World War II: Causes, Key Events, and End

Causes of World War II

World War II, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, was one of the most destructive conflicts in human history. The primary causes of the war can be traced back to unresolved issues from World War I, as well as several geopolitical and ideological factors:

• Treaty of Versailles: The harsh terms imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 led to severe economic and political instability in the country. The humiliation, reparations, and territorial losses contributed to widespread resentment in Germany, laying the groundwork for the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
• Expansionism and Totalitarianism: Aggressive expansionist policies by totalitarian regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan were key factors in the outbreak of the war. Hitler aimed to expand German territory, especially in Eastern Europe, and sought to overturn the post-World War I order.
• Failure of the League of Nations: The League of Nations, established after World War I to promote peace, failed to prevent aggression by Axis powers. Its inability to act decisively in cases like Japan's invasion of Manchuria (1931) and Italy's invasion of Ethiopia (1935) encouraged further aggression.
• Appeasement: Western democracies, particularly Britain and France, adopted a policy of appeasement, allowing Hitler to annex Austria (Anschluss) and parts of Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) in the hopes of avoiding war. This emboldened the Axis powers.
• Nationalism and Militarism: Nationalistic fervor and militarism were rampant in Germany, Italy, and Japan. In Germany, Hitler’s racist ideology, centered on the superiority of the "Aryan race" and hatred for Jews, was used to justify aggression. Similarly, Japan believed in its destiny to rule Asia and began military campaigns to dominate the region.

Chronological Events of World War II

1939: Outbreak of War

• September 1, 1939 – Germany Invades Poland: World War II officially began when Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. In response, Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939. The German tactic of Blitzkrieg ("lightning war") involved fast-moving infantry, tanks, and air support, overwhelming Poland's defenses.
• September 17, 1939 – Soviet Union Invades Poland: The Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, invaded eastern Poland as part of the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Germany, effectively dividing the country between the two powers.

1940: Expansion of the Axis Powers

• April-June 1940 – Fall of France and the Battle of Britain: After invading Denmark and Norway in April, Germany turned its attention to Western Europe. The Blitzkrieg overwhelmed Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, leading to the fall of France in June 1940. Britain, under Prime Minister Winston Churchill, resisted the German Luftwaffe (air force) in the Battle of Britain during the summer and autumn of 1940, marking Hitler’s first major defeat.
• September 27, 1940 – Formation of the Axis Alliance: Germany, Italy, and Japan formalized their alliance by signing the Tripartite Pact, creating the Axis Powers.

1941: Widening of the Conflict

• June 22, 1941 – Operation Barbarossa: Hitler broke the non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union by launching Operation Barbarossa, a massive invasion of Soviet territory. This opened up the Eastern Front, one of the most brutal theaters of the war.
• December 7, 1941 – Attack on Pearl Harbor: Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, bringing the United States into the war. The next day, the U.S. declared war on Japan, and Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.

1942-1943: Turning Points

• June 4-7, 1942 – Battle of Midway: The U.S. Navy defeated Japan in the Battle of Midway, marking a turning point in the Pacific Theater. The Japanese lost four aircraft carriers, severely weakening their naval power.
• August 23, 1942 – February 2, 1943 – Battle of Stalingrad: In one of the most significant turning points of the war, Soviet forces defeated the Germans at the Battle of Stalingrad, ending the Nazi advance into the Soviet Union and beginning the pushback on the Eastern Front.

1944: The Allied Offensive

• June 6, 1944 – D-Day (Normandy Invasion): Allied forces, led by the United States, Britain, and Canada, launched the largest amphibious assault in history on the beaches of Normandy, France. This opened the Western Front and marked the beginning of the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe.
• August 25, 1944 – Liberation of Paris: After the success of the Normandy invasion, Allied forces liberated Paris from German occupation, further weakening Nazi control in Western Europe.

1945: The End of World War II

• April 30, 1945 – Hitler’s Suicide: Facing defeat, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin as Soviet forces closed in on the German capital.
• May 7-8, 1945 – Germany Surrenders (V-E Day): Germany formally surrendered to the Allies on May 7, 1945, marking Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) on May 8.
• August 6 and 9, 1945 – Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9), leading to massive destruction and loss of life.
• September 2, 1945 – Japan Surrenders (V-J Day): Japan officially surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, marking Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) and the official end of World War II.

How World War II Ended

Germany's Surrender (May 7, 1945)

After Hitler's suicide, Nazi Germany was left in disarray. The Allied forces had invaded Germany from both the Western and Eastern Fronts. Berlin fell to Soviet forces in late April 1945, and the German government, led by Karl Dönitz after Hitler’s death, agreed to unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945.

Japan's Surrender (September 2, 1945)

The war in the Pacific continued until August 1945. The dropping of two atomic bombs by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to Japan’s unconditional surrender. Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender on August 15, 1945, with the formal ceremony taking place on September 2 aboard the USS Missouri.

Key Outcomes of World War II

• Over 70 million people died, including civilians and soldiers, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.
• The war ended with the defeat of the Axis Powers, the collapse of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan.
• The United Nations was established in 1945 to prevent future conflicts and promote global cooperation.
• The war led to the beginning of the Cold War, a geopolitical struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, which dominated global affairs for the next four decades.
• The Holocaust, Nazi Germany’s genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of others, was revealed, leading to significant global efforts to address human rights and genocide prevention.

Key Consequences of World War II

• The geopolitical landscape was radically altered, with the U.S. and the Soviet Union emerging as superpowers.
• European colonial empires weakened, leading to decolonization in Asia and Africa.
• The devastation of Europe led to the Marshall Plan, a U.S.-sponsored program to rebuild war-torn European nations.