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World War II was a global conflict from 1 September 1939 to 2 September 1945, involving two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. It was the deadliest war in history, with over 61 million fatalities, and ended with the Allied victory and the occupation of Germany, Japan, and Korea.
Sep 1, 2020 · Second World War. How and when did WW2 end? While 2 September 1945 is generally recognised as the final, official end of the Second World War, in many parts of the world fighting continued long beyond that date.
- How Did WWII End?
- When Did WWII End in Europe?
- When Did WWII End in Japan?
- Sources and Further Reading
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Within two years after starting the war in Europe with his invasion of Poland in 1939, Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) had subjugated much of the continent, including France after a lightning-fast conquest. Then Der Führersealed his fate with a poorly thought-out invasion of the Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin (1878–1953) and the Soviet people did not concede...
In Berlin, the Soviet forces were fighting their way through the German capital. Hitler, once the charismatic ruler of an empire, was reduced to hiding in a bunker, giving orders to forces that only existed in his head. The Soviets were getting close to the bunker, and on April 30, 1945, Hitler commited suicide. Command of the German forces passed ...
Victory and surrender would not come easily for the Allies in the Pacific Theater. The war in the Pacifichad started with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941. After years of battles and unsuccessful attempts at negotiating a treaty, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in early Aug. 1945. A wee...
Feis, Herbert. "The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II." Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press, 1966.Judt, Tony. "Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945." New York: Penguin, 2005.Neiberg, Michael. "Potsdam: The End of World War II and the Remaking of Europe." New York: Perseus Books, 2015.Weintraub, Stanley. "The Last Great Victory: The End of World War II, July–August 1945." London: Dutton, 1995.Learn about the three dates and events that marked the end of WWII in Europe and Japan. Find out how Hitler died, how the atomic bombs were dropped, and how the Cold War began.
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- The Battle of Stalingrad and Allied Invasions Shaped the End of WWII. After storming across Europe in the first three years of the war, overextended Axis forces were put on the defensive after the Soviet Red Army rebuffed them in the brutal Battle of Stalingrad, which lasted from August 1942 to February 1943.
- The Battle of the Bulge Marks Germany's Last Stand. Battle of the Bulge Soldiers. Germany found itself squeezed on both sides as Soviet troops advanced into Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania while the Western Allies continued to push eastward.
- The Liberation of Concentration Camps and Hitler's Suicide. The Liberators - Return to Dachau. After the firebombing of Dresden and other German cities that killed tens of thousands of civilians, the Western Allies crossed the Rhine River and moved eastward toward Berlin.
- Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. History Shorts: How the Atomic Bomb Was Used in WWII. Even after the Allied victory in Europe, World War II continued to rage in the Pacific Theater.
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World War II lasted from September 3, 1939, to September 2, 1945, and involved the Axis powers and the Allies. Learn about the causes, events, leaders, and consequences of the war that changed the world.
- World War II began in Europe on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. Great Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany on S...
- The main combatants were the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allies (France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, an...
- The Allied powers were led by Winston Churchill (United Kingdom); Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union); Charles de Gaulle (France); and Franklin D. Rooseve...
- The war in the Pacific turned against Japan during the Battle of Midway (June 3–6, 1942), an American victory that destroyed the Japanese first-lin...
- The Allied landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944, opened a second front in Europe, and Germany’s abortive offensive at the Ardennes in the winter of...
- Estimates of the total number of people killed during World War II have ranged from 35,000,000 to 60,000,000—a significant span, because statistics...
Learn about the end of World War II in Europe and the Pacific, the celebrations and the legacy of the war, and the resources for students and teachers. The web page offers articles, videos, podcasts, webinars, and more from the Museum.
Learn about the final battles, events and consequences of the European theatre of World War II, which ended on 8 May 1945 with the surrender of Nazi Germany. Find out how Hitler died, Mussolini was executed, and the Allies liberated concentration camps and occupied Germany.
