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The devastation caused by the Great War (known as World War I) had greatly damaged and devastated Europe. In many aspects, World War II resulted from topics and problems that had not been resolved during the prior conflict. World War II made a place for itself not only in history books but also in the lives and minds of those who were affected by the war, one way or another.

How Long Did the Second World War Last?

World War II went on for six years and a day – it began on September 1, 1939, with Hitler attacking Poland, and concluded with the surrender of the Japanese on September 2, 1945.

The Second World War involved almost all parts of the world between the years 1939 and 1945. The main fighters were the Axis powers—Italy, Germany, and Japan and the Allies, the United States, Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and, to a smaller extent, China. The war was indeed a continuation, after a troubled 20-year pause, of the disputes that were left unresolved by World War I. Around 40,000,000 to 50,000,000 lives were lost during the war, making it the bloodiest and the largest war in history. World War II was the largest crisis of 20th-century geopolitical history. The result of this war was the extension of the USSR’s power to countries of eastern Europe, the introduction of a communist movement to achieve control in China ultimately, and also a solid decisive shift of power in the world away from the states of western Europe and towards USSR and the US.

Who Fought In World War II?

Till the war began, several countries tried to remain neutral. However, as more and more countries learned about it, they gradually started choosing sides. Many of the world’s most powerful countries and nations came forward to join the war in two opposing alliances termed the Allied and the Axis Powers. The world countries either merged with the Allied Powers or the Axis Powers.

Allied Powers

The chief Allied Powers were France, Great Britain, and the United States. At the beginning of the Second World War in 1939, the Allies were Poland, France, and the United Kingdom. Later, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and South Africa joined the independent Great Britain dominions. As the war went on, several other nations started joining the Allies. The Allied Powers generally comprised all 26 original signatories of the Declaration of the United Nations, which was signed on January 1, 1942.

The countries identified as Allied Powers in World War II include:

• Brazil
• New Zealand
• Australia
• The United States of America
• The Soviet Union
• Canada
• South Africa
• The United Kingdom

Many countries also displayed their solid support for the Allied Powers. Some of these were:

• Chile
• Bolivia
• Cuba
• The Dominican Republic
• Colombia
• Egypt
• Costa Rica
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Haiti

Axis Powers

The prominent players in the Axis Powers were Italy, Japan, and Germany. The three principal parties that included the Axis Powers joined World War II with the Tripartite Treaty. Four other countries eventually signed the Tripartite Treaty on their terms. The other countries that ultimately followed suit were:

• Bulgaria
• Austria
• Hungary
• Romania
• Ethiopia
• The Republic of China
• Slovakia

Why Did World War II Happen?

Before World War II commenced, Germany was ruled by Adolf Hitler – a German dictator. He formed the Nazi party and was determined to rule all of Europe. The Nazi party did not consider specific social groups, such as the Gypsies, Jews, and people with physical or mental disabilities. Such groups were mistreated across all countries invaded by the Germans to form a group of “pure Germans.” By early 1939 the Adolf Hitler was determined to attack and occupy Poland. Poland, however, had guarantees of British and French military support in case Germany ever attacked it. Hitler planned to invade Poland in any way. However, first, he had to address the probability that the Soviet Union would fight the attack of its western neighbor. Thus, secret negotiations were held on August 23rd and 24th, which led to the German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact in Moscow. A pact was signed which stated the Soviets and the Germans would divide Poland between them, with the eastern two-thirds being taken over by the Soviet Union and the western third of the country going to Germany.

Having achieved this distrustful agreement, Europe was stunned and taken by surprise. Even without declaring their undisclosed protocol, Hitler believed that Germany could attack Poland without any risk of British or Soviet intervention and passed orders for the invasion to begin on August 26. On August 25, a formal treaty of mutual assistance between Great Britain and Poland was signed (to replace a prior though temporary agreement), resulting in Hitler delaying the start of hostilities for some days. However, he was still determined to disregard the political efforts of the western powers to stop him. Finally, on August 31, 1939, at 12;40PM, Hitler placed an order on hostilities against Poland to begin at 4:45 AM the following day. Thus, the invasion of Poland started as ordered. In response, France and Great Britain declared war on Germany on September 3, at 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM, respectively, commencing the infamous Second World War.

Other Facts About the Second World War for Children

World War II facts may not be entertaining for kids and adults alike. However, they are a good read when trying to learn and understand the events that occurred during the messiest, chaotic, and life-altering times in history. Following are some interesting facts about the war:

1. World War II was a war between two groups of countries – the Axis and the Allies.
2. The war was also termed the Second World War or WW2.
3. At least 1.9 billion people assisted as soldiers in World War II.
4. Hitler attacked Poland on 1st  September 1939 to achieve more power and land, thus starting World War II. When Hitler declined to stop the invasion, France and Germany declared war on Germany, setting up for a war on a global scale.
5. The Allied Powers consisted of China, France, Britain, the US, and Russia.
6. The Axis Powers were Italy, Japan, and Germany.
7. US president Franklin D Roosevelt led the Allied powers, Great Britain prime minister Winston Churchill, the Soviet Union chairman Joseph Stalin and China chairman and military leader Chiang Kai-shek.
8. Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt were also known as the ‘the big three’ of World War II.
9. Adolf Hitler (Germany), Hideki Tojo (Japan), and Benito Mussolini (Italy) led the Axis Powers.
10. By 1941, Germany had invaded Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Yugoslavia, Norway, the USSR, and Greece.
11. The territories under the grip of the second world war were: China, Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the regions along the Atlantic oceans and Mediterranean, Pacific.
12. The war involved nearly all countries of the world for as long as it lasted, making it history’s most enormous and powerful global battles ever fought.
13. As more of Europe was attacked, harassment of Jewish people increased. They were removed and barred from universities and schools, while many also lost their jobs. They were made to live in congested areas, called ‘ghettos,’ where they had little to drink or eat.
14. The US did not get into the war until Japan attacked it on December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor – their Naval Base. The very next day, the US declared war on Japan.
15. Following the emergence of the Axis Powers, the document was signed by Bulgaria on March 1, 1941, and the three European countries of Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia signed the document the previous year, i.e., in 1940. This made the axis powers seven countries strong, motivating some other countries to join eventually.

World War II ended the conflict between nations, but millions of innocent lives were lost. The war also affected the financial and social security of countries across continents. The lesson the war taught us is that violence is wrong and can adversely affect everyone in this world. Satiate the curiosity of your history-enthusiast toddlers with this article on World War II and watch them become experts of history.

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