World War – II

(1939-1945)
 WORLD WAR - II
 World War II (1939-1945) was a global conflict between the Allied Powers and the
Axis Powers, marked by major battles in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.

 It resulted in millions of deaths, the Holocaust, and the use of atomic bombs,
leading to the defeat of the Axis Powers and significant geopolitical changes.

 Over 70 countries from 6 continents took part in this infamous war, hence the
name world war.
 CAUSES OF WORLD WAR - II
 Treaty of Versailles after World War I, which left Germany economically crippled and
humiliated with its extremely harsh terms such as occupation of German regions and
heavy war reparations extracted from Germany.
 The rise of totalitarian regimes, notably Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, and Fascist
Italy under Benito Mussolini, fueled expansionist ambitions and aggressive actions.
 Economic instability intensified by the Great Depression(1929), resulted in rising tensions
amongst countries.
 THE AXIS AND ALLIED POWER

COALITIONS
The Axis Powers were a coalition formed during World War II by Nazi Germany, under Adolf
Hitler's leadership, Fascist Italy, led by Benito Mussolini and Japan.
 The Allied Powers were a coalition of nations united against the Axis Powers during World War
II and had the following key members:
 United States (under two presidents), United Kingdom and its colonies, led by Prime Minister
Winston Churchill, The Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin (joined later)
 Other major Allied powers included China, France, Canada, Australia etc.
 INITIAL SKIRMISHES BEFORE WW-II
 Ever since Hitler seized power over Germany in 1933, he began violating the Treaty of
Versailles, with no resistance by the Allies.
 Adolf Hitler's Germany had already annexed Austria in the Anschluss of 1938 and occupied the
Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia through the Munich Agreement.
 The signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in August 1939 between Germany and the Soviet
Union paved the way for the invasion of Poland.
 Meanwhile, Italy, under Benito Mussolini, had already expanded its empire by invading
Ethiopia in 1935.
 The failure of appeasement policies and the rearmament of Axis powers heightened fears of a
new global conflict, setting the stage for the outbreak of World War II.
 ANNEXATION OF POLAND
 Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, is considered the official beginning of
World War II. This aggressive act violated international treaties and prompted declarations of
war from Britain and France.
 Under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Hitler also gained military assistance from the soviet
union.
 Employing blitzkrieg tactics, German forces swiftly overwhelmed Polish defenses, leading to
the rapid occupation of the country.
 BLITZKREIG AND ANNEXATION OF
FRANCE
 Germany's Blitzkrieg, or "lightning war," was a military strategy involving coordinated use of
tanks, infantry, and airpower in employing surprise, speed, and overwhelming force.
 German forces swiftly conquered the Low Countries, and France, demonstrating the potency of
Blitzkrieg tactics. This strategy emphasized mobility and concentrated firepower to achieve
rapid victories, enabling Germany to seize vast territories in the early stages of the war.
 BATTLE OF BRITAIN (1940)
 The Battle of Britain was an air warfare fought between the Royal Air Force (RAF) of Britain
and the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) over British airspace from July to October 1940.
 The battle was a crucial struggle for control of the skies, as Germany sought air superiority to
pave the way for a planned invasion of Britain (Operation Sea Lion).
 Despite facing overwhelming odds, the RAF, supported by radar technology and skilled pilots,
successfully defended British airspace, thwarting German air attacks and inflicting heavy losses
on the Luftwaffe.
 This marked a turning point in the phase of WW-II.
 PEARL HARBOR ATTACK
 Japan's surprise aerial attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on
December 7, 1941, dragged the United States into World War II.
 The attack, launched without a formal declaration of war, inflicted devastating damage on the
Pacific Fleet, including the destruction of battleships and aircraft.
 President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan, leading to the United States' active
participation in the conflict and its eventual role in the defeat of the Axis Powers.
 OPERATION BARBAROSSA (1941)
 Operation Barbarossa, launched on June 22, 1941, was Nazi Germany's massive invasion of the
Soviet Union during World War II.
 It was the largest military operation in history, involving 3 million troops and spanning a front
of over 1,800 miles.
 The invasion aimed to conquer Soviet territory, destroy the Red Army, and establish German
hegemony in Eastern Europe.
 Despite initial success and advancing deep into Soviet territory, the harsh Russian winter and
resilient Soviet resistance halted German advances.
 Operation Barbarossa ultimately failed, contributing to Germany's eventual defeat.
 BATTLE OF STALINGRAD (1942-43)
 The Battle of Stalingrad (August 23, 1942 - February 2, 1943), was a critical turning point on
the Eastern Front during World War II.
 It pitted Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union in a brutal struggle for control of the city of
Stalingrad (now Volgograd).
 Ultimately, the Soviet Union's successful defense of Stalingrad marked a significant setback for
Nazi Germany, halting its advance into the Soviet Union and initiating a shift in momentum in
favor of the Allies.
 The Battle of Stalingrad is regarded as one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of World
War II, symbolizing the resilience of the Soviet people and contributing to the eventual defeat of
Nazi Germany.
 D-DAY/OPERATION OVERLORD
 D-Day, officially named Operation Overlord, was the massive Allied invasion of Normandy,
France, on June 6, 1944, during World War II.
 Under the supreme command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied forces from the United
States, Britain, Canada, and other nations executed a coordinated assault by land, sea, and air.
 The invasion involved airborne drops behind enemy lines and amphibious landings on five
beaches, codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.
 Despite facing fierce German resistance, particularly at Omaha Beach, the Allies successfully
established a beachhead, making it easier to carry further military operations.
 SURRENDER OF GERMANY
 After operation Overlord, allied forces with soviet union breezed through Europe, making all the
way till Berlin. Hitler did make attempts to resist the allies but failed.
 The surrender of Germany occurred on May 7-8, 1945. After Adolf Hitler's suicide on April 30
and with Berlin surrounded by Allied forces, Germany signed the unconditional surrender
documents in Reims, France, on May 7. However, due to Soviet insistence on a formal
surrender, another ceremony took place in Berlin on May 8.
 The surrender of Germany heralded the victory of the Allies in Europe, but the war continued in
the Pacific theater until Japan's surrender in September 1945.
 ATOMIC BOMBINGS AND

SURRENDER OF JAPAN
In August 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs (named Fat Man and Little boy) on the
Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were both destroyed.
 Facing the prospect of further destruction and recognizing the futility of continued resistance,
Japan surrendered unconditionally on August 15, 1945.
 This event marked the formal end of World War, bringing an end to one of the most destructive
conflicts in human history.
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