"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."
An overview of the key battles and events of the war, including the invasion of Poland, the Blitzkrieg, the Battle of Stalingrad, D-Day, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Causes of World War II: The factors that led up to the war, including the Treaty of Versailles, rearment in Europe, and appeasement policies.
Germany's invasion of Poland: Germany's initiation of the war in Europe with the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939.
Battle of Stalingrad: A significant turning point in the war, with the Soviet Union pushing German forces back on the Eastern Front.
D-Day Invasion: The largest amphibious invasion in history, marking the beginning of the end of the war in Europe.
Battle of Midway: The turning point in the Pacific Theater, diminishing Japan's naval power and influencing the remainder of the war.
Holocaust: The systematic genocide of six million Jews, along with other groups by the Nazi regime.
Japanese-American Internment: The forced relocation of Japanese-Americans from the West Coast to internment camps during the war.
Pearl Harbor Attack: The surprise attack on the U.S. Navy base in Hawaii, leading to the involvement of the United States in the war.
Battle of the Bulge: The last major German offensive of the war in Europe, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The use of atomic weapons by the United States against Japan, resulting in Japan's surrender and ending the war.
Dunkirk Evacuation: The evacuation of British and Allied troops from the French coast in 1940, avoiding complete destruction by the advancing German army.
Battle of Berlin: The final battle in Europe, resulting in the capture of Berlin, the suicide of Hitler, and the unconditional surrender of Germany.
Surrender of Japan: The formal declaration of surrender by Japan, officially ending World War II.
Women's role in the war: The significant contributions made by women in industries and the military during the war effort.
Allied Conferences: The important meetings held between the Allied Powers, including the Yalta Conference and the Potsdam Conference.
Blitzkrieg: A tactic used by Nazi Germany to quickly invade and conquer countries.
Battle of Britain: An air campaign fought between the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and the German Luftwaffe.
Operation Barbarossa: A massive invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany.
Battle of Stalingrad: A major turning point in the war, where the Russians successfully defended the city from the Germans.
D-Day: The Allied invasion of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944.
Battle of the Bulge: A German counteroffensive in Belgium and Luxembourg in December 1944.
Battle of Midway: A naval battle fought between the United States and Japan in the Pacific Theatre.
Battle of Guadalcanal: A brutal six-month battle fought on the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific Theatre.
Battle of Iwo Jima: A battle fought between the United States and Japan on the island of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Theatre.
Battle of Okinawa: The last major battle of the Pacific Theatre, fought between the United States and Japan.
Warsaw Uprising: A failed attempt by Polish resistance fighters to liberate Warsaw from German occupation.
Battle of Kursk: The largest tank battle in history, fought between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in July 1943.
Battle of Monte Cassino: A series of four costly battles fought between the Allies and Nazi Germany in Italy.
Battle of the Atlantic: A lengthy struggle between Allied and Axis naval forces for control of Atlantic sea routes.
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The only two nuclear attacks in history, which effectively ended the war with Japan.
"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.