Explain World War 2

World War 2 was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It was a war between the Allied forces (including the United States, United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union) and the Axis powers (including Germany, Japan, and Italy). It was the most devastating war in history, with over 70 million people killed and many more injured. The war was fought in many places, including Europe, North Africa, the Pacific Ocean and Asia. It began when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939. Soon after, other countries in Europe were invaded. After a few years of fighting, the Allies eventually defeated the Axis powers and the war ended in 1945. One example of a major event during the war was the Battle of Stalingrad, which lasted for nearly two years and saw some of the most intense fighting of the war. The city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) was almost completely destroyed. In the end, the Soviet Union won the battle and forced Germany out of the city. A fun fact about World War 2 is that it was the first war to be fought in the air, with airplanes and bombers being used in battle. The first jet fighter, the Messerschmitt ME-262, was used by Germany during the war. Overall, World War 2 changed the world in many ways. It led to the end of colonialism, the creation of the United Nations, and the beginning of the Cold War.