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The Second World War was the bloodiest war in human history (1939–45).

It created two hostile military alliances between the countries of the world. The Axis Powers of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan were opposed by the Allies, which were led by Britain and her Empire, the United States, the Soviet Union, and France.

Many stories have been told of that time. Maybe you’ve heard about the heroes of the 8th Air Force in WWII or some romantic spiels during that period. Regardless, the stories told serve as a reminder for us. The reason why we need to know facts and remember that time in history is to understand the horrors of war and the undeniable aftermath they bring – hopefully admonishing all possibilities of war in the future.

The Most Need to Know Facts of the Second World War

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Adolf Hitler ruled Germany prior to the start of the Second World War.

He wanted Germany to rule Europe along with the Nazi Party. German troops invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, in an attempt to expand their territory and influence. World War II started when Britain and France declared war on Germany because Hitler would not halt the invasion.

Millions of Germans who didn’t conform to the ideal of the “perfect” German were killed or imprisoned.

Hitler aimed to establish the “best” and strongest race, which eliminated Jews, Gypsies, and people with physical and mental problems, according to the Nazi Party. These communities were also persecuted in the nations that German forces conquered to eradicate a “racial enemy” outside of Germany.

Jews were the group that the Nazis targeted the most.

The Holocaust, one of the worst tragedies in history, claimed the lives of about six million Jews during the Second World War. Hitler, who held racist beliefs, said that Jews were detrimental to Germans and society and were to blame for Germany’s defeat in World War I.

Following 1933, concentration camps emerged as a key tool used by the Nazis to establish power in Nazi Germany and throughout Nazi-controlled Europe from 1938 to 1945. Concentration camps are places where individuals are confined without being given a chance to defend themselves. While this isn’t always the case, prisoners are typically mistreated for their labor and housed in unfavorable conditions.

Japan sought to dominate Asia and the Pacific while Germany was fighting for dominance in Europe.

Under Emperor Hirohito, Japan launched an invasion on China in 1937, sparking years of hostilities between the two countries before the Second World War had officially started. Germany attacked France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Yugoslavia, and the USSR by the summer of 1941.

Several nations stayed “neutral” during World War 2.

Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland were among the nations that opted not to join either side. However, this did not mean they were not affected by the war. Remember that war affects even neutral countries‘ international relations, trade, and overall economy regardless of them being active in the war.

The Germans surrendered on May 8, 1945.

An Allied army left Britain in 1944 to liberate France from Nazi domination. The Germans were forced to capitulate when Allied armies invaded Germany a year later. In August of the same year, Japan also submitted to Allied forces following the nuclear assaults on the country’s two largest cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Second World War was over.

The Aftermath of the Second World War

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Loss of Lives

The Second World War claimed the lives of 60 million people, more than any other conflict. All continents were home to the vast bulk of the dead, who were civilians. The battle left almost every human household with some sort of scar. Despite avoiding losing a loved one, the luckiest people still had to deal with deprivation and displacement.

Refugees

After the war, millions of people had neither a country nor a place to call home. Many were unable to return after being expelled from their home countries. They were “displaced persons” who, even in immigrant societies like the US, became refugees and were frequently not welcomed. After surviving the Holocaust, hundreds of thousands of European Jews were forced to leave their ancient communities. In South America, Mexico, the United States, and Palestine—which in 1948 became a component of the state of Israel—they fought to start over.

Poor Access to Basic Needs

People worldwide cut back on their consumption as they struggled to calm down. After 1939, many people in England, Germany, Russia, Poland, Japan, China, Korea, and other countries continued to be undernourished for over ten years. They had more chronic illnesses, less clothing, and less shelter. At the same time that the effort required to survive rose, there was widespread absenteeism from work and home responsibilities. It would be an understatement to say that living was challenging toward the end of the war, even for those born into luxury.

Once prosperous residents starved during the freezing winter of 1945–1946; those who survived faced a future filled with pain and anxiety. Even the winners had little reason to rejoice at the end of the Second World War.

Destruction of Property

Many of the world’s most affluent cities, including Tokyo, Dresden, Prague, and Berlin, were destroyed. Except for United States, all industrialized nations emerged from the war with largely decimated industries, agriculture, and resources.

Key Takeaways of the Second World War

Because of all the effects listed above, it is safe to say that there are no true winners to any war. As seen in the Second World War, people, even the winners, will undeniably lose something, if not everything. However, as humans, we always strive to make the most out of what we have. We try to hold dear the memories that were made and the stories of that time to remind us of the horrors of war and the drastic effects it can have on many lives. This helps prevent the story from repeating itself, sparing many generations from the aftermaths of war. To read stories of love and life during the war, grab a copy of Letters from World War II by Barbara Jane Hannon.