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Over this time, Fascism was very common. Ethiopia was invaded by Italy in 1935. Hitler continued to push into France and invade Europe. Later, an alliance comprised of Germany, Italy, and Japan was created, called the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.
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Japan wanted most of all to have a strong empire. The Japanese invaded Manchuria and China during this time. The League of Nations was against these actions. In response to their demands, Japan left the group.
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Hitler sought to increase his empire by combining Austria and Germany. He placed Nazi officials in the new government, against the president’s wishes. Hitler then made a speech declaring himself the ruler of Austria. There was little protest because most people were too intimidated by him.
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Czechoslovakia was in danger of being annexed. Britain and France did not know how to stop Hitler. Eventually, at the Munich Conference, they allowed Hitler to proceed. He promised that he would not invade more of Europe, but this promise fell short.
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One of Hitler’s most extreme plans was to kill all “racially-inferior” people. Jewish people were made to live in large ghettos and starved. Later, they were sent to concentration camps and to their death. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed during the war.
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Hitler signed an unexpected agreement with Joseph Stalin. This pact gave them the ability to conquer Europe while refraining from war. It was a move that no one could have predicted. However, Hitler later broke the terms of the agreement by fighting with the Soviet Union.
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Both forces issued blockades that lasted until 1945 at each of their ports. This was the longest running battle of WWII. The Allies had an advantage, as they were protected by the large Soviet Union. This helped the Allies achieve victory.
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France and Britain waited for years to fight Germany. Many believed that there was no reason to prepare if activity was not taking place. Later, Germany fought battles in Norway and Denmark. They continued to fight in Belgium and the Netherlands.
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Adolf Hitler reached Paris while Italy also fought France. The French had to surrender. In response, Hitler forced them to sign a pact in the same place where he had signed the Treaty of Versailles. The French were devastated.
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The British were soon trapped at the coast of France. Germany used blitzkrieg methods extensively. When it seemed like the British didn’t have a chance, ships were sent in to bring them away from the Dunkirk beaches. These actions were called “The Miracle at Dunkirk.”
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Germany invaded Britain during Operation Sea Lion. For months, bombs were aimed at London. Hitler was optimistic in his efforts. However, London was able to return to normal, in a state that made the British more confident in their ability to fight back.
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Germany invaded the Soviet Union during this operation. Those in the Union were not strong enough to fight back against Hitler’s forces. They used scorched earth policies to try and fight back against the Germans. In the end, Germany had to retreat due to a brutal winter.
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Japan also wanted to build an empire in Asia, but they were too close to the US to do any damage. Their leader at the time developed a plan to attack Pearl Harbor. This was a populated naval base in Hawaii. Many ships were destroyed and thousands were killed on December 7th, 1941.
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After the war, the United Nations was created to prevent conflict. Every nation was allowed a vote in the General Assembly. Five of them: the United States, Soviet Union, Britain, France, and China, were allowed to make important decisions in the Security Council. The UN continues to create organizations that ensure peace and help others today.
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Up until this time, Japan had been winning most of its battles. They took Filipinos prisoner and forced many to watch as they killed innocent citizens. During the Battle of Midway, the United States destroyed Japanese ships on the island. With this victory, the United States was able to advance.
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Allied forces met here against Axis forces. The British general Bernard Montgomery was able to stop advances in Egypt. Then, he proceeded to push back the forces into Tunisia. Later battles caused Axis forces to surrender in 1943.
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Forces next went to Stalingrad in the Soviet Union. Battles here were long and small. However, the Allies were able to overcome the Germans and forced their surrender. Over 300,000 Germans were killed, wounded, or captured.
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Allied forces next fought across Italy. In one month, the Allies won their first battle. When Hitler found out the dictator Mussolini had lost, he sent Germans to reinforce him. The Germans were successfully able to fight back.
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The Allies needed to open up a front in France. With the help of Dwight Eisenhower, Allied troops were sent into France on June 6, 1944. They made their way from Normandy to Paris while fighting the Germans’ Navy and other forces. This caused the Germans to retreat.
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The Allies didn’t know how to defeat Japan. Their army was very capable of fighting against them. During this battle, kamikaze pilots crashed planes into Allied equipment. Invasion was not a suitable option.
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In preparation for the invasion, Allied forces had bombed Germany for months. They had lost at the previous Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. Now, Axis forces surrendered, expecting the worst. In a matter of months, Americans and Soviets met in Berlin.
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Allied and Axis powers knew that they had to defeat Germany. The Americans met with the Russians in Berlin. Because Hitler knew his country would be invaded, he committed suicide. In 1945, the war in Europe was won by the Allies.
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Alternatives were considered as to how to defeat Japan. Many scientists suggested using atomic force to destroy large areas. After testing the first atomic bomb, the United States bombed Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Later, they bombed Nagasaki, allowing the death toll in Japan to rise to 110,000.
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Faced with the atomic bomb, Japan was unsure of what to do. After a few months, Emperor Hirohito took action. He forced Japan to surrender. This declaration was formally signed on September 2, 1945.
