1

THE LOWDOWN ON THE SHOWDOWN – WORLD WAR II

Name

Date

Course
 2

Introduction

World War II was a global conflict that took place during the years 1935 to 1945. The

battle involved a majority of the world’s countries and was one of the deadliest conflicts in

human history. The main combatants were the central powers, which composed of Germany,

Italy, and Japan. France, Great Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union formed Allies to

fight against the Axis power. World War II was because of the spark of disputes that were not

settled in World War I. The main players ended up at war because of the passing of the Treaty of

Versailles. Along with other conflicts that took place after such as Germany invading Poland,

Britain, and France allied and retaliated on Hitler’s Nazi.

Allies: Great Britain, France, United States of America and Soviet Union

Central power: Germany, Italy, and Japan.

How Great Britain ended up in World War II

Before the War

Hitler had invaded Poland and already annexed Rhineland and Austria. Great Britain

declared war on Germany because Hitler had violated the Munich agreement and occupied the

remainder of Czechoslovakia.1 Nazi Germany had failed to obligate to the treaty and the public

opinion signed on the protection of the nation’s interests. After the intervention of the violated

neutrality, Great Britain chose to determine its attitude and engage in the war against the Nazi.

During the War

Hitler forces had defeated the neighboring countries and formed plans to conquer the sole

remaining enemy, Great Britain. The Munich Agreement meant that nations formed military

alliances for protection of their interests. The signed agreement was to avoid another war that

1
Bourke, Joanna. The Second World War: a people's history. Oxford University Press, 2001. 6-
122
 3

would to several causalities as that of World War I. Britain announced its support for Poland

after Germany invasion and declared war on the Nazi on September 3, 1939.2 Britain entered the

battle to avoid losing lands back to Germany, which it had lost during the First World War.

After the War

Britain landed its troops on the French soils on September 1939 to advance in aiding

Poland against the Hitler attacks. However, the English with Winton Churchill in charge

assumed the responsibility of the armed forces to fight and prepare well for the German troops.

The Germans escaped the operation Dunkirk, and England stood alone and faced Hitler3. The

English understood the modern combat used by the enemy and built squads ready to retaliate as

well the use of Single-seat fighter aircraft to defend the British skies. Great Britain had

consumed a quarter of its wealth after the war as the country purchased modern combat inclusive

of ships and aircrafts. The American administration contributed to the British economy as the

government reformed its welfare by focusing on nationalism.

How France ended up in World War II

Before the War

France formed allies with Great Britain after the invasion of Poland. On September 3,

1939, France declared war after the realization of the plunge in a dark age as the Nazis had made

terrible attacks, which resulted, in murders, deportation, famine, and executions.

2
Mark, Donnelly. Britain in the Second World War. Psychology Press, 1999. 12-154
3
Ibid., 76
 4

During and After the War

France responded to the call of self-exiled leader, Charles de Gaulle after realization on

the occupation of the Rhine with Germanys. The reason for ending up in the war was that France

had surrendered to the Nazi who had occupied three-fifths of the France territory. However, the

French government under Charles Gaulle formed resistance that paved the way for the battle of

the nation. The opposition to the Nazis influenced the formation of several allies that would

liberate France. The troops cut telephone line of the Germanys to instill great inconveniencing

that led successful vitiating of Germany’s. France troops surrendered to Germany after the Nazis

had defeated and occupied several parts of the country. After the war, Germany released the

French prisoners of war and France embarked on stabilization of uplifting its economy since the

nation had lost much during the war.

How United States of America ended up in World War II

Before the War

The United States Isolated from other nations after the First World War to focus on its

development. A well-known incident that caused tension among Americans was the Cuban

Missile Crisis.4 The crisis influenced America and need to defend against itself and protect its

resources, which led to the nation entering the Second World War. The conflict of German

invasion to Europe countries led to an impulsive attack on the United States by Japanese at the

Pearl Harbor. The Japanese were among the central powers with Germany that wanted to find

economic benefits from the neighboring countries. As such, tension between the United States

and Japan had escalated leading to a financial meltdown which characterized the Great

4
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History: Seagull Fourth Edition. Vol. 1. (WW
Norton & Company, 2013), 12-176
 5

Depression. America focused on emerging as the world's superpower after the Second World

War5 by protecting its resources from the Japanese.

During and After the War

On Thursday, October 24, 1929, the United States stock market prices unexpectedly

dropped. The country faced an economic turmoil that caused millions of people to be laid off

their jobs with no means of survival. The American economy had hit rock bottom, so much that

"four-fifths of J.D. Rockefeller's fortune—the greatest in American history—vanished." The

economic downfall that started in the United States had a domino effect that spread to other

countries. The severe worldwide economic downturn was known as the Great Depression, which

lasted during the World War II. The Japanese aimed at gaining abundant materials on the

mainland of the United States and the problem was that Manchuria was under control of China

and the areas had strategic importance to the United Soviet. The United States cautioned Japan

for further aggressive reactions and went ahead to cut off shipments of raw materials to the

nation. United States gained from the World War II as it contributed to the continuity and change

of redefining and reinforcing the notions of race.

