Who won World War 2 and Who Lost? | [Explained]

World War 2 or the Second World War, one of the deadliest and brutal wars the world has ever witnessed. It was a global war that took place from 1939 to 1945 including various nations of the globe, primarily the superpowers, fighting with each other forming two military alliances called the Axis and the Allies. Massive casualties were reported during the war and the United States along with the Soviet Union emerged as the new Superpowers of the globe.

The war also led to the creation of the United Nations as well. Some of the major events happened during the war including invasion of Poland, Invasion of the Soviet Union, attack on Pearl Harbor and atomic bombings on the cities of Japan. Read the article to know key details and facts about World War 2 in detail. 

World War 2 Facts: Highlights

• One of the most brutal wars in the history of mankind was World War 2 or the Second World War.

• World War 2 was fought between various nations, but on the basis of their interest, they formed two alliances which fought with each other called the Allies and Axis Powers.

• World War 2 started from 1st September 1939 and ended on 2nd September 1945.

• In the war Allies Power emerged as victorious as Axis Power surrendered completely in front of them.

• Various battles were fought, and various casualties were reported during the war. Most of the people who lost their lives were civilians.

• The United States entered the war after Japan bombarded one of their Naval bases in Hawaii in 1941.

• Japan was bombarded with atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

• Some of the countries like Sweden and Switzerland remained neutral and didn’t participate in the War.

• In the early phase of the war, Germany was invading nations and taking them under their control, but after the entry of the United States, things started to move towards the Allies Powers.

• Although this war is written in our history books and we read it as one of the most disastrous wars still it is worth saying that we have wasted our education to create bombs and explosives as they can only cause the loss of lives and it is a curse to the society.

• A war can never bring peace into society.

World War 2 Facts: What caused World War 2?

• Treaty of Versailles (1919): Germany faced imposition of harsh terms after World War 1. This fueled a sense of unfairness and created an economic instability in the nation. This unfair treatment gave birth to hate and dictatorship in Germany in the form of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Party. 

• Economic Instability : The Great depression of the 1930s led to both economic and political instability across the globe. It created a sense of insecurity among the people as well as people have lost faith in democratic governments. World trade stopped and this political instability supported dictator leaders like Adolf Hitler to rise and take control. 

• Rise of Fascism and Militarism: In the countries like Germany, Japan and Italy fascism and Militarism prevailed. It is because of their support for nationalism these things grew rapidly in these nations. Further they caused instability, and disturbed international peace and relations as well. 

• The need to expand: Germany, Italy and Japan wanted to expand their territories and want to gain power throughout the globe. This approach led them to invade various nations disturbing international peace and thus commencing World War 2.

Which countries fought World War 2?

World War 2 Facts: World War 2 happened across the globe and included various countries. These countries were grouped into two groups called the Axis and the Allies. The major Axis powers were Germany, Italy and Japan, while the main powers of the Allies were the United States, Soviet Union and the United Kingdom along with some minor roles of China as well. 

■ Also Read: British Raj: India’s Transformative Journey from Colonial Rule to Independence

What are the key events of World War 2?

World War 2 Facts: World War 2 was, in total, based on a lot of events and included various wars in the time period. Here are some facts about the key events that took place during World War 2: 

• Invasion of Poland (1939): Germany in the greed to become the superpower and to attain more power globally attacked Poland under the leadership of Adolf Hitler on 1st September 1939. In support of Poland, Britain and France declared war with Germany. 

• Fall of France (1940): Germany on the path of invasion captured Paris. Germany launched an attack through tanks on France in May and June 1940. And captured Paris by 22 June 1940. Now Britain was left alone fighting against the Germans. 

• Battle of Britain (1940): After invading France, Germany tried to invade Britain as well. A battle was fought between the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) and the British Royal Air Force (BAF) from July to October 1940. Germany tried to gain access to Britain through air but the British air force by using radar technology and other techniques resisted them from winning. This was the first major defeat for Germany in World War 2.

• Operation Barbarossa (1941): Germany launched an operation called Operation Barbarossa to invade the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. As per the operation millions of German soldiers were deployed to quickly conquer the Soviet Union but their plans failed because of the winters there and the strong resistance offered by the Soviet Union. This was the turning point as German forces were forced to go back by the Soviet Union.

• Pearl Harbor Attack (1941): On 7 December, 1941 Japan launched an attack on an American Naval Base in Hawaii. Japan on the vision to expand in Asia wanted to restrict the interference of the United States. Approximately 2400 Americans were killed in the attack and many ships and aircrafts were destroyed. This attack made the United States to officially enter the war from the next day standing alongside Allies against the Axis Powers.

• Battle of Midway (1942): Battle of Midway was a major naval battle that took place from June 4 to June 7 1942. The United States navy intelligence by intercepting the code defeated Japanese naval attacks near Midway Atoll in the Pacific theater. The United States while losing one aircraft carrier, they sunk four aircraft carriers of Japan in that area. This was a huge blow for Japan as their hopes of expansion in the Asian continent were destroyed after the attack. 

• Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943): It is one of the deadliest and fierce battles fought in World War 2 between the Germans and the Soviet Union between August 1942 to February 1943. Brutal attacks were witnessed from both sides during the war, resulting in a lot of casualties. Despite the attacks from the Germans, the counter attacks from the Soviet Union pushed the Germans back resulting in their surender in February 1943. This was the victory of Allies on the eastern front.

