What was the most pivotal moment of World War 2?

Answer 1

The important events of WW 2 cannot be answered and fully understood unless it is noted that the Allies failed to enforce the Treaty of Versailles which limited the military build up by the Nazis. In fact the Weimar Republic had already violated the military restrictions of that treaty. That France and England gave away without a fight Austria and part of what is now the Czech Republic must be noted. Appeasement bought on the war and here is an rather rough outline of some key events of WW 2:

1. After the German-Soviet Non Aggression Pact was signed Germany invaded western Poland and under the Pact, the USSR invaded the eastern half of Poland;

2. With much hesitation England & France declared war on Germany and as it's said these days "It was on ".

3. Within 6 weeks France had surrendered and the greatest military retreat in modern war of Dunkirk foreshadowed the fall of France;

4. Within the approximate same time the Lowlands fell to the Germans. Denmark surrendered without a fight;

5. Sweden and Switzerland had declared their neutrality long before the war. Belgium did so in 1936, but that did not save them;

6. Many military historians cite the Imperial Japan's 1931 invasion of China as the real beginning of WW 2...

7. Norway fought the Germans but soon were occupied by Germany;

8. Within almost the same time frame the Balkans fell to Italy & Germany;

9. With little choice, Hungary and Romania were "allies" of the Reich;

10. Brutal night bombing hit England;

10a. The German- Soviet Pact goes by the wayside as in 1940 Germany invades the Soviet Union;

11. 1941, Not grasping the potential power of the US, Japan strikes Pearl Harbor and the US declares war on Japan;

12. By a badly designed treaty, Hitler keeps his word to Japan & declares war on the USA and vice versa;

13. 1941 also sees the invasion of North Africa by the German Africa Corps, and Italy adds some troops to the invasion as well;

14. Three years into the war, 1942 saw the beginning of a turnaround and the Axis Powers were starting to lose momentum;

15. The German advance into the Soviet Union stalls in the Winter, some Nazi divisions had reached within one mile of Moscow;

16. Rommel & the Africa Corps retreat back into Italy, their attempt to reach Cairo and the British forces had failed;

17. By 1943, the Axis powers were now in retreat;

18. 1944 and the invasion of Normandy sees the Germans soon in retreat and Russian forces are pushing back Germany in the East. Allies have invaded Italy, Germany is trapped three ways;

19. 1945, Berlin falls to the Soviets, game over in Europe;

20. August 1945, Imperial Japan is hit with two atomic bombs and surrenders.

Much more can be added to important events of the war and edits are welcomed.

And the Holocaust murdered 6 million Jews and other peoples Hitler deemed not suitable to live, such as gypsies and retarded people.

Answer 2

I think the most important factor of World War Two was Germany's problems. If Germany had been able to easily pay all the requirements of the Treaty of Versailles they would not have hated it so much. At the time of WW2 Germany was in a state of depression, costs were high and profits were low so no one really was very happy. Consequently when Hitler started to blame France everyone else just went with it and so the anger built up and it lead Germany to war. The above has it's merits. For me the single greatest factor was the wealth of the US which was needed to overcome both the Germans & Japanese.

In addition to Hitler blaming everyone else for Germany's economical and social problems, he specifically targeted Jews. The world, including the United States, may claim to have not known about the death camps at the time, but they knew enough about the persecution of the Jews to at least make helping them a factor in joining the fight against Germany and its allies.

Answer 3

• The immediate cause of World War 2 in Europe was the German invasion of Poland.
• In the Far East/Pacific there is no single date. The Japanese invaded China in 1937, and in 1941 extended the war by attacking the US at Pearl Harbor.

Answer 4

The rise of authoritarian leaders in countries suffering from the great depression

Answer 5

When they dropped those two atomic bombs on Japan

Answer 6

There are three answers to your question and the answer is the transport, weapons and protection. So probably planes guns and all sorts of protection. But there is no simple answer.

Answer 7

I'm afraid your question is too vague... Can you be more specific?

Answer 8

the great depression

Answer 9

the Holocaust