Introduction
The World War II is the deadliest war that the world has ever faced. Major Powers of this planet fought World War II under flags of axis and allies powers. The world war started in the year 1939 and continued till 1945 but various other battles were fought earlier that caused this war. Millions of soldiers and civilians from both sides lost their lives in this war and hundreds of millions people were directly or indirectly affected by the World War II. Winners of the war, allied forces altered boundaries of nations that lost the war. The world war affected the whole world in a way or other and effects of this war are still visible on the world. This paper aims to propose a discussion on the World War II along with discussing all related aspects of the World War II.
Background
The World War II was started in the year 1939but its foundation was laid down in the First World War. When First World War was ended, Germany was forced to leave some coal fields and territories of Rhineland and Ruhr. Germans did never forget this embarrassment and when a leader like Hitler succeeded in gaining the control of Germany, it was almost clear that Germany is not going to remain silent. Hitler pumped patriotism in people of Germany and in name of taking revenge of the First World War, he united Germans and rise of the Germany proved to be the biggest reason of World War II. Expansionist policies of Italy and Japan became intolerable for allied forces. They were observing each and every step of these merging powers. The situation broke when Germans started occupying Austria, Rhineland and Sutherland. All these factors caused a war that is known as World War II.
World War II: Episodes of the War
War in Europe:
Political and economic uncertainty and bitterness over the Versailles Treaty increased the anger of Adolf Hitler and Nazi party. Hitler started consolidating his power after being designated as Reich Chancellor in year 1933. Hitler was obsessed with the idea of supremacy and pure race of German i.e. “Aryan”. Hitler used to believe that the power can only be achieved by war. During mid 1930s Hitler violated Versailles Treaty by arming Germany secretly. Hitler sent German troops to Austria after forming partnership with Japan and Italy against Soviet Union. Germany occupied Czechoslovakia during next year. Due to internal political conflict in Soviet Union and United States of America the aggressive moves made by Hitler went unchecked. France and Britain were also not interested in conflict.
After establishing a solid base, Germany began the war in Europe in year 1939 when on 1st September German attacked Poland by claiming that Poles had conducted series of disruptive operations against Germans. After two days of attack on Poland, France, United Kingdom and independent states such as South Africa, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand declared war against Germany. The alliance formed between states initially provided limited military support to the Poland. Western partners also started a naval barricading of Germany with intention to disturb German’s economy and damage their war efforts. Germany reacted to war ships by organizing U-boat warfare which further lead to Battle of the Atlantic.
On 17th September Soviet executed cease fire agreement with Japan and also attacked Poland from eastside. 27th September, Warsaw surrendered to Germany after defeat of his army and on 6th October final pockets were also surrendered. The attack by Germany and Soviet Union on Poland resulted into division of Poland’s territory between USSR and Germany. However, polish formed their underground state and a Home Army which fought during entire time of the war. More than 100,000 Polish army persons migrated to Romania and Baltic states. Enigma code breakers of Poland were also displaced to France.
Hitler on 6th October made a peace proposal to U.K and France, and said that further action on Poland will be determined by USSR and Germany. France refused the offer made by Hitler by saying that ‘it is not possible to rely on German government because of the past incidences’. Hitler responded to the rejection made by France but could not succeeded due to poor weather. After execution of German-Soviet treaty governing Lithuania, USSR compelled Baltic States to facilitate the establishment of Soviet troops on their land under the agreement of “mutual assistance”. Finland refusal to Soviet Union resulted in Winter War which last till year 1940. France and U.K. considered USSR attack on Finland just a method to enter into the war that initiated by the Germany (Beevor).
War in Western Europe:
German during April 1940, attacked on Norway & Denmark in order to protect its iron ore shipments that were coming from Sweden. Allies were trying to cut off German’s shipments. Denmark surrendered to the Germany even after receiving support from Allies, whereas, Norway was captured after fighting for two months. During this time, British disagreement over Norwegian movement resulted in replacement of Neville Chamberlain to Winston Churchill on May 10, 1940. Germany attacked France along with some neutral countries i.e. Netherland, Luxembourg and Belgium in order to strengthen their military strategy. September 1940, Germany, Italy and Japan united by executing Tripartite Pact to formalize and endorsed Axis Powers. Romania, Hungary and Slovakia also joined Axis Powers.