• Normandy Invasion or D-day (1944): It was one of the biggest assault to the Axis Powers from both land and the water. It happened on the day of June 6, 1944 when the allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France to take back the areas of Western Europe from the Nazi control. A battle was fought between the German soldiers and over 1,56,000 troops from the Allied Powers (American, British and Canadian). Despite strong attacks, the allies were successful in attaining Paris back and led to the defeat of Nazi. This day is also known as the D-day as this is the major turning point in the history as Allies have started to take their territories back from the Axis powers.

• Battle of Bulge (1944-1945): The Battle of Bulge was fought over the key Belgian port of Antwerp. The battle was fought between December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945. Germany launched a surprise attack to capture the Belgian Port of Antwerp, this surprise attack created a “Bulge” into the allied lines but the Germans couldn’t hold it for long as they started losing the grip as the battle progressed. Despite harsh winter conditions, the Americans fought well to push Germans backwards. 

• Fall of Berlin (1945): From the fall of Paris to the fall of Berlin, this war has overturned fortunes in its tenure. It is the day when Soviet Union forces officially entered the capital of Germany and captured it by defeating all the German forces. It happened in April and May 1945. Adolf Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945. It all led to Germany’s surrender and collapse of Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945 (V-E Day). 

• Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bombings (1945): In August 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on two cities of Japan by the United States in an effort to force Japan to surrender so as to end World War 2. As per the plan, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima on August 6 and it killed approximately 1,40,000 people. Three days later, the United States dropped another bomb on August 9 on the city of Nagasaki, killing approximately 70,000 people. These bombings completely changed the landscape of the cities and caused huge devastation. Further, it forced Japan to surrender in the war on August 15, 1945 (V-J Day). 

What are the casualties in WWII?

World War 2 Facts: It is estimated that around 70-85 million people have lost their lives during World War 2. However most of them were civilians, as civilians were the one who were most affected by the war. This includes all those people who lost their lives by any means. It includes military personnel, civilians who died while fighting, in bombing or succumbed to death in case of any disease or because of famine or any harsh conditions. This was one of the biggest and deadliest battles the Earth has witnessed. It even used nuclear bombs which is the deadliest thing and its effect can be seen even today in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

World War 2 Facts

World War 2 Facts: World War 2 brought a lot of destruction with itself. Let us know some of the World War 2 facts associated with it: 

• World War 2 took the services of more than 70 million people in the military.

• The war reported more than 60 million casualties making it the deadliest war in history.

• Nazi Germany murdered 6 million Jews through Holocaust.

• The United States entered the war after the bombing on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

• 2 million casualties were witnessed in the Battle of Stalingrad.

• Atomic Bombs used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were developed by the Manhattan Project.

• $2 billion was the cost to develop two atomic bombs by the Manhattan Project.

• 4,00,000 military personnel of the United States lost their lives during the war.

• During most of the time in the War, Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

• Adolf Hitler was leading Germany in World War 2 before Germany surrendered (8 May, 1945) and he committed suicide (30 April, 1945).

• Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945.

• 20 million casualties were reported from the Soviet Union, the most from any country.

• Rationing was implemented by the United States during World War 2.

• Military aid to the Allied nation was given via Lend Lease Act before the entry of the United States.

• To maintain international peace and cooperation, the United Nations was formed in 1945. 

• Japan executed the largest attack on Australia by bombing Darwin in Australia in 1942.

• The United States established Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) during World War 2.

• Churchill (UK), Roosevelt (US) and Stalin (USSR), major members of Allied powers attended the Tehran Conference in 1943 to plan an attack against Nazi Germany.

• The fall of Nazi Germany was executed after the Battle of Berlin.

• Post war influence was made via the Yalta Conference in 1945.

• Post War status of Germany and Surrender of Japan was addressed in the Potsdam Conference in 1945.

We Have Wasted Our Education by Manufacturing Explosives

We humans are born superior to any other kind of species on this Earth. Earlier, we were deprived of many facilities like a good standard of living, education and much more. However, if we look now, these things are available to an individual almost throughout the globe. But the worst part is that we haven’t used the resources of education in the right way. We used education to manufacture explosives and kill people. This is not what humanity teaches us. 

A War Cannot Bring Peace

Out of our grave ignorance we think that a war can bring peace but this is our biggest mistake. The aftermath of a war is even more heartbreaking. Imagine the situation of families of the 60 million people who lost their lives during the war, no one thinks about them. This human birth is valuable and we should not waste it by fighting among ourselves. This human birth is given to us to attain salvation and do worship of Supreme God Kabir as mentioned in our Holy Scriptures.

Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj from Haryana, India, is imparting the true method of worship as given by God Kabir 600 years ago. He is the only Complete Saint present in this era for mankind. Due to our unawareness about His true spiritual knowledge, we consider Him as an ordinary saint but it is not so. He is capable of doing the impossible for His devotees. His powers are endless and He has shown this through His devotees by raising the dead and curing life-threatening diseases like cancer. 

For more information visit www.jagatgururampalji.org or you can visit His youtube channel ‘Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’.

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