World War, also known as the Second World War, was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The war involved the majority of the world’s nations, including all of the great powers, organized in two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the largest conflict in human history, with an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities. The reasons for DW News Today the outbreak of World War can be traced back to the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I.
The treaty imposed harsh reparations on Germany, which led to economic instability and political turmoil in the country. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party capitalized on these conditions to rise to power in Germany and pursue an expansionist foreign policy. The war began on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany, under the leadership of Hitler, invaded Poland. This led to the United Kingdom and France declaring war on Germany. The Axis powers, comprising Germany, Italy, and Japan, quickly gained the upper hand in the early years of the war, conquering much of Europe and Asia.
However, the tide of the war began to turn in 1942, when the Allies, led by the United States, entered the conflict. The Allies utilized their vast resources and technological superiority to mount a massive counteroffensive against the Axis powers. The war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945, with the unconditional surrender of Germany to the Allies. The war in Asia continued until August 15, 1945, when Japan surrendered to the Allies after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
