World War II was a conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of countries in the world, including the great powers. It also involved two opposing military alliances. Several key events occurred during the war, including the German invasion of Belgium, Allied air attacks on Nazi industrial plants, and the Allied victory in the Pacific.
German invasion of Belgium
During the German invasion of Belgium in World War 2, many Belgian civilians were at risk. As the Germans attempted to invade Belgium, the resistance was conducted primarily through deadly force, sabotage, and espionage. The Belgian resistance became more aggressive in 1943, after the Germans suffered significant losses in North Africa. The Belgian resistance was also successful in destroying key railways. In one notable attack, the Belgian resistance managed to take down a rail bridge over the Ambleve River, which resulted in the death of 600 German soldiers.
The German invasion of Belgium during World War 2 began on 10 May 1940, when the Germans invaded the Low Countries and occupied Belgium. French forces quickly joined the fight. The Belgian defense was centered on the fortress of Eben Emael, which was manned by 1,200 soldiers. German glider troops took advantage of these defensive measures, and they successfully disabled the fortress’s guns with shape charges. Despite being outnumbered by the Germans, the Belgian forces fought back and only surrendered once the Germans were completely surrounded.
The German invasion of Belgium during World War 2 was one of the darkest chapters in the history of the country. But it wasn’t just the soldiers and civilians who were at risk. Even if the Belgian Army fought back, the Germans would eventually take over most of Belgium. In spite of this, the Belgian Army was able to frustrate the German Schlieffen Plan.
In Belgium, the German invasion of World War 2 triggered a tense political situation. King Leopold III had refused to leave the country, and declared his country neutral. This was against his government’s advice. In addition to defending the country against the Germans, he also refused to return to the country, thereby making it vulnerable to a German invasion.
The German invasion of Belgium during World War 2 lasted about six weeks. The first phase involved an attack in the west on May 10, 1940. At the time, British and French commanders believed that the German forces would attack through central Belgium. However, German forces instead invaded through the Ardennes Forest in southeastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg. The German infantry and tanks soon broke through the French defensive line and advanced to the coast.
Allied air attacks on Nazi industrial plants
Allied air attacks on Nazi industrial plants during the Second World War result in heavy casualties for the Germans. In one attack, over 800 bombers drop 4,000 tons of explosives and incendiaries over Dresden, Germany, killing more than 35,000 civilians. In another, the Luftwaffe shoots down five Allied bombers in a mission over Aussig, Czechoslovakia. On September 11, 1944, the Allied forces enter Germany, leading to the Battle of the Bulge. The next month, over 1,200 U.S. bombers begin a bombing campaign over Berlin in an attempt to disrupt Nazi communications and disrupt their military supply lines. In total, 363 air raids occur in the following month, with casualties ranging from 5,000 to 20,000.
The Allied air campaign against Nazi industrial plants lasted more than a year, and was the largest and most expensive of the war. The goal was to weaken the German air force, thus enabling the Allies to win the war. The Allied air campaign against the Germans’ industry was successful, and Germany’s military was overwhelmed. By the end of the war, most of the Axis units surrender to the Allies.
As the war progressed further into eastern Germany, Allied leadership began to focus its efforts on three cities: Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz. These cities were key targets because they were important rail hubs for the Third Reich in Eastern Europe and contained factories for the production of weapons and ammunition.
The Allied air forces began to target important German industrial targets and the destruction of the Luftwaffe was accelerated by the use of Strategic Air Forces. These aircraft were escorted by fighters over the English Channel. These heavy bombers often did not have enough range to stay in formation, so their escorts had to turn back after the bombers had passed through.
During the Second World War, the United States began an air campaign against the Nazis, and the Eighth Air Force was under Maj. Gen. Ira C. Eaker was given the task of leading the bomber force. When he arrived in Europe, the United States had just a few B-17s and was struggling to build up a bomber force. He established a policy of high-altitude daylight precision bombing, targeting oil and aircraft factories. This policy continued until February 1944, when the Eighth Air Force effectively suspended its daylight raids over the Reich.
Allied victory in the Pacific
The Allied victory in the Pacific during World War II came as a result of two distinct strategies. The first strategy was a hopping-from-island-to-island approach. The second strategy was a two-front assault on Japan. Beginning with the invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands in November 1943, the Allied forces pressed forward on two fronts, first in the south and then in the central Pacific.
After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in November 1941, the United States began an aggressive counterattack across the Pacific. This offensive was marked by amphibious invasions. During the course of the war, Allied forces bombed and stormed Japanese-held territory, from tiny islands to the jungles of New Guinea and the Philippines. The goal was to dislodge the enemy and secure supply bases and airfields.
The Battle of Midway is a major victory for the Allies, as U.S. torpedo planes sink two Japanese carriers. The battle also marks the beginning of British-Indian guerrilla operations in Burma. The Japanese begin to retreat from the Aleutian Islands, but their retreat does not halt. The Allied forces then capture Maungdaw in Burma. On April 10, 1942, U.S. code breakers pinpoint the location of the Japanese Admiral Yamamoto, who is killed by U.S. fighters. A few days later, President Roosevelt lays the foundation for the Allied victory in the Pacific.
The Allied victory in the Pacific during World War II was not an easy task. Almost seven million American and British troops were deployed to fight the Axis powers. The Allies had to fight until the Axis powers surrendered, but they were rewarded with a successful war.
Allied forces in the Pacific achieved victory over the Axis forces in the summer of 1945. After the defeat of the Axis in the Pacific, President Harry Truman took drastic steps to bring the war to a close. On August 15, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on cities of Japan, resulting in Victory Over Japan Day (V-J Day). On September 2, Japan surrendered formally.
Allied forces had to redeploy from Europe to achieve the final victory. As the Allied forces occupied the Pacific, the Japanese were under constant threat from both sides. In order to prevent a Japanese invasion of the Home Islands, the Allied forces had to move quickly. However, the Allied forces were determined to capture these islands and bring them under their control.
Post-war structure of Poland
Poland’s post-war structure was based on its historical development. In 1914, the Germans invaded the country and established themselves as its enemies. They displaced millions of national minorities, including Jews. This resulted in a more homogeneous nation with a predominantly Roman Catholic majority. During the interbellum period, Poland had a population of 10 million people. After the war, these numbers dropped to 500,000. While the war was devastating for Poland, it created a nation that was more stable and compact.
The war ravaged Poland’s social structure. Over ten percent of the country’s population were Jews, and the Jewish population represented 21.5 percent of the country’s professional class. The Jews also controlled entire provincial towns, where they sold and bought, and worked for Poles.
The Soviets also contributed to the conflict between Jews and Poles. They fabricated lies and stereotypes to further the conflict. They made use of false information about the Polish Jews to stoke the anti-communist mood in the country. This made the Polish Jews even more resentful of the Soviets and their rule.
Poland’s country side was severely hit by the war. Though the country side did recover, this was largely due to the fact that the country was largely agricultural. Sixty percent of the population was engaged in farming, and most fields were naturally fertile. By the end of the war, all agricultural products except wheat had higher yields than they did before the war. But the situation in rural Poland would never fully recover.
Until recently, most Westerners had little idea of what had happened in Poland after World War II. Most knowledge was based on stereotypes and fragmented information taken out of context. The passing of the war generation has only contributed to this problem. In addition, fewer people were alive to remember what happened in Poland.
