World War II began in September 1939 after Germany's invasion of Poland, leading to Britain and France declaring war. The United States entered the war following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which marked a significant shift in global alliances and conflict. The war resulted in the deaths of approximately 50 million, led to the emergence of the U.S. and the Soviet Union as superpowers, and established the United Nations to promote world peace.

1. World War 2 By Chris Radde EDU 290 11:00-12:15

2. Leading up to the War In the aftermath of World War I, a defeated and resentful Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles. Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and abolishes Democracy, beginning the rise of his Nazi regime. From there, he increased the size of the German army and set out on his conquest to rule the world. Soviet Union was formed and following Lenin's death, Stalin seized power. In Italy, Benito Mussolini seized power as a fascist dictator and promised another ‘Roman Empire’. Hitler breaks the Treaty of Versailles several times, most notably during reoccupation of the Rhineland by the German Army and also the annexation of Austria. 1937 invasion of the Republic of China by the Empire of Japan and the 1939 invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany. World War Two began in September 1939 when Britain and France declared war on Germany following Germany's invasion of Poland.

3. Getting the U.S. Involved At first, the United States was reluctant to get involved in the war, as they leaned more towards Isolationism. They did, however, supply arms and equipment to England. The United States stance quickly changed after Pearl Harbor. on the morning of December 7, 1941 the Japanese navy conducted an unannounced strike on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This resulted in and marked the official entry of the United States into World War 2. During this vicious attack, the Japanese sank four U.S. Navy battleships as well as causing damage to several other battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and aircraft. Along with these damages, the attack also resulted in 2,402 killed and 1,282 wounded. This attack was said to have the effect of “waking a sleeping giant”. In regards to the event, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed December 7-"a date which will live in infamy”.

4. Alliances During the war, the fighting was split up between 2 alliances: The Allied Powers and The Axis Powers. The three major players in The Axis Powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan. Finland, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Thailand joined the Axis later. Originally, the Allied Powers included the United Kingdom and some of its Commonwealth, France, Poland and China. After attacks on both nations, The United States and the Soviet Union also joined the Allied forces, becoming two of the key nations fighting the Axis.

5. Key Events of WW2 Normandy landings (D-Day), June 6, 1944. This marked the largest invasion of all time. Over 175,000 troops landed that day. Also in 1944, Guam was liberated by the US Okinawa, and Iwo Jima bombed. 1945-Soviets liberate Auschwitz and continue moving east, eventually reaching Berlin: Hitler commits suicide and Germany surrenders on 7 May. After atomic bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrenders on 14 August. In 1942, Mass murder of Jewish people at Auschwitz begins. American naval victory at Battle of Midway, in June, 1942, marks turning point in Pacific War. Allied victory in North Africa enables invasion of Italy to be launched. Italy then surrenders, but Germany takes over the battle.

6. Aftermath The biggest conflict in history had lasted almost six years. Some 100 million people had been militarized, and 50 million had been killed. Of those who had died, 15 million were soldiers, 20 million were Russian civilians, six million were Jews and over four million were Poles. World power was now shifted to the most powerful victors, the United States and Soviet Union, which became known as the superpowers. Conflict between the two superpowers would build over the years resulting in the Cold War which lasted until the Soviet Union was dissolved. Germany was partitioned into four zones of occupation, coordinated by the Allied Control Council. Economic suppression and denazification took place for several years. Following the war, The Soviet Union occupied much of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans, installing a massive communist regime. Japan was occupied by the U.S., aided by Commonwealth troops, until the peace treaty took effect in 1952. The Americans focused on demilitarizing the nation, demolishing the Japanese arms industry, and installing a democratic government with a new constitution. The Allied forces formed The United Nations in an attempt to maintain world peace. The U.N. officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, and adopted The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.