United Kingdom, on the other hand, occupied Greenland, Faroes and Iceland in order to obstruct the German assault on the islands. Maginot Line was fortified by the France and Allied forces that were located in the Belgium were evaded under Flanking movement. Ardennes region was filled with thick woods and Allied planners mistaken them with impenetrable barriers which resulted in the trap of Allied armies and their defeat. Majority of persons were imprisoned and a large number were banished from the land at Dunkirk.
Attack of Italy on France in June declared war in France as well as in United Kingdom. Paris surrendered to Germany and after few days France also surrendered and get divided between Germany and Italy. During this division a neutral zone i.e. rump state was also created. France decided to keep its navy but British invade it due to the fear of German’s attack. Soviet Union in June annexed Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and also Bessarabia. During the same time amicable economic and political relations between Soviet Union and Germany started damaging and both countries started their preparation for the war (Black).
Hitler on 19th July publically mentioned that he has no intention to abolish British Empire, hence, offering end of war. United Kingdom refused the offer made by Hitler by saying that Hitler did not mention that peace will as per justice. After this event, Germany started spreading message of superiority in United Kingdom in order to be prepare for the attack. However, Germany failed and attack plans were called off. British repeatedly attacked on Berlin by air and frustrated Germany responded by strategic bombing on the Blitz.
Overall, German efforts to disturb the war efforts made by British were largely failed. German Navy used Royal Navy and U-boats from French ports to fight with British Ships in Atlantic. However, despite of all efforts made by the Germany, British achieved victory in ‘Battle of Britain’ on 27th May, 1941 when Bismarck, a German battleship was submerged. Royal Air Force successfully defeated the Germans.
Throughout the battle, United States decided to remain neutral and taking steps to help western allies and China. November 1939, America’s Neutrality Act was updated or amended in order to facilitate “cash and carry” buying by Allies. During 1940, America substantially increased its size of navy and further agreed to provide American slayers for British bases. However, America disapproved its direct intervention in any conflict. Roosevelt, American President did not take any serious steps to keep America separate from the war. Roosevelt also blamed Hitler for developing plan to defeat the world, and called America an “arsenal for democracy”. America supported British in the war and became part of various official talks, and strategies that were organized to discuss how British can defeat Germany.
During 1940, Italy started barricading Malta and acquired Somaliland. Italy further started intrusion into Egypt that was held by the British. Italy also initiated war with Greco, but repulsed back and pushed to Albania. United Kingdom provided its assistance to the Greece and sent troops along with air support. Hitler decided to take actions against Greek and planned a long-term strategy to secure authority on Romanian Oil.
British forces during December 1940, attacked on Italian forces that were located in Egypt and in East Africa. The attack was successful and in February 1941 eastern Libya was under control of British army. Italian troops were imprisoned. Italian Navy suffered with significant losses due to major defeats with the Royal Navy, when in attack on Taranto, three Italian battleships were destroyed. Germany extended its support to the Italy and sent forces during February. Italy with support from Germany launched attack on Royal forces which were weakened due to Greece.
As a result Royal forces were sent back to Egypt. Royal forces tried to remove Axis forces two times, but they failed. In March 1941, Bulgaria signed Tripartite Pact and enhanced the position of Germany to interfere in Greece. Government of Yugoslavia was also became part of Tripartite Pact, but Hitler sensed hostile regime and eliminated it. Germany attacked both Greece as well as Yugoslavia. The attacks were followed with surrender of both countries. Germany also occupied Crete, a Greek island.
The attack on Pearl Harbor Island in the year 1941 by Japanese air force turned out to be a major event of the World War II. Americans were not directly involved in the war but attack on Pearl Harbor gave them an excuse for entering into the Second World War. Some people believe that American participation changed the scenario of the Second World War. The allied forces got a valuable ally in the form of United States of America. It was a major setback for axis forces that a rich and powerful nation with a capacity of producing weapons joined the war against them.
Even after America joined the world war, axis forces were not disheartened and their aggressive stance gave major blows to allied forces. Germany and Japan were unstoppable and they compelled allied to rethink over their strategy. Allied took aggressive stances after Casablanca conference. It was decided that all the allied forces will remain united. None of them will enter into any separate treaty from axis nations. After Casablanca conference, allied forces became more aggressive.
