World War Two
World War Two
World War Two remains the largest conflict that the world has ever seen, with over one hundred million troops mobilised and fifty million deaths. British troops were engaged in action over many areas; from Burma, to North Africa, Italy and Northern Europe. The Eastern Front proved to be the bloodiest arena of the war, with over twenty million Soviet civilians losing their lives and 90% of Nazi casualties resulting from the fighting there. In addition to those killed in the fighting or in bombing raids, many perished in the horrific network of concentration camps that the Nazis established across occupied territory, targeting Jews, prisoners of war and others who did not fit with their baseless belief in the genetic superiority of the ‘Aryan race’. As was the case with all nations that played a significant role in the conflict, the impact on Britain was profound; civilians were directly targeted in bombing raids and the entire population had to be mobilised in order for victory to be achieved. Many were conscripted into the armed forces, millions of children were evacuated and entire cities were devastated during the blitz. Yet, after the initial success of the German ‘Blitzkreig’, the Nazis failed to execute a successful invasion of Britain and found their ability to expand into Eastern Europe severely hampered by the resistance of the Soviets. This enabled the eventual opening of a second front that led to the retreat and surrender of German forces. After this, the United States forced Japanese surrender through the dropping of two devastating atomic bombs and the war finally ended almost six years after it had begun. Yet, the political and social consequences would prove much more enduring.
More on WWII
- CHRONOLOGY - Learn about all the important dates in World War Two by reading our timeline and student essay samples.
- KEY INDIVIDUALS - From Winston Churchill to Adolf Hitler- find out all about key players and their roles by reading our analysis and accompanying essays.
- KEY DEBATES - Learn about some of the main questions and debates surrounding the war to help give you some ideas for your own work.
World War Two Essays
Have a look at our hand picked essays about the war to help you get ahead!
In what ways were the lives of people at home affected by the Second World War?
World War II (1939-1945) changed the lives of the British people. By analyzing various sources which range from eyewitness accounts, photographs, Government posters...
What is 'Total War'? Discuss with reference to World War One and World War Two.
Total War is the war that affects all of society- not just armed forces, and that uses all the resources available to be able to win it. It's the mobilization of the whole society
How significant a role did Britain play in the war against Germany, 1939-45?
On the 3rd September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany after they invaded Poland because Britain and France had made an agreement ...
How important was World War Two and the Cold War in eroding Europe primacy in the world from 1900 to 1949?
In 1900, Europe was the centre of the world, it dominated the world politically, military and geographically. However by 1949, Europe was no longer the centre of world issues; instead its decline...
Was any one of these reasons more important than the others in Hitler's rise to power?
All of the reasons on the list were important for Hitler to rise to power in the way that he did. However, even then some reasons are more important than others.
1939 saw the beginning of World War Two, meaning the two countries involved, Britain and Germany, were about to go down in history for one of the most brutal acts of war known to man.
After the Munich agreement, signed in September 1938, it had became apparent to the many leaders of Europe that ...