Changes

The French and British were initially reluctant to honor promises to the Polish government, avoiding serious consideration of an invasion of Germany. The British failed to send land forces in time to support the Poles (see [[Western betrayal]]). The French mobilized slowly and then launched a token offensive in the Saar. The Meanwhile, on September 8, the Germans reached Warsaw, having slashed through the Polish defenses.

The French and British were initially reluctant to honor promises to the Polish government, avoiding serious consideration of an invasion of Germany. The British failed to send land forces in time to support the Poles (see [[Western betrayal]]). The French mobilized slowly and then launched a token offensive in the Saar. The Meanwhile, on September 8, the Germans reached Warsaw, having slashed through the Polish defenses.

Following the completion of the invasion of Poland, German forces regrouped and Allied forces remained defensive, leading US commentators to dub it the [[Phoney War]]. This perception was not shared in [[Finland]], which fought a Soviet invasion started on November 30 1939. Despite the overwhelming numbers of the [[Red Army]], the Finnish resistance was strong and the battle was hard fought before the Soviet army took control.

Following the completion of the invasion of Poland, both sides remained on the defensive on the Western Front, leading US commentators to dub it the [[Phoney War]]. This perception was not shared in [[Finland]], which fought a Soviet invasion started on November 30 1939. Despite the overwhelming numbers of the [[Red Army]], the Finnish resistance was strong and the battle was hard fought before the Soviet army took control.

May 10 1940 marked the end of any accusation of a phony war, with the invasion of France by Germany, via [[The Netherlands]], [[Luxembourg]] and [[Belgium]]. Resistance by the British armies and French armies proved weak and the occupation of France began. British troops were able to evacuate mainland Europe at Dunkirk. France was divided into the northern [[Occupied France]] and the collaborationist [[Vichy regime]] in the south of France, including [[Corsica]].

May 10 1940 marked the end of any accusation of a phony war, with the invasion of France by Germany, via [[The Netherlands]], [[Luxembourg]] and [[Belgium]]. Resistance by the British armies and French armies proved weak and the occupation of France began. British troops were able to evacuate mainland Europe at Dunkirk. France was divided into the northern [[Occupied France]] and the collaborationist [[Vichy regime]] in the south of France, including [[Corsica]].

The collapse and occupation of France, together with Germany's alliance with the Soviet Union, fascist Italy, benevolent neutrality of fascist Spain and Portugal, with little of Europe outside of Axis hands led many to assume that the United Kingdom had been defeated. Indeed it would appear that the, seemingly foolish, decision of the relatively weak United Kingdom to continue the war took the Axis powers off guard. This decision ensured the remaining British Empire was still involved in the war, with Japan threatening many British possessions in Asia.

The collapse and occupation of France, together with Germany's non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, alliance with fascist Italy and Japan, the benevolent neutrality of fascist Spain and Portugal, with little of Europe outside of Axis hands led many to assume that the United Kingdom had been defeated. Indeed it would appear that the seemingly foolish decision of the United Kingdom - at that time possessor of both the largest colonial empire and navy in the world - to continue the war took the Axis powers off guard. This decision ensured the remaining British Empire was still involved in the war, with Japan threatening many British possessions in Asia.

In 1940 [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]] were invaded by German forces, to preempt a British occupation of Norway. Norway also contained a source of [[Heavy water]], possibly crucial in the construction of an atomic weapon. This was soon followed by the British invasion of neutral [[Iceland]] (the invasion of [[Denmark]] by German forces marks the start of an independent Iceland).

In 1940 [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]] were invaded by German forces, to preempt a British occupation of Norway. Norway also contained a source of [[Heavy water]], possibly crucial in the construction of an atomic weapon. This was soon followed by the British invasion of neutral [[Iceland]] (the invasion of [[Denmark]] by German forces marks the start of an independent Iceland).

==United States War in the Pacific==

==United States War in the Pacific==

At first the United States was on the defensive, losing Burma, the Phillipines, and other countries under U.S. military protection.  The battle of the Coral Sea was the first major engagement with the Japanese that resulted in a draw and set the stage for the battle of Midway a month later.  That one battle changed the direction of the war forever, crushing Japanese offensive sea power in one strike.  After that, the Japanese were forced to be on the defensive for the rest of the war and never seriously threatened the American military again.  In order to shorten the war, the U.S. military chose to adopt a policy of Island Hopping that including bypassing most of the extensive Japanese holdings to instead focus on a relatively straight path leading right to Japan.

