history ww2

Ø World War Two began with the German invasion of Poland, 1st September 1939; this invasion was made possible by the unexpected Nazi-Soviet Pact between Nazi Germany and Soviet (Communist) Russia. Hitler and Stalin did not trust each other, and they supported opposing ideologies (Nazism and Communism), but they wanted to work together to take over Poland. In the early summer of 1940, Hitler then turned his attention to western Europe, invading Belgium and France using his blitzkrieg tactics, with Paris falling to the Nazis in June. British and French forces were surrounded at Dunkirk, but hundreds of thousands of troops were rescued from Nazi attack by the Dunkirk evacuation, codename Operation Dynamo .

Ø Germany now turned its focus to Britain, and planned an ambitious invasion attempt, which relied on defeating the British Airforce. However, Britain were victorious in the Battle of Britain, thanks to their advanced Spitfire and Hurricane airplanes, and their use of radar. The Germans were therefore unable to invade Britain, and instead resorted to a lethal bombing campaign known as the Blitz.

Ø Having taken control of most of western Europe, Hitler now turned his attention to the east, and invade Soviet Russia, breaking the Nazi-Soviet Pact and betraying Stalin. This was a crucial turning point in the Second World War, because Germany was now fighting against the huge country of Russia, whilst also occupying western Europe. This invasion, known as Operation Barbarossa, would eventually fail and the Soviets would push the Germans all the way back to Berlin, thanks to victories such as the Battle of Stalingrad.

Ø A few months after the beginning of the Nazi Operation Barbarossa, another crucial turning point took place – the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour. This surprise attack failed to achieve its aim of defeating the American navy. However, it did lead to America joining the war against Germany and Japan; British and American troops landed in Normandy in June 1944, forcing the German soldiers back to Berlin, and liberating western Europe from Nazi occupation. The war then officially ended when Japan surrendered, following America’s atomic attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.