Introduction
World War II was one of the great global conflicts. In fact, it was the most widespread and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries and resulting in more than 50 million military and civilian deaths. Adolf Hitler’s ambition to create a larger living space for the German nationals triggered the war in 1939 with the attack on Poland. The war dragged on with ferocious intensity for six years until the final Allied defeat of both Nazi Germany and Japan in 1945.
World War II was not limited to Europe; independent countries, as well as, colonies of European powers in Asia and Africa got involved in the conflict. Colonies provided warring factions with precious raw material and recruits for the army. During and at the end of the war, many of these colonies witnessed the climaxing of nationalist movement, leading to their eventual independence.
World War II brought into sharp relief the conflict among various political ideologies: authoritarianism clashed with liberal democratic ideas, western capitalist doctrine struggled to win over the adherents of Communism. The world was fragmented along several ideological axis, and with the onset of the Cold War, the fractures deepened even further.
The information contained in this resource guide will present an overview of the roots of World War II and how the war played out on a military and diplomatic level in Europe and in the Asia / Pacific theatre and will draw attention to key issues that arose from the conflict after the fighting had stopped. Much of the modern world that we live in today was shaped by the experiences of the war, and its effects still ripple across our own modern society, reminding us that in many ways the war has never ended.
World War II was not limited to Europe; independent countries, as well as, colonies of European powers in Asia and Africa got involved in the conflict. Colonies provided warring factions with precious raw material and recruits for the army. During and at the end of the war, many of these colonies witnessed the climaxing of nationalist movement, leading to their eventual independence.
World War II brought into sharp relief the conflict among various political ideologies: authoritarianism clashed with liberal democratic ideas, western capitalist doctrine struggled to win over the adherents of Communism. The world was fragmented along several ideological axis, and with the onset of the Cold War, the fractures deepened even further.
The information contained in this resource guide will present an overview of the roots of World War II and how the war played out on a military and diplomatic level in Europe and in the Asia / Pacific theatre and will draw attention to key issues that arose from the conflict after the fighting had stopped. Much of the modern world that we live in today was shaped by the experiences of the war, and its effects still ripple across our own modern society, reminding us that in many ways the war has never ended.