Summary
World War II (1939–1945) was the largest and deadliest conflict in history. It pitted two blocs against each other: the Axis powers —Hitler's Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan— and the Allies —the United Kingdom, France, the Soviet Union and the United States—. It began when Germany invaded Poland.
It was a global war, with fronts in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. It left terrible episodes such as the Holocaust, the murder of millions of Jews by the Nazis, and ended in 1945: first with Germany's surrender and then Japan's, after two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Out of it the UN was born, to try to prevent another war like it.
Key points
- World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945.
- Two blocs: the Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan) and the Allies.
- It began with the German invasion of Poland.
- The Holocaust: the murder of millions of Jews by the Nazis.
- It was a global war, with fronts on several continents.
- It ended with the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945).
- After the war the UN was created.