Second World War
Second World War (1939–1945) From September 1, 1939, to September 2, 1945 . It was fought between the Allies (led by the USA, USSR, UK, and China) and the Axis Powers (led by Germany, Italy, and Japan). Causes of war - Rise of Fascism – Dictators like Hitler (Germany) and Mussolini (Italy) promoted aggressive nationalism. - Treaty of Versailles (1919) – Harsh penalties on Germany after World War I fueled resentment. - Invasion of Poland (1939) – Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 , leading Britain and France to declare war on Germany. - Failure of the League of Nations – The international organization was too weak to stop aggression. - Expansionism – Germany, Japan, and Italy invaded other countries to gain territory. End of the War and Consequences - Defeat of the Axis Powers – Germany and Japan surrendered in 1945. - Creation of the United Nations (UN) – Formed to prevent future wars. - Cold War Begins – The USA and USSR became superpowers, leading to a long ...