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.