WWII: A Comprehensive Look at Causes and Consequences

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Background

The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh conditions on Germany after World War I, leading to widespread resentment and humiliation. Italy also felt frustrated by the treaty's outcome. The aggressive policies of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler and Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini further destabilized Europe. The division between France and Britain over how to deal with these rising powers, coupled with the expansionist policies of Italy, Germany, and Japan, created a volatile international environment. The economic devastation caused by the Great Depression (the crisis of '29) exacerbated these tensions.

Road to War

Germany began expanding its borders by force. In March 1938, the German army entered Austria, and Hitler proclaimed the "Anschluss," the incorporation of Austria into the Reich. Germany then turned its attention to Czechoslovakia, focusing on the Sudeten Germans. In September 1938, the Munich Conference was held, with Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom participating. The conference resulted in a triumph for Hitler, as he was allowed to annex the Sudetenland. He subsequently invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. In May 1939, Germany and Italy signed the Pact of Steel, a formal military alliance. In August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact. On September 1, 1939, the German army invaded Poland, marking the beginning of World War II.

Phase 1: Axis Victory

Following the invasion of Poland, Germany swiftly conquered Denmark and Norway in April 1940 to secure the supply of Swedish iron. In May, Germany attacked France through Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. France was defeated and divided into two zones: the northern zone under direct German control and the southern zone under the collaborationist Vichy government led by Marshal Pétain. Italy entered the war on Germany's side.

Battle of Britain

Germany, having occupied Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France, seemed invincible. They prepared to invade Britain, aiming for complete victory. The Germans attempted to destroy Britain's air defense capability through aerial bombardment. In the summer of 1940, the German air force bombed military targets, attempting to create panic. However, Hitler then shifted his focus to Eastern Europe and the USSR. The attack on the USSR unfolded in three phases:

  • North: The Germans reached and besieged Leningrad.
  • South: They occupied Ukraine.
  • Center: They reached the gates of Moscow, where the Soviet defense and counterattacks halted their advance.

Germany's advance was ultimately stalled due to inadequate infrastructure and difficulties with supply and communication.

Declaration by Japan

In December 1941, Japanese aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor, the US naval base in the Pacific. This attack brought the United States into the war on the side of the Allies, significantly bolstering their economic and military power.

Phase 2: The Victory of the Allies

The Allies achieved significant victories against Japan in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. In North Africa, the Afrika Korps initially launched a successful offensive against the British army, aiming to occupy the Suez Canal. However, they were later defeated at the Battle of El Alamein, forcing a German retreat towards southern Italy. On the Eastern Front, the Battle of Stalingrad marked a turning point. The German attack was repelled, and the defeat of the Wehrmacht marked the beginning of the Soviet Union's successful counteroffensive.

Axis Defeat

In the summer of 1943, the last major German offensive against the USSR failed, eliminating any possibility of a negotiated peace. In May 1943, German and Italian forces surrendered in Tunisia. The Allies then invaded southern Italy, leading to the fall of Mussolini's fascist regime. Mussolini subsequently established the Republic of Salò, a new fascist government in northern Italy allied with the Nazis. The Battle of Berlin saw the Red Army overcome the last Nazi resistance. Hitler committed suicide, and Mussolini was executed. In August 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, effectively ending World War II.

End of the War

In the spring of 1945, the Red Army reached Berlin, culminating in the Battle of Berlin. The Soviets captured the city, and Hitler committed suicide. Faced with Japan's continued resistance, the United States decided to drop two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered, marking the end of World War II.

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