World War II: A World on Fire

Imagine waking up one morning and hearing that your country is now at war. Schools close. Families are split apart. Food becomes scarce. This is exactly what happened to millions of children between 1939 and 1945. World War II was the largest and deadliest conflict in human history. Before we dive in — what do you already know about it? Have you heard of Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill, or the atomic bomb? Jot down anything that comes to mind.

World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved countries from almost every part of the world, which is why we call it a 'world' war. **Why did it start?** After World War I (1914–1918), Germany was punished harshly. Many Germans lost their jobs and struggled to buy food. A man named Adolf Hitler rose to power by making angry promises to make Germany great again. He led a group called the Nazis. Hitler's government treated Jewish people, Roma people, disabled people, and many others with extreme cruelty. He began invading neighbouring countries. On 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France then declared war on Germany. The war had begun. **The Two Sides** The war was fought between two main groups of countries. The Allies included Britain, France, the Soviet Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, China, and many more nations. The Axis Powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan. Over 30 countries in total took part. **Key Events** In 1940, Germany quickly took over much of Western Europe, including France. Britain stood nearly alone and was bombed from the air in a campaign called the Blitz. In 1941, two huge events changed the war. Germany invaded the Soviet Union, opening a massive new front. Japan then attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in December 1941, bringing the United States into the war. Meanwhile, Hitler's Nazi government was carrying out the Holocaust — the deliberate murder of six million Jewish people and millions of others in camps across Europe. This was one of the greatest crimes in human history. **How Did It End?** By 1944, the Allies were pushing back. On 6 June 1944 — called D-Day — Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in France. They fought their way into Europe. Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945 (called VE Day — Victory in Europe Day). The war in Asia continued until the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Japan surrendered on 2 September 1945, ending the war completely. World War II killed an estimated 70–85 million people — soldiers and civilians alike. It reshaped every country on Earth.