Second World War

The Second World War, also known as the World Anti-Fascist War, lasted from 1931 to 1945 in the Asian battlefield (the beginning of the September 18th Incident) and from 1939 to 1945 in the European battlefield (the beginning of the German invasion of Poland). A total of 61 participating countries, about 2 billion people were involved, more than 90 million casualties, and economic losses of more than 5 trillion US dollars. The two parties participating in the war were divided into the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan were the core, Italy surrendered in 1943) and the Allies (China, Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States were the main ones, and China was the main battlefield in the East). Key timeline: the September 18th Incident in 1931, the July 7th Incident in 1937, the outbreak of the European War in 1939, the Pearl Harbor incident in 1941, the Battle of Midway in 1942, the Normandy landing in 1944, and the surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945. Core battles: Battle of Stalingrad (a turning point in World War II), Battle of Midway (a turning point in the Pacific), Normandy landing (opening up the second battlefield), etc. Impact: Politically, the United Nations was established and the Cold War pattern was formed; economically, the United States became the number one power; scientifically, there were technological breakthroughs such as atomic energy and radar; in society, the status of women was improved and the colonial system collapsed. Historical lessons: oppose war, insist on international cooperation, and be wary of militarism.