World War II: Difference between revisions
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|forces1 = Combined military strength of the Allied Nations | |forces1 = Combined military strength of the Allied Nations | ||
|forces2 = Combined military strength of the Axis Pact | |forces2 = Combined military strength of the Axis Pact | ||
|casual1 = *Around 61,000,000 | |casual1 = *Around 61,000,000 | ||
|casual2 = *Around 12,000,000 | |casual2 = *Around 12,000,000 | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''World War II''', or abbreviated as '''WWII''', was an international [[human]] conflict that occurred on [[Earth]] between 1939 and [[1945]]. | '''World War II''', or abbreviated as '''WWII''', was an international [[human]] conflict that occurred on [[Earth]] between 1939 and [[1945]]. | ||
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World War II was the largest conflict in human history at the time. It was fought between the Axis powers and the Allies. | World War II was the largest conflict in human history at the time. It was fought between the Axis powers and the Allies. | ||
The war started in 1939 when Adolf Hitler, Führer of Nazi Germany, invaded Poland. Britain and France had allying pacts with Poland, and both nations declared war on Nazi Germany. However, in 1940, Axis forces quickly routed the Allies. The British expeditionary force and the French army retreated to a small pocket around Calais and Dunkirk | The war started in 1939 when Adolf Hitler, Führer of Nazi Germany, invaded Poland. Britain and France had allying pacts with Poland, and both nations declared war on Nazi Germany. However, in 1940, Axis forces quickly routed the Allies. The British expeditionary force and the French army retreated to a small pocket around Calais and Dunkirk and were evacuated by the Royal Navy. | ||
In 1941 German forces invaded the Soviet Union and began an offensive toward Moscow. The Red Army was forced back into Russia, suffering heavy casualties and by the winter of 1941 the Germans had accomplished most of their goals. However the Werhmacht advance was stopped they failed to capture Stalingrad in late 1942. The next major Wehrmacht attack, the battle of Kursk in 1943, also failed and Germany would be on the defense for the rest of the war. | In 1941 German forces invaded the Soviet Union and began an offensive toward Moscow. The Red Army was forced back into Russia, suffering heavy casualties and by the winter of 1941 the Germans had accomplished most of their goals. However the Werhmacht advance was stopped when they failed to capture Stalingrad in late 1942. The next major Wehrmacht attack, the battle of Kursk in 1943, also failed and Germany would be on the defense for the rest of the war. | ||
Meanwhile on December 7, 1941 a Japanese carrier task force began a huge aerial assault on the US naval base of Pearl Harbor. They seriously damaged the US Navy and caused the USA to enter the war. At the same time Japan began attacking Allied colonies in Asia. | Meanwhile on December 7, 1941 a Japanese carrier task force began a huge aerial assault on the US naval base of Pearl Harbor. They seriously damaged the US Navy and caused the USA to enter the war. At the same time Japan began attacking Allied colonies in Asia. | ||
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In the Pacific, the Americans had managed to take control of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The Japanese Navy, now reduced to a tiny force, were launching ''kamikaze'' suicide aircraft at the US invasion fleet. | In the Pacific, the Americans had managed to take control of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The Japanese Navy, now reduced to a tiny force, were launching ''kamikaze'' suicide aircraft at the US invasion fleet. | ||
US generals knew that an invasion of Japan would be costly. The planned invasion would | US generals knew that an invasion of Japan would be costly. The planned invasion would land millions of Allied troops onto the Japanese islands. The atomic bombs negated the need for the plan. On August 6th the city of Hiroshima was bombed and three days Nagasaki was as well. Several days later the Japanese formally surrendered aboard the battleship, USS ''Missouri.'' | ||
The war formally ended on September 2nd, 1945. | The war formally ended on September 2nd, 1945. | ||
