As a historian with a keen interest in military conflicts and their impact on the world, I can provide a comprehensive overview of the start and end of World War II. It's important to note that the war was a complex event with a multitude of factors leading to its commencement and conclusion. The information you've provided is a starting point, but let's delve into a more detailed account.
Step 1: English Answer
World War II, one of the most devastating conflicts in human history,
started on September 1, 1939, when
Germany, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party,
invaded Poland. This act of aggression marked the beginning of a global war that would involve the majority of the world's nations, including all of the great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis.
The invasion of Poland was a result of Germany's aggressive expansionist policies, known as
"Blitzkrieg", which emphasized speed, surprise, and combined arms tactics. The attack was swift and brutal, and it prompted
France and
the United Kingdom to declare war on Germany on September 3, 1939, marking the formal beginning of the conflict.
The war
evolved into a truly global conflict with the involvement of countries across multiple continents. It was characterized by significant battles and campaigns, including the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Midway, and the Normandy landings (D-Day). The war also saw the use of atomic bombs by the United States on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, which were pivotal in bringing about the end of the war.
The
end of World War II came on September 2, 1945, with the
Japanese surrender. This surrender was formalized during the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, signed aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The end of the war in the Pacific theater brought a close to six years of warfare that had resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of people, significant geopolitical shifts, and the beginning of the Cold War era.
The aftermath of the war led to the establishment of the
United Nations to foster international cooperation and prevent future conflicts. It also resulted in the Nuremberg Trials, which held Nazi leaders accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity, setting a precedent for international justice.
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