Saed News: World War II began on September 1, 1939, with Germany's invasion of Poland and continued until September 2, 1945, between the Allies and the Axis powers.
According to the history section of Saed News, World War II, which took place between 1939 and 1945, involved many nations—especially the major world powers. It was truly a global conflict, with more countries and military personnel participating than in World War I. Like the First World War, countries were divided into two major military alliances and launched into intense combat. In this vast conflict, over 100 million soldiers from 30 countries were involved, and the major powers mobilized their entire economic, scientific, and industrial resources to win the war.
When did World War II begin?
World War II (WWII) officially began on September 1, 1939, with Germany’s invasion of Poland. In response, France and other Polish allies entered the war, and thus the full-scale battle between the Allies and the Axis powers commenced. This massive conflict lasted for nearly six years and ultimately ended on September 2, 1945, with the victory of the Allied forces.
This war, considered the most extensive military conflict in human history, spanned the globe and disrupted life in many parts of the world between 1939 and 1945. Warring countries took various measures to bring it to an end, and eventually, with the defeat of Germany and Japan, the war concluded in favor of the Allies.
Some analysts trace the roots of World War II to the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I. This treaty imposed harsh reparations on Germany. Additionally, the Great Depression of 1929 and the rivalry between fascist, Marxist, and Western democratic regimes created a volatile environment that pushed many societies toward conflict. The magnitude of these crises and the heavy casualties led to nearly equal military and civilian death tolls.
After World War I, with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, and Germany’s defeat, Britain emerged as the only true victor in 1918. However, Germany’s loss led to a deep national humiliation and widespread resentment, fueling anger among its people. This resentment, combined with the severe economic crisis of 1929, paved the way for the rise of extremist groups—especially the Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, who came to power in 1933. Hitler prioritized military buildup as a central policy.
Among the key causes of World War II were the unfair territorial divisions of the Versailles Treaty, Germany’s post-war disillusionment, and the rise of Adolf Hitler. Many consider Hitler the main catalyst of the war—a man who blamed Germany’s defeat on Jewish and communist conspiracies and sought to overturn the Treaty of Versailles. Promoting the superiority of the Aryan race, Hitler aimed to expand Germany’s borders into Central and Eastern Europe and Slavic lands to increase its global influence.
Following World War I, about 78 million square kilometers of land came under the control of the victorious nations such as Britain, Russia, France, and the United States, while the defeated powers were left with just 2.6 million square kilometers. Some scholars view this stark imbalance as a major contributor to the outbreak of the Second World War.
Italy, though aligned with the Allies during World War I, had been promised new territories by Britain—promises that were never fulfilled. This betrayal led to the rise of the Fascist movement under Benito Mussolini, who seized power between 1922 and 1925. Mussolini, driven by extreme nationalism and totalitarian ideology, pursued an expansionist agenda to restore the glory of the Roman Empire and turn Italy into a superpower. However, Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 triggered international sanctions, isolating the country and pushing it closer to Nazi Germany, with which it eventually allied during World War II.
An examination of the post-WWI conditions clearly shows the deep dissatisfaction in Germany, Italy, and Japan. Over the twenty years between 1919 and 1939, these nations focused heavily on military buildup and arms production to shift the global power balance in their favor—a course of action that set the stage for World War II.
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