World War II was one of the most formative events of the 20th century.
World War II was one of the most formative events of the 20th century. It began on September 1st, 1939 with the Nazi German invasion of Poland, and ended on September 2nd, 1945 when Imperial Japan formally signed its terms of surrender to become the last of the Axis powers to fall. It pitted the Allied Powers led by Britain, the United States, Russia, and France, against the Axis powers of Hitler-led Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. While impossible to fully explain in a short article, addressing the conflict's major battles provides a relatively concise overview. Indeed, rather than being mere military campaigns, the outcomes of these battles shaped the futures of Europe, Asia, and the entire world.