World War II was a conflict that lasted six years, from September 1, 1939 to August 8, 1945. The confrontation resulted in thousands of people dead, injured, and missing. Second world war started in
The war got its name because it involved more than seventy countries on five continents. Although the conflict started on European territory, it eventually spread to Asia, Africa and the Pacific Ocean.
The confrontation begins due to consequences left by the First World War, which took place between 1914 and 1918.
The beginning of the Second World War is due to the interest in two areas that became Polish territory after the First World War. These areas were the Port of Danzig (in the Baltic Sea region) and the “Polish Corridor”.
Thus, the beginning of the Second World War is marked by the invasion of Poland , which took place on September 1, 1939. This fact was not the reason for the beginning of the conflict, but it was its trigger. The country was invaded by the German army, under the command of Adolf Hitler, who demanded the return of areas that had been lost during the First World War. Second world war started in
The motivations that led to the beginning of the war became known as German expansionism , as they were the country’s attempts, under Hitler’s orders, to expand the national territory.
The Second War took place between two alliances, formed by the Allied countries (England, France, the Soviet Union and the United States) and by the Axis countries (Germany, Italy and Japan).
Historically, conflict can be divided into three phases:
From 1939 to 1941
Period called ” Axis Victories ” (Germany, Japan and Italy). Germany suffered economic blockades from France and Britain.
It was also during this period that the German army invaded Holland and Belgium. Second world war started in
From 1941 and 1943
This is the ” Balance of Forces ” phase. At this stage, the Soviet Union was invaded and the objective was to conquer territories such as Moscow and Leningrad (current city of Saint Petersburg).
It was also during this period that the United States placed a commercial blockade on Japan. In response, the country carried out a bombing of the American naval base at Pearl Harbor .
From 1943 to 1945
The final period of the war is called the ” Allied Victory ” (Soviet Union, Great Britain and the United States). Brazil’s entry into the war took place at this stage, in September 1944.
During these years, conflicts occurred that eventually took the conflict to its final period, such as the declaration of war by Italy on Germany and the arrest of Nazis.
The Battle of Stalingrad (between July 1942 and February 1943), won by the Soviet Union, changed the course of the war as it demonstrated the strength of the Soviet army against the German. It is from this event that the German army begins to lose battle strength. Second world war started in
On June 6, 1943, the Allied army landed in the Normandy region, an event that became known as D-Day and resulted in the liberation of France and the retreat of the German army.
the end of the war
The third phase marks the period of events leading up to the end of the conflict . Italy’s withdrawal from the conflict and the liberation of Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Czechoslovakia were the first events.
Other important events linked to the end of the war were D-Day and the defeat of Germany.
Japan’s surrender after the bombings is the last event and marks the end of World War II in September 1945.
World War II and Atomic Bombs
During World War II, two atomic bombs were dropped . In August 1945, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, suffered devastating bombings. Second world war started in
The country was the only one that had not yet surrendered and was still in dispute with the United States. To force Japan to surrender, the American military chose to bomb the country.
The first bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the second was dropped on Nagasaki three days later on August 9.
Hiroshima
The Hiroshima bomb, called the Little Boy , was dropped approximately 500 meters above the city. Due to its high destructive power, it even killed people who were 1 km from the explosion site.
It is estimated that approximately 140,000 residents of the city died in the attack or its aftermath. Hiroshima was devastated.
The consequences of dropping the bomb were felt for many years. Residents had serious physical and genetic sequelae that were caused by the effect of the radioactivity of the uranium 235 contained in the bomb. To this day the city has a high level of radioactivity. Second world war started in
Nagasaki
Three days after the attack on Hiroshima, the city of Nagasaki was also targeted by an atomic bomb, which was named Fat Man. The objective of the attack remained the same: to force Japan to surrender.
About 70,000 people died in the attack, which left much of the city destroyed. After this bombing, on September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered.
As with Hiroshima, the severe effects of radioactivity (in this case plutonium 239 ) also had numerous consequences and persisted for decades after the attack.
Holocaust: the extermination of Jews
The holocaust is the most remarkable event that took place during the Second World War. It was a plan to exterminate the Jewish population in Europe , devised by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, that took place throughout the conflict. Second world war started in
Hitler believed that German citizens were part of a “race” superior to the others, the Aryan race. Based on this thought – of belonging to a superior and pure race – he believed that Aryans should control the world, without mixing with other ethnicities.
Hence, it is known that the foundation of the holocaust was anti- Semitism , that feeling of contempt and hatred directed towards the Jewish people.
It is important to know that, despite the Jews being the biggest victims of the holocaust, other groups were also persecuted and killed.
It is believed that another 10 million people were also victims: Gypsies, homosexuals, Poles, people with disabilities, communists, anarchists, among others. Second world war started in
Auschwitz : the concentration camps
Auschwitz was the name chosen for the Nazi concentration camps ( Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II – Birkenau ) where most of the murders of Jews took place during World War II.
The concentration camps, located in the city of Oświęcim (Poland), have been in operation for almost five years. The killing of Jewish citizens in gas chambers was the most violent form of murder used by the Nazis.
