World War II History

World War II killed more people, destroyed more property, disrupted more lives, and probably had more far-reaching consequences than any other war in history. It brought about the downfall of Western Europe as the center of world power and led to the rise of the Soviet Union. The exact number of people killed because of the war will never be known. Many nations came together to form the Axis. As they’re opposite the Allies totaled fifty nations by the end of the war. The early stages of the war are what got the attention of the U.S. Although, the U.S. was set on being on the sidelines of this war, Pearl Harbor was the deciding factor for her entry. The consequences of the war involved numerous deaths and even more power struggles after the war had ended. All together, World War II was a far-reaching, extremely destructive war that changed the world and its super-powers forever.

During the early stages of World War II, Germany won a series of swift victories over Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, and France. Then attempted to bomb Great Britain into surrendering, but to no avail. After Hitler took over Czechoslovakia he began to demand land from Poland. Britain and France pledged to help Poland if Germany was to attack. Unfortunately helping Poland would include the invasion of Germany, which neither country was willing to do. Great Britain and France had hoped the Soviet Union would help protect Poland. But Hitler and Stalin shocked the world when they became allies. On August 23, 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a nonaggression pact; in which both agreed not to attack each other. They secretly decided to divide Poland between them. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and began Wo...

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...the central powers of the world. The wartime alliance soon crumbled away as the Soviet Union sought to spread communism in Europe and Asia. The Struggle between the Communist World, led by the Soviet Union, and the non-Communist world, led by the United States, is known as the Cold War.

Soon after the war had ended, the allies began to draw up peace treaties with Italy and four other countries that had fought with the Axis. Throughout the history of the world there have been major power shifts, wars, and abrupt changes in society. World War II, being as destructive as it was, was bound to happen. But, through all the death, destruction, surprise attacks, and torn cities, peace was accomplished at a great cost.

Works Cited

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