"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."
Study of the causes, events, and consequences of the Second World War, which lasted from 1939 to 1945 and involved the majority of the world's nations, leading to the formation of the United Nations and the Cold War.
Causes of World War II: The underlying political, economic, and social factors that led to the global conflict, including the Treaty of Versailles, rise of dictators, and appeasement policies.
Diplomacy and Strategy: The tactics and actions of world leaders during the war, including alliances, diplomacy, and military strategy.
Major Powers: The major countries involved in World War II, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union, and others.
Military Campaigns: The significant battles and campaigns that occurred during World War II, such as the Battle of Stalingrad, D-Day invasion, and the Battle of Midway.
Weapons and Technology: The advancements in weaponry and technology that were developed and utilized during the war, including tanks, planes, and submarines.
Home Front: The impact of the war on civilians, including rationing, propaganda, and social changes.
Holocaust: The systematic genocide of Jews and other groups by Nazi Germany, and the global response to the atrocities.
Resistance Movements: The acts of rebellion and underground resistance against Nazi occupation in Europe.
Aftermath and Consequences: The effects of World War II on the global community, including the establishment of the United Nations, the onset of the Cold War, and the rebuilding efforts following the devastation of the war.
Women and Minorities in the War Effort: The roles played by women and marginalized groups during World War II, including opportunities for employment and activism.
European Theatre: This refers to the war fought on the European continent between Germany and its allies against the Allied forces, including the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union.
Pacific Theatre: This refers to the war fought between Japan and the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other Allied countries in the Pacific Ocean and East Asia.
Atlantic Theatre: This refers to the naval war between Germany and the United States in the Atlantic Ocean, where German U-boats threatened to cut off Allied supplies to Europe.
Air War: This was fought by Allied and Axis air forces on multiple fronts throughout the war. The Battle of Britain, the bombing campaign against Germany, and the Allied air campaign against Japan were some of the most significant actions in the air war.
War in North Africa: This was a part of the larger Mediterranean Theatre and involved British, American, and Allied forces fighting against German and Italian forces in the deserts of North Africa.
Eastern Front: This was fought between Germany and the Soviet Union, with some of the most intense fighting and most significant losses occurring in this part of the war.
Resistance: This was a type of guerrilla warfare engaged in by civilians and members of resistance groups within occupied countries of Europe.
Civilian experiences: This refers to the ways in which the war affected and was experienced by the civilian population, including the hardships of rationing, the impact of bombing raids on cities, and the experiences of internment and displacement.
POW (Prisoners of War) experiences: This was a significant part of the war, with millions of soldiers taken captive and held in camps across multiple continents.
Holocaust (Shoah): This refers to the systematic persecution and murder of six million Jews (and other groups) by Nazi Germany during the war, which was a significant and tragic aspect of the conflict.
"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.