World War II (1939-1945)
Between 1939 and 1945, World War II devastated the world, resulting in more than 70 million deaths and lasting geopolitical changes. The conflict began on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. The act prompted the United Kingdom and France to declare war, starting a global confrontation between the Allies and the Axis powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan.
The war spread across Europe, Africa, and Asia. In 1941, the Soviet Union and the United States entered the conflict following the Nazi invasion of the USSR and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Major battles, such as Stalingrad (1942–1943) and D-Day (1944), marked the turning point in the conflict in favor of the Allies.
Germany surrendered in May 1945, following the fall of Berlin and the death of Hitler. In the Pacific, the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, forcing Japan to surrender in September.
The end of the war led to the creation of the UN and the Cold War, dividing the world between the US and the Soviet Union. The conflict redefined borders, destroyed colonial empires and ushered in the new world order.
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