How to Quickly Explain World War II

World War II (1939-45) was the greatest armed conflict in human history. The aftermath of the Great War shaped the last half of the twentieth century and continues to influence our world today. Just in case your children, spouse or friends ever ask you a question or two about “The Big One-WWII”, here’s a quick and very basic six-step tutorial to help you explain who fought who—when, where and why.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. While there were many alliances formed and treaties signed before and throughout the conflict, the warring parties eventually broke down to two sides—the Axis powers of Germany, Japan and Italy against the Allied powers, led by the United States, Great Britain, France and, eventually, the Soviet Union.
2. The seeds of World War II in Europe were planted at the end of World War I. The First World War ended in 1918. At the time, the victorious powers of Britain and France wanted to make defeated Germany pay a heavy price for its role in the war, and they did so by including massive war reparation payments in the surrender papers the Germans were forced to sign at the Treaty of Versailles. The ensuing financial hardships of the next 20 years fomented great hatred inside Germany for both Britain and France and helped make the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party possible. Before anyone began turning his armies back, Hitler would control the greater part of all Europe.
3. Hitler was initially an ally with Russia in his quest to conquer all of Europe. He was well on his way to doing just that before betraying his ally and attacking Russia on June 22, 1941. This move would prove the beginning of his downfall. The Germans would fight and freeze in Russia for the next two years before being forced to flee for their lives following the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943.
4. America managed to remain neutral throughout Hitler’s run through Europe and Japan’s plundering of China. The US did manage to lend and supply war goods and materials to the British, but not until the Japanese sneak attack of the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, HI on December 7, 1941 that killed 2,400, did America act. On December 8, President Franklin Roosevelt declared war on Japan. Three days later Germany and Italy officially declared war on the U.S.
5. After two and a half years of fierce fighting all over, around and above Europe and Northern Africa, the Allies performed the greatest amphibious assault in the history of warfare on June 6, 1944—the D-Day Invasion of France. Nearly 160,000 troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in their first stop on a trip that would eventually lead to Berlin and the fall of the Nazis. While the Allies forged ahead from the West, the Russians continued to chase the rest of the Nazi army back from Russia. The two great armies would meet in Berlin and force Germany to surrender in May of 1945.
6. Three months after the German Surrender, the United States decided to avoid a costly land invasion of the Japanese home islands in favor of utilizing a new weapon they hoped would make their enemy surrender immediately. On August 6, 1945 the U.S. dropped an atom bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The weapon flattened the entire city, instantly killing over 80,000 people. Three days later a second bomb was dropped over the city of Nagasaki, with similar results. The Japanese agreed to unconditional surrender six days later, effectually ending World War II.