THE STORY OF WORLD WAR 2

 Haanji,

World_war_2

SCENARIO BEFORE WORLD WAR 2:-

The damage caused by World War I had severely destabilized Europe and World War II emerged in several ways from problems left unresolved by the previous conflict. 

As a result, when World War I ended, Germany was the nation that lost more than any other. It was completely demolished in every way. And World War II played a significant factor in India's independence. (you can see my previous blog i.e Story Of World War 1 here)

During WW2, there were two groups, just as there were during WW1. There were two groups in WW1: the Allied Powers and the Central Powers. and there were also two groups in WW2: Allies Power (USSR (Soviet Union), United States, Britain, and France) and Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan). And these two groups played a significant role in the battle. World War II lasted six years and one day. 

Axis powers have their own fascinating stories to tell, such as how a group of small countries came together to form an Axis Entity. So, let's catch up on some fascinating axis power stories.

Allis_And_Axis_Powers

STORY OF AXIS POWERS:

Let's begin with Italy. There was person named Benito Mussolini. Who lived in Italy? Due to the spread of European powers at the time, one person from each family was required to serve in the military. However, he had no desire to serve in the military. As a result, he ran away to a neighboring country i.e Switzerland.

Mussolini possessed excellent vocal, convincing, and writing abilities. He was still trying to promote and encourage Socialism, and he was opposed to war. He didn't want to collaborate with the military for this purpose alone; he was opposed to aggression. As a result, when he ran away to Switzerland, he began writing articles against the European Power. So he was arrested in Switzerland and deported back to Italy, where he was released. He was still unsatisfied, so he again fled to Switzerland and repeated the process; he has arrested in Switzerland again, and Italy bailed him out. Then he realized that collaborating with military forces was his only choice. As a result, he enlists in the military and completes his training.

 

However, he was an antiwar activist who mostly desired to spread the socialist message. As I previously said, he had exceptional vocal and convincing abilities, so if a warlike situation arises in Italy, he would take a stand against it. But any time he took a stand, he was imprisoned. and gradually he gained a large following because of his antiwar stance and socialist beliefs, but it wasn't enough. 

So he came up with a new strategy, he will support the wars from now on, and with the help of these wars, he will spread socialism throughout the country. There was a European Monarchy in Italy at the time, and socialism was almost impossible to achieve, so he chose to support wars. As a result, the war will depose the European monarchy and bring in socialism in Italy.

As a result, Mussolini began to unite the people for the war under the name of nationalism, and since he was a master manipulator, he was able to convince people to join his side.

As we know in WWI, Italy was on the winning side, but after winning WWI Italy got nothing to compare to other countries. Italy was still suffering from the economical crisis and the government was still so poor to control the citizens of a country. Basically, Italy was in a bad situation, but then Benito Mussolini came, he manipulates the people by showing the government weak. He began to convince others and began to gain supporters, influence, and followers. This is how Mussolini seized control of Italy and ascended to the role of Dictator.

Hitler_Mussolini_Tojo

Let's talk about Germany now. Germany was the nation that suffered the most during WW1. It was in critical condition. The Treaty of Versailles was signed by Germany. According to the treaty, Germany is not allowed to keep an army of more than 1000 soldiers or an air force. During WW1, Germany also paid out a large sum of money to the other countries that were affected.

Now comes Adolf Hitler, a patriotic soldier with a strong connection to World War I. After WWI, he saw German suffering. He was a brilliant oracle, had excellent leadership qualities, and was amazingly clever. He gained popularity and support from the people based on his skills, and he became the leader of the largest political group of that time, the Nazis. Hitler was chosen as Germany's chancellor by President Paul von Hindenburg in 1933.

So, how did Hitler rise to power? Let's see, after German President Paul von Hindenburg died on August 2, 1934, Chancellor Adolf Hitler assumed the role of "Supreme Leader" and became Germany's absolute Dictator. The German army swore loyalty to its commanding officer, and the last remaining bits of Germany's democratic government was taken down. (We will discuss more about Adolf Hitler in the next Blog).

Japan, the third member of the Axis Forces, has arrived. For several years, Japan was an isolated country with no international ties. But it was with America that it had its first touch. The Americans came to Japan offering trade and profit advice. Japan accepted America's offer because it allowed them to develop themselves while still providing a benefit to trade.

However, because America exploited Japan in the name of commerce, Japan became enraged. Japan was a small country at the time, so gaining more influence was difficult. Japan launched an attack on China's eastern side, including Manchuria, Shanghai, and other cities. When the USSR learned of the attacks, they sent troops to Japan, but the Japanese army defeated them, and Japan began to grow in strength.

Allis_Powers_and_Axis_Powers

As we all know, Germany, Italy, and Japan were all small countries at the time, but they were increasing in power. 

