A GLOBAL WAR THAT DIVIDED THE WORLD World War II 1939 1945 was a time of great destruction Cities bridges roads and factories were bombed all over Europe and Asia More than 60 million people were killed It was also a time of invention There was a need for bigger and better weapons tanks and planes This led to new technology Scientists raced to invent jet engines missiles and atomic bombs The countries fighting in World War I belonged to one of two sides called the Axis and Allied forces or powers Three main countries formed the Axis powers Germany Italy and Japan The leaders of these countries wanted to expand their territories Germany wanted to control most of Europe Italy wanted control over the Mediterranean area And Japan wanted to expand into East Asia and the Pacific BELOW Many cities were bombed during WWII leaving people without homes stores and
RIGHT Many people contributed to the war effort including women who went to work in factories that produced War weaponry and supplies At the start of the war the Allied Union and the United States powers included Britain France and When China joined they became Poland Soon after they were joined by the Four Policemen Canada Australia New Zealand and South Africa The Soviet Union joined What Do You Know the Allies after Germany broke the pact Key people in WWII usually held high it had signed with the Soviet Union ranks in the armed forces such as Brazil China Denmark Greece Field Marshal the highest rank in an Norway the United States and other army countries joined later Together the Admiral of the Fleet the highest rank in a navy Allied countries called themselves the Brigadier General Air Commodore United Nations UN In 1945 the UN the highest rank in an air force more became an official organization and a Commander in Chief an officer allowed other countries to join in charge of a major section of a country's armed forces By 1942 decisions about the Allies a Supreme Commander the military actions were controlled by The Big officer commanding all forces on one side of a war Three They were Britain the Soviet
WWII Allies and Axis Powers suites Spanish area Temple of cancer Lamid spealth Tople of Capricorn O Allied controlled countries 1942 Axis controlled countries 1942 Neutral countries 1942 ABOVE Almost the entire world fought in WWII This map shows all of the countries that were involved By the end of 1942 almost every They had also been preparing for war country in the world was involved in for a long time Military leaders had the war Many countries wanted to already planned when and where they avoid war But the Japanese attack on would attack the U S naval base at Pearl Harbor in It had only been 20 years since World Honolulu Hawaii brought even more War I Many of the Allied countries countries into the fight hoped talks would prevent another The Axis was made up of only a conflict The first few years after WWI few countries which were also were a time of hope and renewal for spread out Those countries were many countries But by 1939 the world powerful because of their leaders had fallen into an economic downturn Hitler Germany Mussolini Italy Many people were without jobs and Hirohito Japan were very homes and even food They turned charismatic They convinced their to their leaders for solutions When citizens that war was necessary Hitler came to power he made many
changes The German people credited The heads of states made sure they had him with turning the country around public support They also had to keep They believed him when he said the people calm when things were bad limits put on Germany after WWI Without strong leadership the Allies were unfair would not have been successful When the Axis powers declared war Allied military leaders had to scramble to build up their forces Most Allied countries had not prepared their troops They had to quickly recruit and train new soldiers What do you think The Axis consisted of smaller and fewer countries How did it become so powerful BELOW The Allies had to train new soldiers to fight the Axis armies These men are Canadian recruits learning to march O
