History of War Summary 11 - World War II 20 Results of World War II and the Post-War World

World War II began in Europe in 1939 and ended with Japan's surrender in 1945, leaving behind immense loss of life and economic devastation across many regions of the world. The Axis powers, centered around Germany, Japan, and Italy, were defeated, and the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as key superpowers in the post-war international order. Major European cities and industrial facilities were heavily destroyed, and countless civilians were victimized by war, massacres, and forced displacement. Notably, Nazi Germany carried out systematic persecution and massacres against European Jews and various other groups, resulting in approximately 6 million Jewish deaths during the Holocaust. Following the war, the international community established the United Nations in 1945 to prevent large-scale wars from happening again. Germany was divided and occupied by the Allied powers, and Japan also came under Allied occupation. Meanwhile, the confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union began, forming a new international order known as the Cold War. Independence movements against colonial rule also became more active in Asia and Africa. World War II was a historical event that significantly altered the politics, economy, international relations, and social structure of the 20th century.