THE COURSE OR MAIN EVENTS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939- 1945
The Second World War falls to four main phases
First the opening phase which saw Hitler’s early victories. On 1st September 1939, Hitler attacked Poland. On 3rd September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany but within three weeks Germany defeated Poland and Russia also came in to occupy part of Poland.
After a five month period of inaction known as the Phoney war, Germany used Blitzkrieg (lightning war) tactics to sweep across Western Europe. Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France were defeat. When France was about to fall Mussolini declared war on France.
In July 1914, Hitler launched the Battle of Britain code-name “Operation Sea Lion’. Since Britain is an island nation, Hitler attacked from the air but the British Royal Air Force defended Britain and Hitler was forced to postpone Operation Sea Lion”.
In the second phase from 1941-1942 the war began to develop into a world—wide conflict. Massolin’s army had already invaded Egypt thereby extending the war to Africa. Italy had also extended the war to the Balkans.
In June 1941 Hitler lunched the battle of Russia code-name “operation Barbarossa.
Then in December 1941, the Sepanse forced the U.S.A into the wars by attacking the U.S naval base at pearl Harbour. They followed this up by occupying territories such as the Philippines, Malaya, Singapore and Burma. At this stage of the war Axis power seemed unstoppable.
The third phase at the war where started in June 1942 saw three important battles in which the Axis powers were defeated. In June 1942 the Americans defeated the Japanese at the Battles of Midway Island and Coral Sea where the Japanese lost their 4 air craft carriers. Then using the technique of leap frogging the Americans captured many islands in the pacific that were under the Japanese control.
Another turning point of the war was the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt where General Rommel and his Africa Corps were halted. This contributed to the defeat of the Axis power in North Africa.
The third turning war in Russia where the Germany had penetrated as far as Stalingrad. Here the Russians put and fierce resistance. The German army was surrounded and forced to surrender.
The last phase of the war saw the defeat of the Axis power. After the capture of North Africa, America and British forces and in Southern Italy. This caused the fall of Mussolini as he was dismissed by the ding. Italy signed an armistice and brought Italy on to the Allied side.
On 6 June 1944 (d-Day) the Allied powers landed in Normandy and stated the battle for the liberation of France and Western Europe known as “operation overlord” France and the rest of Western Europe were liberated.
Early in 1945 Germany was invaded on both fronts, from the East by Russia and from the west by American and British force. When Allied forces entered Berlin, Hitler committed suicide and Germany surrendered.
On 6th August 1945, the Americas dropped an atomic bomb as the Japanese city of Hiroshima. On 9 August 1945 a Second atomic bombs was dropped on the city of Nagasaki Japan surrendered and the Second World War ended.
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Effects or consequences of the Second World War.
Positive effects
- The Second World War gave birth to the united Nation Organisation to replace the league of Nations
- It led to the destruction of Nazism in Germany, Fascism in Italy and militarism in Japan.
- It leo to the democratisation of Germany, Italy and Japan.
- It led to the liberation of France and France regained her sovereignty.
- The war encouraged the rise of African nationalism and hence led to the rapid decolonisation of Africa.
- The U.S.A ended her policy of isolationism and began to play on important role in world affairs.
- it led to the rise of two super powers, that is, the U.S.A and the U.S.S.R.
- Western European countries benefited from the Marshall plan. This paved the way for European economic and political integration. E.g. the formation of the E.E.C. & NATO development and invention. The war stimulated scientific development and inventions. E.g. the development of radars and the atomic bombs.
- It increased the demand for raped social changes which made some countries like Britain to become a welfare state. Negative Effects
- The Second World War led to the development of the Cold War which forced rival powers to waste resources in amazing arms
- It intensified a nuclear arms race though putting earth and humanity in danger.
- The persecution of Jews led to the declaration of the state of Israel. This has created the Palestinian Question.
- The war instigated colonial wars, e.g. in Indo-China and Algeria.
- It led to the decline of European leadership position in world politics.
- About 40 million people were killed. The most notorious was the Holocaust or the extermination of 6 million Jews.
