

Development of the War

In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland.

Due to Poland's international alliances, the United Kingdom and France declared war on Germany. This formed two opposing sides: the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allies (Britain, France, and other smaller countries).

The German Offensive (1940-1942)

Germany launched a two-year offensive across multiple fronts:

• The Western Front:

In April 1940, German troops invaded Norway and Denmark. In May, the German army advanced on France through Belgium and Holland.

The German strategy involved attacking a weak point in the Franco-British defenses using massive tank and air power. France surrendered, and its territory was divided.

Hitler then initiated the Battle of Britain. The offensive was halted by British air resistance and naval superiority.

Italy attacked the British colonial empire in North Africa. After successive Italian defeats, Germany intervened. Great Britain managed to hold its positions in Egypt.

Hitler also focused on the Balkans, bringing them under German influence.

• The Eastern Front:

In June 1941, Hitler broke the pact with the Soviet Union and launched an attack. The resistance of Leningrad and Moscow stalled the Nazi advance.

The "New Order"

Most of Europe fell under German control. In occupied territories, the Nazi government implemented economic exploitation and violent political and racial repression. A network of concentration and extermination camps was established to exploit slave labor and systematically murder millions of Jews, Roma people, political opponents, people with disabilities, and others.

The Allied Reaction (1942-1945)

In December 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor, bringing America into the war on the Allied side.

The year 1942 marked a turning point in the war:

• The Japanese offensive was halted, and the U.S. began reclaiming Japanese-held territory.
• Germany was defeated in North Africa, followed by the invasion of Italy in 1943.
• The German defeat at Stalingrad in 1943.

From 1943 onward, the Allies advanced on all fronts. In 1945, the Soviet and Anglo-American offensives led to Hitler's suicide and Germany's surrender.

The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Japan, leading to its surrender.

The Consequences of War

• Human and Material Losses:

Over 55 million people were killed, half of whom were civilians. The USSR and Poland suffered immensely.

The economic consequences were disastrous for the defeated countries and Eastern Europe. Material losses were lower in France and Great Britain.

However, some Allied nations, like the United States, Australia, and Canada, benefited economically from the conflict.

• Territorial Changes:

The war and subsequent treaties resulted in significant territorial changes.

• Political Consequences:

The primary political objective after the war was the denazification of Europe, including the Nuremberg trials.

Western European democracies were re-established.