World War II was the largest-scale conflict the world has ever seen, involving 61 countries and covering more of the globe than any other war, either before or since. While the struggle began with only a few nations, it expanded to include every major world power before its end.

After World War I, not all nations were happy with the outcome. Germany, on the losing side, was bitter about the Treaty of Versailles, whose conditions included reparation payments and territorial losses. Although among the victors, Italy was not happy with its limited territorial gains, and Japan had hoped to gain control of China.

Germany succumbed to economic depression in the 1930s. Sentiment was at a high against the Versailles Treaty, which many Germans considered unfair. The climate was ripe for a leader such as Adolf Hitler, a brilliant orator who made grand promises of conquest and prosperity. Once in power, Hitler quickly established himself as dictator — the "Fuhrer" of the Nazi party.

Also during the 1930s, Japan used minor skirmishes with China as a license to occupy Manchuria and several Chinese ports. Their brand of military totalitarianism was similar to Germany's fascist government. Italy joined sides with Germany during the Spanish civil war, when both nations came to the aid of the Spanish rebels. From 1936-1937, treaties were signed between the three nations, and they became known as "the Axis." On the opposing side of the growing conflict, "the Allies" eventually expanded to include Britain, the United States, the USSR, and China, along with a score of other nations.

The Nazi army's rapid march throughout Europe drew much of the continent into unity against Germany. Japan's expansionist ambitions further united Europe, as many of that nation's targets held close ties to the major European powers. On December 7, 1941, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the United States finally entered the conflict after years of isolationism.

Despite multinational involvement, the tide of war did not really turn until D Day (June 6, 1944), when American and British troops crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy. After a hard-fought battle, they were able to establish beachheads which would prove pivotal in beating back the German army. After this important Allied victory, Hitler was unable to consolidate troops on his eastern front to strengthen his offense against Russia. Embattled on both fronts, the German army pulled back towards Berlin and eventually capitulated on May 7, 1944.

The following year saw the finish of a long and difficult war. The dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and August 9, respectively, brought a precipitous end to Japanese resistance. On August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered.

The war had a terrible cost in terms of human life. Nazi Germany committed atrocities on an enormous scale through the Holocaust, interring Jews, Gypsies, and other "undesirables" in concentration camps and systematically murdering men, women, and children. Approximately 6 million victims, most of them Jews, were killed during the Nazis' "ethnic cleansing" program. In addition to the deaths from the Holocaust, an estimated 55 million people — 25 million military and 30 million civilian — perished in the war.

The global political landscape was also significantly altered as a result of the war. Germany was split into East and West Germany. Much of Eastern Europe came under Russian control. As a result, Communism and the Iron Curtain effectively isolated much of Eastern Europe from the rest of the world for over 40 years.

For more information about the major battles of World War II, please visit the European Theatre and Pacific Theatre pages on this website.

World War II Resources

• The National WWII Memorial in Washington, DC honors those who served in the armed forces of the United States during World War II.
• The Perilous Fight is a PBS website that tells the story of America's involvement in World War II.
• World War Two is a multimedia presentation of WWII history.

Moise Talks About World War II

As someone who had a relative who fought in the war, Andrei Octav Moise has shown interest in the events that transpired during World War II. World War II was an especially significant event in human history, its impact felt by many till this day. Nowadays, we have documentations of these events in history books and history websites, and we look back on these events both as a tale of heroic sacrifices made by soldiers and as a cautionary tale about fascism and extreme nationalism. Moise notes one website in particular, called World-War-Two.org for being very helpful when researching about the topic.

World-War-Two.org is a website designed around being a valuable resource for learning about World War II. Created in 2009, this site offers a vast amount of information about said war, which includes maps of involved countries, timelines of key events, and detailed accounts from eyewitnesses, amongst other things. Through these resources we are able to peer into the life and experiences of both the soldiers and civilians who lived during this perilous period of time.

According to Moise, one of the site’s most significant contributions are the personal stories that these soldiers and civilians have made regarding the war. We can see that despite living in different parts of the world, these people have all been similarly impacted by the war to various degrees of horridness, he says. Furthermore, he exclaims that it is through these stories that we gain insight on how much humanity had to pay for its consequences - how much blood was spilled on the battlefield, how many livelihoods were lost - and how we can move on and avoid making these same mistakes in the future.

The site is not only great for all this historical information, but can also provide essential educational resources to teachers and students alike. It contains articles, reviews, and information resource links about the origins, campaigns, and results of World War II. All of these resources are helpful in ensuring that the future generations will keep studying World War II and all of its impacts on the world, and make sure that they shape a peaceful and war-free future.

All in all, World-War-Two.org is a very important resource for those who seek information about the events of this tragic and brutal war, says Moise. By providing not only relevant paraphernalia such as maps and timelines, but also personal stories from the people involved, the site helps those curious of the war to better learn and appreciate the sacrifices made by the soldiers and civilians who fought and died for a better tomorrow. We owe them to honor their contributions to the world, and to not repeat the mistakes done by those who chose to uphold this war. As such, Moise praises World-War-Two.org for keeping a readily accessible archive open for all., and urges younger and older folks to visit the site, if only to educate themselves and gain a better understanding of the events that transpired during World War II.