How Soviet Union ended up in World War II

Before the War

Created in the 1920s, the Soviet Union transformed through revolutionaries and

industrialization imposed by its leaders, Joseph Stalin. During the rise of the empire, Nazi party

5
Ibid., 27
 6

in Germany under Adolf Hitler also rose to full power.6 The two burgeoning power countries

became rivalries and oppositely demonstrated fascism and communism.

During the War

Germany and Soviet Union followed a collision course but shred mutual benefits of

expanding their territories. To their advantage, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the

Molotov-Ribbentrop pact in 1941. The treaty divided the Eastern and central Europe, and the

Soviet Union realized the ability to invade divided Europe. Germany attacked Poland while the

Soviet Union invaded Eastern Europe for territorial gains. The shared beliefs between the two

countries ended in 1943 when Hitler violated the agreement signed.7 Hitler at the beginning of

WWII invaded the Soviet Union with a surprise attack.

The Soviet Union formed allies with Great Britain, France, and the United States because

they had a common goal of fighting against the Nazis. The Russians and other ethnic groups in

the Soviet Union willingly got involved in the war for the safety of their children. The heroic

sacrifices, however, contributed to the Soviet Union getting many causalities. Hitler ambushed

the Soviet Union, but Stalin fought back and won from the Eastern Front. The attack is believed

to be because of Hitler’s fear that the Soviet Union would get stronger in the future and present

the opportunity to defeat Germany despite the signed pact. With the encouragement of Churchill

Winston, the Russians entered the war to ensure the survival of the regime.

After the War

Russians established spies and women participation as pilots to attack the communist of

Japan and the Nazis who planned to invade the other areas of the country. After the war, the

Soviet Union occupied and annexed neighboring islands. The Russians drove out the Germany
6
Glantz, David M., and Jonathan M. House. When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army
Stopped Hitler. (University Press of Kansas, 2015), 67-89
7
Ibid., 74
 7

invaders, and with the help of United States, the post-war era marked the end of the fascist

regime.

How Japan ended up in World War II

Before the War

Japan ended the Second World War in the act of defiance of the separation from the

League of Nations. The tensions that mounted the region escalated to the United States as Japan

was in a risky situation of the stopped shipments from the United States.8 As a central power,

Japan entered full-scale military combat with the economically deprived China. The combat led

to the Sino-Japanese war that contributed to the start of the World War II. In the fall of 1940, the

Japan leaders met with Nazi Germany to make an agreement that would lead to the countries

working together in respect of the efforts of creating a new world order.9 The Japanese, however,

was agitated when the United States formed a relationship with hostile China by distributing

resources in the form of money and equipment.

During the War

The Japanese infuriated the West and distanced from the world in an attempt to seize

French Indo-China. The West cut off supplies of natural resources to the regime, and the

Japanese developed an alternative plan to revive itself from the losses. Knowing that the United

States and the West had resources, Japan opted to use its military and terrorize the regions.

When Hitler declared war on the United States, Japan became a central power as the United

States responded slowly to its army. The United States focused on forming allies to battle

8
Patterson, James T. Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974. (New York:
Oxford University Press, 1996), 78-145
9
Ibid., 123
 8

Germany although Japan proved to be a severe threat. Japan sparked a war with the Soviet Union

while still handling the previous conflicts with the United States.10

After the War

Japan battled United States, China and the Soviet to stand out a central power of World

War II with the hope of extending its territorial boundaries and having increased access to raw

materials. Thousands of Japanese relocated to islands, and Japanese soldiers surrendered to be

used as forced labor. Japan underwent de-industrialization to prevent it from future potential

military threats.

How Germany ended up in World War II

Before the War

Germany initiated and escalated World War II because of economic ambition and

ideology of racism. The root motivation of engaging in war was because of large-scale territorial

conquest. Hitler leading the Nazi officials advocated the concept of lebensraum doctrine, which

he claimed that German territory needed to expand.11 The actual motivation of the territorial

expansion confined to the interests of Germany. Hitler fueled the scheme because he felt the

terms of the Treaty of Versailles imposed block industrial imports to the country. The motivation

for expanding the territorial boundaries led to Germany attacking Poland as the terms of the

Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany land would be taken away and given to other countries.

The unhappiness of the conditions because of their harshness led to the dissatisfaction of the

Germanys, and Hitler promised to rebuild the nation to its roots by ripping up the Treaty of

Versailles.

