World War II History: Major Events & Aftermath

World War II: Pre-War Conflicts (1930-1939)

During 1930-1939, the League of Nations proved unable to prevent major wars and aggressions:

  • 1931: Japan invaded China.
  • 1935: Italy invaded Ethiopia.
  • 1935: Adolf Hitler initiated a policy of remilitarization, violating the Treaty of Versailles.
  • 1936: Hitler and Mussolini strengthened their alliance, supporting fascist General Franco during the Spanish Civil War.
  • Meanwhile, France and Great Britain pursued a policy of appeasement towards Germany.
  • France and Great Britain made agreements with Hitler in an attempt to avoid a major war in Europe.
  • 1938: Hitler invaded Austria and Czechoslovakia.
  • 1939: Hitler and Stalin signed a secret non-aggression pact, agreeing to divide Poland in case of war.
  • 1 September 1939: Hitler invaded Poland, leading France and Great Britain to declare war. This marked the beginning of World War II.

Axis Offensives and Global Expansion (1939-1941)

The Axis Powers consisted primarily of Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Western Front Developments

  • 1 September 1939: Germany invaded Poland using Blitzkrieg (lightning war) tactics.
  • April 1940: Germany invaded Denmark and Norway.
  • June 1940: Germany invaded Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. France was subsequently divided into two areas:
    • German-controlled territory.
    • Territory ruled by a pro-German French government (Vichy France).
  • June 1940: Italy invaded North Africa.
  • Italy also invaded Greece.

Eastern Front Developments

  • June 1941: Germany invaded the USSR (Operation Barbarossa), aiming to reach Moscow before winter.
  • The harsh winter of 1941 paralyzed the German advance due to extreme cold and strong Soviet resistance.

Pacific War Begins

  • 7 December 1941: Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (Hawaii, USA). The United States subsequently declared war on Germany, Japan, and Italy.
  • The Japanese also launched attacks on various Pacific Islands.

1942: The Turning Point of World War II

Several key battles turned the tide against the Axis powers:

  • Stalingrad: Hitler’s forces were decisively defeated in the USSR, marking the beginning of their retreat on the Eastern Front.
  • El Alamein: German and Italian forces were defeated in North Africa.
  • Midway: The Japanese navy was defeated by the U.S. in the Pacific.

1943: Allied Counter-Offensives Gain Momentum

  • In the USSR, the Germans were defeated and forced onto the defensive.
  • The USA and Great Britain occupied North Africa, then invaded Italy, reaching the gates of Rome. Mussolini was overthrown.
  • The U.S. began reconquering territories occupied by Japan in the Pacific.

1944-1945: The Final Allied Offensive

The Allies (United Kingdom, France, USA, China, and USSR) ultimately defeated the Axis (Germany, Japan, and Italy).

  • 1944: The Soviet army began a massive offensive that pushed deep into Germany.
  • 6 June 1944 (D-Day): The Allies (UK and USA) landed in Normandy (French coast), aiming to advance towards Germany from the west.
  • Germany attempted a final counter-offensive at the Battle of the Bulge, but it failed.
  • 30 April 1945: The Soviets conquered Berlin, leading to Adolf Hitler’s death.
  • Mussolini was executed upon surrender.
  • Meanwhile, the Japanese military command vowed to resist until death.
  • To avoid further Allied casualties and hasten the war’s end, President Truman ordered the use of the atomic bomb.
  • 6 August 1945: The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
  • 9 August 1945: The atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
  • 2 September 1945: Japan’s unconditional surrender marked the official end of World War II.

Post-War Conferences: Yalta and Potsdam

The Allies aimed to establish a lasting peace and avoid the failures of the Treaty of Versailles.

  • February 1945: Yalta Conference
    • Attendees: USSR (Stalin), UK (Churchill), USA (Roosevelt).
    • Agreements:
      • Convene free and democratic elections in liberated territories.
      • Germany would be disarmed and divided among the victors.
      • The United Nations (UN) would be created.
  • July 1945: Potsdam Conference
    • Attendees: USSR (Stalin), UK (Churchill, later Attlee), USA (Truman).
    • Agreements:
      • Decision to prosecute Nazi war criminals (Nuremberg Trials).
      • Growing tensions emerged between the Western Allies (UK, USA) and the USSR, foreshadowing the Cold War.