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WORLD WAR II
1939 - 1945
MAIN OPPONENTS
The Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) fought the Allies (France,
Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, China).
ISSUES BEHIND
THE WAR
After the unsatisfactory peace treaties of
World War I and the Great
Depression in the early 1930s, Germany, Italy, and Japan developed
into totalitarian regimes eager to expand their national boundaries.
WHAT STARTED
WORLD WAR II?
After years of committing military acts of aggression, Germany
invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Great Britain and France
declared war on Germany on September 3.
WHAT ENDED
WORLD WAR II?
Italy surrendered to the Allies on September 8, 1943. Germany
surrendered unconditionally on May 8, 1945. This day became known as
VE-Day (Victory in Europe Day).
Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945. This day became known as VJ-Day
(Victory over Japan).
WHO WON AND
WHO LOST THE WAR?
The Allies were the victors of World War II. Estimates of total
deaths caused by World War II vary from 40,000,000 to 60,000,000.
Germany was divided into four zones of occupation by UK, US, France,
and USSR forces. The country remained divided into two nations, East
and West Germany, until 1990. (Scroll down for map.)
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Atomic bomb on Nagasaki |
ATOMIC BOMB
On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped by the
United States on Hiroshima. It pulverized everything in the
explosion's immediate vicinity. Four square miles were burned
out completely, 75,000 people were killed, and more than
70,000 were injured.
Three days later a second atomic bomb devastated Nagasaki. It
killed 40,000 people, injured the same amount, and devastated
1.8 square miles. |
MAJOR EVENTS
Pearl Harbor Attack -
Although the war started in 1939, the United States did not join the
Allies until Japan bombed the American fleet in Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. Japan also attacked the Philippines and
Malaysia. Here are some
impressive Pearl Harbor photos.
On June 6, 1944, D-Day, the Allies invaded France on the Normandy
coast. It was the largest invasion force in history and included
over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and 160,000 troops.
PEARL HARBOR - DECEMBER 7, 1941
MORE STUFF
Here
you'll find an incredible day by day timeline of WWII.
A general
World War Two
timeline here.
EK received mail.
Parents inquire regarding WWII info for their 8 to 10 year
old children. I found
BBC's section "Children of World War 2" pretty interesting. See
what you guys think.
And talk about unfinished business:
Japan wants its four islands back which Russia had taken at the end
of WWII. Those guys still don't have a WWII peace document signed.
Wicked stuff. Find more info
here.
Germany was divided into occupation
zones
which laid the foundation for the Cold War.
IMPACT ON
HUMANKIND
Approximately six million Jews were killed by the Nazis in the
Holocaust.
The war paved the way for the Cold War between the Western powers
(Capitalism) and the Eastern powers (Communism).
WORLD WAR II QUOTES
Magnificent! Compared to war all other forms of human endeavor
shrink to insignificance. God help me, I do love it so! - General
George Patton, American specialist of tank warfare in World War II
Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.
- Anne Frank, Holocaust victim
WORLD WAR TRIVIA
Here is
some free video footage.
And what were the
Japanese doing in Sydney harbor!
If you visited Norway lately and your fish tasted a little bit
odd...
this might be the reason why.
Here's a map of the US Battle Sites
United
States 1689 - 1945 Battle Sites
Click Map to enlarge
Check here for
pictures of the first atomic bomb explosion, the Trinity Site
explosion July 16, 1945.
TRINITY SITE ATOMIC BOMB
JULY 16, 1945
Check the
costs of major US wars in comparison.
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