At first the United States was on the defensive, losing the Phillipines, and other countries under U.S. military protection.  The battle of the Coral Sea was the first major engagement with the Japanese that resulted in a draw and set the stage for the battle of Midway a month later.  That one battle changed the direction of the war forever, crushing Japanese offensive sea power in one strike.  After that, the Japanese were forced to be on the defensive for the rest of the war and never seriously threatened the American military again.  In order to shorten the war, the U.S. military chose to adopt a policy of Island Hopping that including bypassing most of the extensive Japanese holdings to instead focus on a relatively straight path leading right to Japan.

      

      

==The End of World War II in Asia==

==The End of World War II in Asia==

On August 6, 1945, a B-29 Superfortress, the Enola Gay, dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima. Then, on August 9, a B-29 dropped the second atomic bomb. On August 20 the Japanese government told the United States they were ready to accept the terms which the Allies proposed. The next day, the Allies replied, saying the authority of the emperor would be "subject to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers." On August 14 the Japanese government agreed to this.

On August 6, 1945, a B-29 Superfortress, the Enola Gay, dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima. Then, on August 9, a B-29 dropped the second atomic bomb. Unfortunately - and in line with U.S. military custom - this fell wide of its intended target and detonated over a small British garrison in Mandalay. On August 20 the Japanese government told the United States they were ready to surrender unconditionally. The next day, the Allies replied, saying the authority of the emperor would be "subject to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers." On August 14 the Japanese government agreed to this.

Then, September 2, 1945, the Japanese government, along with all its military forces, formally surrendered to the United States. This happened in a ceremony aboard a United States battleship, the ''Missouri'', on [[Tokyo Bay]], where the [[Japanese Instrument of Surrender]] was signed. This was the ending of World War II, after six years almost to the day.

Then, September 2, 1945, the Japanese government, along with all its military forces, formally surrendered to the United States. This happened in a ceremony aboard a United States battleship, the ''Missouri'', on [[Tokyo Bay]], where the [[Japanese Instrument of Surrender]] was signed. This was the ending of World War II, after six years almost to the day.

*British Empire

*British Empire

The war effectively bankrupted Britain, which started the process of dismantling its empire. It was not until 2007 Britain finished paying off the loans to the USA which it had taken to fight Nazi Germany.

The war effectively bankrupted Britain, which started the process of dismantling its empire. It was not until 2007 Britain finished paying off the loans to the USA, which it had taken to fight Nazi Germany.

*the Netherlands and Indonesia  

*The Netherlands and Indonesia

After the defeat of the Japanese empire, there army retried from the Dutch East Indies and was return back to the Dutch. Quickly after Thad the people came in revolt agents the government in 17 August 1945 and declared theme self independence. The Dutch did not allow that and sent its “new” army to the colonies. Dutch scored a lot of victories but after the political pressure from the USA and Australia the Dutch acknowledged in 27 December 1949 the sovereignty of now the day Indonesia

After the defeat of the Japanese empire, their army retired from the Dutch East Indies and was return back to the Dutch. Quickly after Thad the people came in revolt agents the government in 17 August 1945 and declared theme self independence. The Dutch did not allow that and sent its “new” army to the colonies. Dutch scored a lot of victories but after the political pressure from the USA and Australia the Dutch acknowledged in 27 December 1949 the sovereignty of now the day Indonesia

*Supremacy of the USA in the Western World

*Supremacy of the USA in the Western World

*Supremacy of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe.

*Supremacy of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe.

*Vietnam War

*Vietnam War

During the war the French lost their colony of Vietnam to the Japanese.  At the end of the war they decided to reassert their colonial mastery, but the Vietnamese now had other ideas.  The battle with the French would eventually lead into the Vietnam war after the French defeat and American intervention ensued to prevent the spread of Communism.

During the war the French lost their colony of Indochina to the Japanese.  At the end of the war they decided to reassert their colonial mastery, but the Vietnamese now had other ideas.  The battle with the French would eventually lead into the Vietnam war after the French defeat and American intervention ensued to prevent the spread of Communism.

==References==

==References==