World War II - The Second Story: The Spark of War
Poland and Beyond
Hitler’s ambitions didn’t stop. On August 23, 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression deal with a secret clause to split Poland. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, igniting World War II. Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later, on September 3. Using Blitzkrieg—a lightning-fast strategy of tanks and airstrikes—Germany crushed Poland by September 27. The Soviets joined in on September 17, claiming eastern Poland per their pact.
Soviet Expansion and Early German Victories
The Soviet Union didn’t stop there. On November 30, 1939, it attacked Finland (Winter War, ending March 13, 1940), and by June 1940, annexed the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Meanwhile, Germany struck again. On April 9, 1940, it invaded Denmark and Norway, securing the North Sea.
Then, on May 10, 1940, Germany hit the Netherlands and Belgium, bypassing France’s Maginot Line through the Ardennes Forest. By June 14, Paris fell; on June 22, France surrendered, splitting into the Vichy regime and Free France.
Germany next targeted Britain. From July 10, 1940, the Battle of Britain raged, with German air raids aiming to soften the island for invasion. But Britain’s radar and defenses held firm, forcing Hitler to abandon the plan by late 1940.
Barbarossa and Allied Pushback
Frustrated in the west, Hitler turned east. On June 22, 1941, Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, invading the Soviet Union and breaking the non-aggression pact.
Early Blitzkrieg successes saw millions of Soviet soldiers captured, but fierce resistance and the brutal Russian winter of 1941 stalled Germany's advance.
America Joins and the Tide Turns
The war shifted globally on December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, pulling the U.S. into the conflict. Initially neutral, the U.S. had indirectly supported Britain and France with weapons.
Now, fully engaged, it bolstered the Allies. On June 6, 1944, the D-Day invasion at Normandy saw over 150,000 Allied troops and 5,000 ships reclaim France. Paris was liberated by August 25, 1944.
The Soviets, meanwhile, pushed west, reclaiming Poland and reaching Berlin by April 16, 1945. On April 30, Hitler killed himself as Soviet forces closed in.
Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945 (V-E Day: May 8), ending the European war. Japan followed on August 15, 1945 (V-J Day), concluding World War II.
See Also
- The Greatest Battles of World War II: A World at War: World War II Battles that Shaped the Course of History
- World War 2 Facts Book: WW2 History Book for Adults - From the Greatest Battles of WW2 to the Leaders, Military Tactics and Strategy of the War by Charles Nilsen