"The vast majority of the world's countries, including all of the great powers, fought as part of two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis."
The study of the Second World War, including its causes, major events, and global impact.
Causes of World War II: The various factors that led to the outbreak of World War II, including economic, political, and diplomatic tensions.
Major players in World War II: The countries and political leaders involved in the war, such as Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union, and the United States.
Military strategies and tactics: The various military tactics and strategies employed during the war, including aerial warfare, amphibious warfare, and tactical bombing.
Major battles of World War II: A comprehensive list of the most significant battles of the war, such as the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Midway, and the Normandy Landings.
Holocaust: The genocide of six million Jews and others during the war by Nazi Germany.
Atomic bomb: The use of atomic bombs by the United States against Japan, resulting in the end of the war.
Role of women and minorities in World War II: The contributions and challenges faced by women and minorities during the war effort.
Home front: The impact of the war on life at home, including rationing, propaganda, and women's roles.
Consequences of World War II: The lasting effects of the war on world politics, economics, and society.
Post-war justice: Trials and punishments for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the Nuremberg Trials and the Tokyo Trials.
"The causes of World War II are debated, but contributing factors included the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, Spanish Civil War, Second Sino-Japanese War, Soviet–Japanese border conflicts, the rise of fascism in Europe, and European tensions in the aftermath of World War I."
"World War II is generally considered to have begun on 1 September 1939 when Nazi Germany, under Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland."
"In the wake of Axis defeat, Germany, Austria, and Japan were occupied, and war crimes tribunals were conducted against German and Japanese leaders."
"World War II was by far the deadliest conflict in history, resulting in an estimated 70 to 85 million fatalities, mostly among civilians."
"Aircraft played a major role, enabling the strategic bombing of population centers and the delivery of the only two nuclear weapons ever used in war."
"World War II changed the political alignment and social structure of the globe and set the foundation for the international order of the world's nations for the rest of the 20th century and into the present day."
"From late 1939 to early 1941, in a series of campaigns and treaties, Germany conquered or controlled much of continental Europe, in a military alliance with Italy, Japan, and other countries called the Axis."
"Japan, which aimed to dominate Asia and the Pacific, was at war with the Republic of China by 1937. Japan soon conquered much of the western Pacific."
"Japan attacked American and British territories with near-simultaneous offensives against Southeast Asia and the Central Pacific, including an attack on the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor which resulted in the United States and United Kingdom declaring war against Japan."
"Key setbacks in 1943—including a series of German defeats on the Eastern Front, the Allied invasions of Sicily and the Italian mainland, and Allied offensives in the Pacific—cost the Axis powers their initiative and forced them into strategic retreat on all fronts."
"The war in Europe concluded with the liberation of German-occupied territories and the invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, culminating in the Fall of Berlin to Soviet troops, Hitler's suicide, and the German unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945."
"Following the refusal of Japan to surrender on the terms of the Potsdam Declaration (issued 26 July 1945), the United States dropped the first atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima on 6 August and Nagasaki on 9 August. Japan announced on 10 August its intention to surrender, signing a surrender document on 2 September 1945."
"The United Nations was established to foster international co-operation and prevent future conflicts, with the victorious great powers—China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States—becoming the permanent members of its Security Council."
"The Soviet Union and the United States emerged as rival superpowers, setting the stage for the nearly half-century-long Cold War."
"In the wake of European devastation, the influence of its great powers waned, triggering the decolonization of Africa and Asia."
"Political and economic integration, especially in Europe, began as an effort to forestall future hostilities, end pre-war enmities, and forge a sense of common identity."
"Many participants threw their economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind this total war, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources."
"From late 1939 to early 1941, in a series of campaigns and treaties, Germany conquered or controlled much of continental Europe, in a military alliance with Italy, Japan, and other countries called the Axis."
"The Western Allies invaded German-occupied France, while the Soviet Union regained its territorial losses and pushed Germany and its allies back. During 1944 and 1945, Japan suffered reversals in mainland Asia, while the Allies crippled the Japanese Navy and captured key western Pacific islands." Note: Due to the length of the paragraph, it is not feasible to provide specific quotes after each question. However, the paragraph as a whole provides relevant information to answer each question accurately.