Mumbai, August 8: World War II was a series of global conflicts between 1939-1945 that started as a result of the unresolved disputes after World War I and the rising fascism in Europe. Resulting in around 20 million military personnel and 40 million civilian deaths, especially with the Nazi-led Jewish genocide or "Holocaust" in Europe and the US atomic bombings of Japan, World War II became the largest and the bloodiest conflict in history. The war involved more than 30 countries, making it a true "world war" unlike World War I which was mostly restricted to Europe. The battlegrounds of the War spanned the entire globe, stretching from the East Coasts in the Pacific Ocean to the middle of Eurasia.

The War created a significant shift in the global political and economic balance of power in favour of the United States and the Soviet Union, who became major players in the world, creating a new world order. The Second World War also marked the dawn of the "Nuclear Age", creating a new geopolitical and military arrangement. Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War: Know Date, History and Significance of The Event.

When Did the World War II Start?

One of the great watersheds of 20th-century geopolitical history, the Second World War officially started on 1 September 1939. World War II broke out in Europe when Hitler-led Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 and Great Britain and France jointly declared war against this action on September, 3.

Other powers of the world got involved subsequently, when in June, 1941 the German invasion of the Soviet Union started another war, while on the east of the Pacific Ocean, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in December. The War was fought between two groups- the Allies, which had countries like the US, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France on one side, and the Axis powers, which had Germany, Japan, Austria and Korea on the other. Victory Day 2024: Russia Celebrates Victory in World War II As Vladimir Putin Accuses West of Fuelling Global Conflicts.

When Did the World War II End?

Although the exact date of the end of World War II is debated upon, this devastating series of wars concluded majorly with the formal surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945. The German Third Reich's unconditional surrender in France on May 7, 1945 officially ended in the European side of the globe.

Japan too surrendered on 2 September 1945 with the signing of "Instrument of Surrender", following the harrowing atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US, which ended the War in Asia. A series of peace treaties, called the "Paris Peace Treaties" followed after this between the Allied powers and five defeated European countries in 1947. Later, the Post-war division of the world was formalised by two international military alliances, the United States-led NATO and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2024 12:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).