In summary, Germany almost lost everything after World War I, and they suffered greatly.  

Italy was on the winning side in WWI, but in comparison to other countries, they received nothing.

On other hand, Japan was exploited by America. As a result, these countries were rendered powerless at the time.

Here are the three countries that have merged to form axis power.

WORLD WAR II, THE BEGINNING:

Adolf Hitler is now the dictator of Germany. All were under his control, and members of the Nazi Party backed him up without question, and it all began here. 

First and foremost, Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles, which western powers were compelled to sign after World War I. 

- He began to build military and war weapons and machinery. 

- He developed his Airforce.

- He also dispatches German forces to the Rhineland. German troops are prohibited from entering Rhineland under the treaty, but he sends them anyway.

From here, Hitler began the expansion of German territory on all sides. His ambition was to grow his nation and become the world's ruler. And after breaking the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler invaded and occupied several neighboring nations, but the thing is, the western countries did nothing to stop Hitler; they only ignored him and sent him warnings. Then Western countries adopted the policy of Appeasement ( full fill the demand to maintain the peace ). 

But, since taking small countries did not satisfy Hitler, he asked allies for a piece of Czechoslovakia as part of the appeasement policy. But the Allies were unwilling to give up any part of Czechoslovakia, and since he was a dictator, he invaded and conquered the country.

However, since Hitler was an individual with both brain and support, and other countries feared Hitler, allies countries did not respond strongly.

On the other side, Mussolini decided to enlarge Italy's territory after seeing Germany. However, he adopted a different strategy. He targeted developing and small nations such as Abyssinia and Albania. Mussolini was gaining confidence over his Dominance.

Japan was gaining power in its region as it conquered China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and Burma. USSR (Russian) troops were also defeated by Japan. 

By this time, these small countries had grown in power, and three of them, Germany, Italy, and Japan, formed an alliance known as the Axis.

Hitler_Mussolini_Tojo

MAJOR TURNS DURING WORLD WAR II :

Germany Invades Poland (September 1, 1939):-

Germans_Invade_Poland

The most widely accepted date for the start of World War II in Europe is September 1, 1939. Germany had been acquiring a military strong enough to conquer Europe and probably the world for several years, led by its (supreme leader), Adolf Hitler. On September 1, Hitler chose Poland as the target for his ambitions, and Germany involved USSR to invade Poland and after the invasion, they will distribute the country in half, and the German invasion of Poland began. 

Both France and England had pledged to assist Poland if it was ever invaded, so they declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939. Germany conquered Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and finally France in the months that followed.

Battle of Britain (July 10, 1940):-

Battle_of_Britain

By June 1940, Nazi Germany had seized control of virtually all of Western Europe. “The Battle of France is over,” Prime Minister Winston Churchill said in a speech to the British House of Commons. The Battle of Britain, I believe, is about to begin.” The following battles were mostly fought in the air. 

Despite heavy casualties, the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom held off the German Luftwaffe for three months, eventually taking the air war to the skies above Germany. Hitler had no choice but to call off the attack as summer gave way to fall. It was Hitler's first major defeat in the war.

Japan Attacks Pearl Harbour (December 7, 1941):-

Pearl_Harbour

As Hitler's armies marched through Europe, Japan's military attempted a similar operation in Southeast Asia. , On December 7, 1941, a raid on the US Navy base at Pearl Harbour near Honolulu, Hawaii destroyed more than 20 American ships and 300 aircraft. More than 4,000 Americans were killed or injured as a result of the attack. The United States formally joined the war the next day.

But what was the motive of the attack on Pearl Harbour? So the reason is, after the United States cut off US oil exports to Japan in the summer of 1941, the Japanese government decided to invade Pearl Harbour. Japan depended on the United States for 80% of its oil, and its navy would be unable to operate without US oil supplies. The Japanese hoped to wreck the US Pacific fleet by attacking Pearl Harbour, giving the Japanese navy free rein in the Pacific.

Battle of Midway (June 4, 1942):-

The Battle of Midway was another significant turning point in WWII, as it was one of the most important American naval successes of the war. With a second surprise assault on June 4, 1942, Japan's military hoped to fully destroy the US Navy. This time, the attack was aimed at US forces stationed on and around Midway, a small island in the Pacific halfway between Japan and the US.

American cryptanalysts (code breaker) had broken Japan's communication codes, unknown to Japan. The US forces were prepared for the war when it began. As a result, Japan suffered heavy casualties and spent the rest of the war on the defensive.

