The course of the war

In 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway which led to Winston Churchill replacing Neville Chamberlain in Britain. Around the same time, the Nazi-Soviet pact stalled and both states began preparations for war.

On the same day, Germany launched an offensive against France and by 10^th June, Italy invaded France, declaring war on both them and Britain. The air Battle of Britain began in early July, with the UK rejecting a peace offering from Hitler who then proposed an invasion of Britain. The German strategic bombing offensive intensified but failed to disrupt the war effort and largely ended by 1941.

On 22^nd June 1941, Germany, supported by Italy and Romania, invaded the Soviet Union, they were joined by Finland and Hungary with the objective of taking the Baltics. The same year, war broke out in the Pacific with attacks on American fleets at Pearl Harbour, Thailand, the Philippines and the Battle of Hong King. The Japanese invasion of Thailand led to the US, UK, China, Australia and other states to formerly declare war with Japan. Germany, followed by the other Axis states, declared war on the US.

The state of the war turned in 1943-44. On 6^th July, D-Day, the Western Allies invaded France, these attacks were successful and led to the defeat of the German troops in France. Paris was liberated on 25^th August by the local resistance, assisted by the Free French Forces, both led by General Charles de Gaulle. Soviet troops captured Berlin in April 1945 and surrenders happened on 29^th April. The following day, the Reichstag was captured, signalling the military defeat of Nazi Germany.

Following this, there were huge leadership changes on both sides. President Roosevelt in America died and was succeeded by his Vice President, Harry S Truman. Benito Mussolini was killed by Italian partisans and Hitler committed suicide in his bunker. Joseph Goebbels and Karl Dönitz took over and total unconditional surrender in Europe was in effect by 9^th May 1945. The call for unconditional surrender was rejected by the Japanese government however, leading to the US dropping atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese surrendered on 15^th August 1945. The documents were signed on 2^nd September 1945, officially ending the war.