Germany's Desperation and Hitler's Rise

• Actually, Adolf Hitler rose to power through democratic means.

• World War I marked the end of the Hohenzollern dynasty in Prussia. After that, Germany transitioned to a parliamentary democracy, with Paul von Hindenburg, a World War I hero, serving as the head of state. Although Hindenburg was the president, the system of governance was democratic, with various political parties competing for power.

• Adolf Hitler, who had his support base in southern Germany, was actually Austrian by birth but had served in the German army during World War I. He began by forming a political group and then tried to challenge and overpower the political system through violence.

• In German history, there was a group called the SA (Sturmabteilung), which was a paramilitary organization that used political violence to eliminate political rivals and gain power.

• But in the end, Hitler made a comeback and was able to secure over 30 percent of the votes in the Reichstag, which was the German parliament at the time.

• Although the German politicians at the time believed that if Hitler came to power, there was a strong chance he would start a war and do things the German people had never imagined.

• In the end, due to the support the Nazi Party had gained at that time, President Hindenburg had no choice but to appoint Hitler to power.

Hitler's Policies and Agenda 

• The rise of German power created great concern for France, as it was a neighboring country. Other surrounding nations, like Poland, Czechoslovakia, and even England, were also deeply worried. At the time, there were continuous efforts to negotiate and find peaceful solutions.

• Ultimately, World War II broke out in 1939, with Germany's major allies, known as the Axis Powers, being Italy and Japan, which was in the Far East.

Early Triumphs and Turning Points 

• In the early stages of the war, Germany made significant advances and was able to conquer all of France, as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, and other neighboring countries like Czechoslovakia and Poland. Germany successfully took control of its surrounding territories, and the next target was England.

• However, Germany was unable to launch a successful invasion of England, so they shifted to air raids instead.

• The turning point came from England. King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, traveled to the United States. This marked the first time a British monarch visited the United States. He went to ask U.S. President FDR Franklin Delano Roosevelt to join the fight, and in the end, America entered the war. This became the turning point of World War II.

• At the same time, Hitler underestimated the Russian military. He launched an invasion on the Eastern Front called Operation Barbarossa, aiming to attack Russia. However, he got stuck in a city called Stalingrad. Hitler’s forces were pinned down there, and eventually, the Soviet Union sent tanks and reinforcements. What Hitler didn’t realize was how much more advanced Russia’s military technology had become compared to Germany’s. As a result, the German forces on the Eastern Front began to retreat.

The Fall of Germany 

• While the United States joined the war, they used Italy as a passage to push into the southern part of Germany, gradually advancing until they reached the region of Bavaria.

• This resulted in Germany being surrounded on three fronts. The forces on the Western Front were weakened as reinforcements were sent to the East. On the Western Front, the United States, along with the Allied forces, launched the D-Day invasion at Normandy. This forced Germany to surrender in World War II.

• By 1945, Germany was in ruins.As for Adolf Hitler, no one ever found his body in Berlin. It is believed that he either escaped or died under the rubble. After the Soviet Union entered Germany as the first country after the war, they almost completely destroyed Berlin. Today, only two or three buildings from the original city remain, with the rest being rebuilt after the war.

Post-War Realignment

• World War II reshaped global power dynamics.

• After World War II, the world balance of power changed dramatically. united kingdom which was once a world superpower It lost much of its wealth and resources during the war. Therefore making the United States Rising to be the leader of the free world.

• A New Balance of Power and the Start of the Cold War. The Soviet Union emerged as a new and powerful force in terms of military strength after World War II. At the same time,Europe is still weakened by the devastation of war and unable to regain power

The Pacific Front 

• For a conflict to be called a "world war," it must involve more than one front. One of the primary fronts was in Europe, but there was another significant front in the Far East, involving Asia.

• Japan, one of the three main Axis powers alongside Germany and Italy, played a crucial role in the war in Asia. This front saw intense battles across the Pacific, Southeast Asia, and China, making it a key part of the global conflict.

• Japan joined the Axis Powers with the goal of expanding its territory and influence in Asia, a vision they called the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere." This plan aimed to establish Japan as the dominant power in the region, asserting control over neighboring countries and resources under the guise of promoting Asian unity.

• This ambition led to Japan's aggressive military campaigns across Asia and the Pacific, contributing significantly to the global scale of World War II.

• At the time, Japan was building up its military power, especially its navy, to achieve its territorial ambitions. 

• Japan invaded the Philippines to gain access to its abundant oil supplies, which were critical for sustaining its military operations. Similarly, Japan launched an invasion of China, seeing it as the largest and most resource-rich country in the region.

• One of the key reasons the United States joined World War II was to stop Japan from further expanding its control over East Asia and the Pacific. After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. became fully committed to countering Japanese aggression.

• The United States deployed its navy to the Eastern Hemisphere with the goal of defeating Japan and winning the war in the Pacific. This decision expanded the conflict, leading to significant battles in the eastern regions of the world.

• The U.S. military worked to liberate occupied territories and prevent Japan from gaining more strategic resources and influence in the region. This mission was a central part of the Allies' efforts in the Pacific theater, eventually leading to Japan’s defeat and the end of its expansionist ambitions.

• This marked the escalation of World War II into a true global war, with multiple major fronts. In addition to the European front against Germany and Italy, the Pacific and East Asia became key theaters of war. The scale and complexity of these battles solidified the war’s status as a world war, involving multiple continents and countless nations.

A Changed World 

• World War II demonstrated the scale and devastation of global conflict, with multiple theaters of war. The aftermath forever altered political, economic, and military landscapes.