Battle of Stalingrad (August 23, 1942):-

The Battle of Stalingrad is widely regarded as the turning point in World War II. In 1942, Hitler sent an army to capture the Soviet Russian city of Stalingrad, which had been renamed after the Soviet emperor. As a result, on July 7, the largest, deadliest, and most devastating combat in the history of warfare began. On both sides, the number of dead, missing, or injured was horrific. The German army, on the other hand, will never be able to recover.

The_Battle_of_Stalingrad

{The Importance Battle of Stalingrad's:-

Of all the battles fought during World War II, the Battle of Stalingrad was the biggest. Understanding what happened at this critical battle will help you understand the Battle of Stalingrad's importance.

As Germany and its allies sought control of this city in southern Russia, the fighting took place. Stalingrad was chosen by the Germans because of its industrial capabilities and proximity to the Volga River, which would enable German forces to cut off trade and military deployment routes. 

The fighting began in August 1942, when the German 6th Army and parts of the 4th Panzer Army launched an offensive. The attack was assisted by bombings that destroyed a large portion of the area. The dynamics of fighting shifted to urban warfare as a result of the city's devastation, and soldiers on both sides worked to manage their close-quarter surroundings.

Both sides in the battle brought in a large number of reinforcements, and by November of that year, German forces had pushed Soviet defenders back along the Volga River. On November 19, however, the battle's focus shifted. Targeting the weaker German armies defending the 6th Army's flanks, Soviet forces launched an operation. The counterattack's strength was underestimated, and the weaker armies were defeated.

During the counter-offensive, the Soviet forces were able to cut off the German 6th Army. Adolf Hitler directed the army to stay in the city and not try to flee. Heavy fighting continued, but the Axis powers' ammunition and supplies finally ran out. What remained of the 6th Army surrendered on February 2, 1943. After massive losses, the Soviet army defeated the assault, signaling a shift in the tide of their war with Germany.

The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the worst battles in modern warfare, taking the lives of over a million Soviet soldiers and leaving an estimated 850,000 Axis soldiers dead, missing, or injured. During the war, a large number of civilians were killed.}

D-Day, the Invasion of Normandy (June 6, 1944):-

For a long time, a proposal to free Western Europe from Nazi influence had been in the work. The German army had prepared for it and had constructed a complex defensive structure. Historians report that over 4,000 Allied soldiers were killed on the first day of fighting, June 6, 1944. Despite this, the attack on northern France's German-controlled beaches was a resounding success. German troops in Western Europe were stepping back for the first time in the war. The war was coming to an end.

Battle of the Bulge ( December 16, 1944):-

The Battle of the Bulge wasn't just a critical World War II battle; it's still considered by some historians to be "the greatest battle in American military history." The Allies had successfully landed in northern France and were now moving eastward toward Germany. That's when Hitler launched his war's last major offensive. 

The Nazi counter-offensive in the Ardennes Forest began on December 16, 1944, over an 80-mile front. There was a lot of snow, and the American troops were inexperienced. They declined to surrender when given the opportunity. The battle raged for several weeks, forcing the German army to withdraw further.

Nazi Germany Surrenders ( May 8, 1945):-

Nazi_Germany_Surrender

As Allied forces approached Berlin, the true impact of the destruction became visible. Hundreds of thousands of Jews were already being kept in death camps when they were rescued. The rescue had come too late for most of them, an approximate six million of them had already died.

On May 7, 1945, people all over the world took to the streets to cheer the signing of the surrender document by Nazi leaders. However, as American soldiers in the Pacific were participating in one of history's most brutal fights on the island of Okinawa at the time, President Harry Truman referred to it as "a victory only half won." 

Japan Formally Surrenders ( September 2, 1945):-

Japan_Formally_surrenders

The military of the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in August, one over Hiroshima on August 6 and the other over Nagasaki on August 9. They hoped that the new weapon's impact would compel Japanese leaders to quickly surrender. And yes, it did. Just a few days later, Emperor Hirohito announced the end of the war on Japanese radio, and on September 2, 1945, the war that had engulfed virtually every nation on the planet was declared officially over. It was time for those who remained in uniform to return home and begin the process of reconstruction.

Conclusion: 

The Allies acknowledged Germany's surrender on May 8, 1945, around a week since Adolf Hitler committed suicide. And Japan officially surrendered on September 2, 1945, after the United States drop the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

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The Second World War came to an end after Six years and One day. World War II took the lives of an estimated 60-80 million people which include 15 million Soldiers, 45 million Civilians, and 25 million people were wounded or in short, around 3% of the world's population was dead, including the 6 million Jews killed in Nazi death camps during World War II. 16 Million People were Displaced. 194 Countries Were Involved in the War. And the total cost of War was 1.29 Trillion.

India had also made a huge contribution in World War II. And we will cover this story some other time and there was a great impact of WW2 behind the independence of India, So stay tuned. ✌️

😇(Also read "The Story Of World War 1")😇