They started attacking axis forces instead of defending. Germans and Japanese, on the other hand were continued in their aggressive missions. Germany occupied a substantial part of Russia till 1942-43 and Japan was busy in their missions in other parts. Germans sustained severe losses in the Russian region because of winter. By the years 1943-44 allied forces sensed some victory in Asian, African region. Germans suffered huge losses in Russia and Atlantic region. Italy was attacked by allied forces by the mid of 1943.
Allied forces escalated their attacks on axis forces. Americans attacked Japanese in their full strength. Americans were determined to take revenge of Pearl Harbor. When American fighter planes started bombarding Japan, it became difficult for Japanese to even defend themselves. Japan was bombed heavily and when America dropped atom bombs on Japan, the war with Japan came to an end. Japan had no choice except surrendering before allied forces. The axis powers were losing.
.in between Russians escalated their attacks on Germans and defeated them badly. British forces attacked Italy, France and compelled them to surrender. The war was almost finished in the favor of allied forces. Axis forces surrender before allied powers in September 1945 and then war came to an end. Heavy punishments were ascertained for axis powers. They were put under various restrictions and were forced to abide by all terms and conditions that were imposed on them by allied forces.
World War II: War in Asia
Japan was a major player in Asia. Japan occupied various parts of china. Japanese also attacked in the parts of Asian region and captured various territories. Japans defeated allied forces in Asia but after the arrival of Americans in the Asia, the game was changed and japans forces were stopped. Japanese expedition in china as well as in other parts of the Asia came to an end. They suffered huge losses and they also lost their territories. British India, Burma, Singapore and French territories of Indochina were major battle grounds in the Second World War. Asia was not a major battle ground of the World War II because all belligerent nations were mainly from European region.
World War II: Aftermath
The World War II is the deadliest and costliest war of this world. It affected the world in the most hazardous manner. Millions of people lost their lives and millions of people were affected either directly or indirectly. Many powers lost their power while a number of new powers emerged in the world. The world has witnessed the most disastrous atomic attacks on the Japan by United States of America. People felt that the humanity is going to vanish from the earth forever.
Axis powers were badly defeated and they were forced to abide all terms and conditions of allied forces that won the war. Axis nations were forced to compensate the expenses and war costs. They were penalized, demilitarized and winners also snatched various territorial jurisdictions from them. Though Axis nations were ruined but at the same time, allied nations also suffered huge losses and they could not stand like earlier times. This war ended the monopoly of United Kingdom.
United States of America emerged as the new superpower of the world. USSR also emerged as the new superpower. The two partners that fought in the world war together became competitors in the era of post world war. USA and USSR were involved in the race of leading the world. Both of them wanted to be the world leader. They wanted to establish their supremacy in terms of military, technology and finance. The whole world was divided into two lobbies and these two lobbies were lead by USA and USSR.
These superpowers involved in a cold war where there was not real war but the competition was so high that there were chances of being war in both these nations. USA and USSR were involved in conspiring against each other. Rests of the nations were either with them or against them. These superpowers created some disastrous weapons and on basis of these weapons, they tried to rule the world. The rest of the world was busy in its own affairs and witnessed the power struggle of two superpowers.
United Nations came to existence and there was a need of such an agency in order to reduce the growing heat between USA and USSR. An agency like UN was required especially after the elimination of League of Nations. This agency successfully handled the heat between US and USSR and also played significant role in resolving issues of various other nations. Today UN has emerged as the most significant body and takes care of international disputes. The agency helps in solving disputes by negotiations and by other peaceful methods. The agency also does not hesitate from intervening wherever it becomes inevitable.
After observing the Second World War and various other related aspects of the war, it can be concluded that the Second World War was the most disastrous war of the world. This war has affected the world in the most negative way and caused incidents like Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Millions of people lost their lives and billions of dollars were lost in the war by belligerent parties. This money would have changed the world in a positive manner. The world witnessed emergence of two major superpowers USA and USSR. The world also witnessed a dangerous race for the power between these two superpowers. United Nations was made after the World War II that is one of positive contributions of the World War II. The World War II has affected the world in many ways and these effects are still continued.
Works Cited
Beevor, Antony. The Second World War. London: Hachette UK, 2012.
Black, Jeremy. World War Two: A Military History. Hove, UK: Psychology Press, 2003.
