The Basics of World War II
World War II officially started on 1st September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, forcing Britain and France to declare war. The war lasted exactly six years and one day, making it the biggest and deadliest conflict ever fought.
The main causes of WWII included the harsh Treaty of Versailles that left Germany angry and struggling, plus the Great Depression that hit many countries hard. Another major factor was the failure of appeasement - British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain mistakenly believed that giving Hitler what he wanted would prevent war.
The war split the world into two sides: the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) versus the Allies (Britain, France, the United States, Soviet Union, and China). Key leaders included Adolf Hitler for Germany, Winston Churchill for Britain, and Franklin D. Roosevelt for America.
Did you know? Some historians argue WWII actually began in 1937 when Japan invaded China, not when Germany invaded Poland!
Hitler's anti-Semitic beliefs drove him to attempt the systematic murder of Jewish people across Europe. Ironically, whilst Germany started the war, it was Japan's official surrender on 2nd September 1945 that finally ended it.