10
Gilbert, Martin, and Bernard Mayes. The Second World War: A Complete History. (H.
Holt, 1989),
11
Beevor, Antony. The Second World War. Phoenix, 2014. 6-147
 9

During the War

Hitler built up an army and weapons secretly, and in 1934, he built warships and a

German air force. Britain and France realized Hitler’s plan and allied to defend their territorial

boundaries. The English and the French feared that the stronger Germany would lead to starting

of communism in the West. Hitler formed allies with Mussolini’s Italy and Japan with the aim of

getting the land taken away from Germany. The Germany troops marched into Austria in March

1938 and forced people to vote Austria forming a union with Germany. Hitler extended the battle

to Czechoslovakia and invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Hitler believed that France and

Russia had signed a new treaty to attack Germany. Hitler invaded France and extended to the

Soviet Union. France troops were weak, and Britain joined in to help.

After the War

The United States of America together with its allies joined in on the realization of Germany

allying with Japan to take over the Pacific. After the war, Germany territory underwent

delimitation. The allies dismantled factories during the war, and the United States developed a

policy that German rebuilds itself with no help. President Truman stabilized the country by

economic rehabilitation and improvement of food production in the country.

How Italy ended up in World War II

Before the War

Operation Sealion, an Italian military operation coincided with the actions United States,

Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union military. The Italian troops concentrated on

extending their sea territories towards North Africa. German field marshal Erwin Rommel

arrived in Libya and gave the Italians firepower and leadership required to defeat the British.12

During the Operation Sealion, the German troops were struggling, and the gain of German
12
Overy, Richard James. The air war, 1939-1945. (Potomac Books, Inc., 2005), 34-95
 10

firepower as well as new leadership contributed to the battle of Britain. Mussolini who headed

the Italian forces sent aircraft to bomb England. General Mussolini had territorial and imperial

ambition, and this drew Italy into the Second World War. Italy declared war on France and

Britain and Hitler noticing the aspiration of Mussolini formed allies known as Axis Powers,

which set a chain of reaction on expanding the Mediterranean region boundaries.13 Italy made

moves to the southern Mediterranean and outnumbered the British.

During the War

Italy had inferior aircraft against the Rivals British, which influenced the formation of the

Axis power with German. Italy formed several armies and became helpful to the German

offensive, which stretched the effective Soviet counterattack in December 1942.14 Italy navy had

submarines, and they utilized the machines for patrolling the Atlantic. Despite the limited

involvement in the Second World War, the Italians formed a footnote for German to extend its

attack on the Soviets.

After the War

Despite a new provisional government set up under Marshal Pietro Badoglio to oppose an

alliance with Nazis, Mussolini chose entered the battle and fought against the vigorously

growing defense of the allies against Adolf Hitler. Italy entered to support the war because the

country had an economic ambition. Italy began the war from the side of German forces by

declaring war on France and Britain.

Creative Section

The international reactions to the Second World War influenced an evolution that

addressed the interests of the participants. During World War II, Germany's military was
13
Ibid., 48
14
Deák, István, Jan T. Gross, and Tony Judt. The politics of retribution in Europe: World
War II and its aftermath. (Princeton University Press, 2009), 267-300
 11

superior and under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, their battles aimed at expanding territorial

boundaries of the nation. The allies, however, formed a military cohesion to exert a decisive

action of common ambition. The allies contributed to conventional of military power that

influenced a great economic influence despite the consequences of the war. The global power

projection embraced measures such as diplomacy, which resulted in a replacement of colonial

territories throughout the world15. Many countries became sovereign because of the World War

II. The World War II despite the negative impacts, therefore directly influenced change across

the world. The war ended dictatorship in Europe, influenced peace, industrialization, and

improvement of the world economy. The Europe countries as well as the United States of

American standstill because of the world war.

15
Ross, Stewart. Causes and consequences of the First World War. Evans, 2003. 6-68
 12

Bibliography
Beevor, Antony. The Second World War. Phoenix, 2014.
Bourke, Joanna. The Second World War: A People's History. Oxford University Press. 2001
Deák, István, Jan T. Gross, and Tony Judt. The Politics of Retribution in Europe: World War II
and its Aftermath. Princeton University Press, 2009.
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History: Seagull Fourth Edition. Vol. 1. WW
Norton & Company, 2013.
Gilbert, Martin, and Bernard Mayes. The Second World War: A Complete History. H. Holt,
1989.
Glantz, David M., and Jonathan M. House. When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped
Hitler. University Press of Kansas, 2015.
Mark, Donnelly. Britain in the Second World War. Psychology Press, 1999.
Overy, Richard James. The air war, 1939-1945. (Potomac Books, Inc., 2005), 34-95
Patterson, James T. Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974. New York: Oxford
University Press, 1996
Ross, Stewart. Causes and consequences of the First World War. Evans, 2003.