Changes

[[Image:Caen_sniper.jpg|right|thumb|300px|An allied soldier in the ruins of Caen, 9 July 1944]]

[[Image:Caen_sniper.jpg|right|thumb|300px|An allied soldier in the ruins of Caen, 9 July 1944]]

'''World War II''' was a global conflict fought between the [[Allies|Allied powers]] which eventually came to include the [[United States]], the [[Soviet Union]], the [[British Commonwealth]], the [[Republic of China]], and many other nations, and the [[Axis Powers]] (mainly [[Third Reich|Nazi Germany]], [[Fascism|Fascist]] [[Italy]], and Imperial [[Japan]]). Several conflicts involving some world major powers precipitated the general conflagration.  On September 1, 1939 [[Poland]] was invaded by Nazi Germany. On September 3, the [[Great Britain]] and the [[French Third Republic]] with its allies entered the war.  

'''World War II''' was a global conflict fought between the [[Allies|Allied powers]] which eventually came to include the [[United States]], the [[Soviet Union]], the [[British Commonwealth]], the [[Republic of China]], and many other nations, and the [[Axis Powers]] (mainly [[Third Reich|Nazi Germany]], [[Fascism|Fascist]] [[Italy]], and Imperial [[Japan]]). Several conflicts involving some world major powers precipitated the general conflagration.  On September 1, 1939 [[Poland]] was invaded by Nazi Germany. On September 3, [[Britain]] and the [[French Third Republic]] with its allies entered the war.  

During the war, eight major world powers fought, along with several lesser states joining with one side or the other. On the side which lost were the Axis Powers Germany, [[Japan]], and [[Italy]]. Against them came to be the Allied Powers [[United States]], [[Great Britain]] and the Commonwealth, the [[Soviet Union]] with its [[Comintern]] allies, and the [[Republic of China]]. The conflict was the deadliest in human history with estimated deaths ranging from 50 million to over 70 million depending on research methodology.<ref>http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat1.htm#Second</ref>   

During the war, eight major world powers fought, along with several lesser states joining with one side or the other. On the side which lost were the Axis Powers Germany, [[Japan]], and [[Italy]]. Against them came to be the Allied Powers [[United States]], [[Britain]] and the Commonwealth, the [[Soviet Union]] with its [[Comintern]] allies, and the [[Republic of China]]. The conflict was the deadliest in human history with estimated deaths ranging from 50 million to over 70 million depending on research methodology.<ref>http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat1.htm#Second</ref>   

==Causes: Europe==

==Causes: Europe==

The war began with the German invasion of Poland on the 1st September 1939.  Britain and France declared war on Germany in response.

The war began with the German invasion of Poland on the 1st September 1939.  Britain and France declared war on Germany in response.

[[Image:Ww2-asia usma.edu pic.gif|thumb|300px|left|Time Line of Pacific War]]

[[Image:Ww2-asia usma.edu pic.gif|thumb|300px|left|Time Line of Pacific War]]

===Soviet Involvement===

===Soviet Involvement===

The Soviet Union was allied with Japan through the [[Matsuoka pact]] while giving aid and direction to the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP), its [[Comintern]] ally, to subvert the Kuomintang (KMT) government.  This duplicity of motives and actions bore out tragic and disastrous events -- most specifically the eventual [[slavery|enslavement]] of 550 million Chinese people and a deeply partisan crisis in American domestic politics.  The Soviet Union agreed to President Roosevelt's "Great Design" for a [[United Nations]]  with "Four Policeman" to enforce the peace, the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the Chinese Nationalist Government avowed in the [[Joint Four Power Declaration]] of United Nations at the Moscow conference of October 1943<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1943/431000a.html Joint Four Power Declaration], Moscow Conference, October, 1943.</ref>  But [[Stalinist]] agents in several countries, including subversive infiltrators in key [[U.S. Government]] positions, were able to subvert American [[foreign policy]].

The Soviet Union was allied with Japan through the [[Matsuoka pact]] while giving aid and direction to the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP), its [[Comintern]] ally, to subvert the Kuomintang (KMT) government.  This duplicity of motives and actions bore out tragic and disastrous events -- most specifically the eventual [[slavery|enslavement]] of 550 million Chinese people and a deeply partisan crisis in American domestic politics.  The Soviet Union agreed to President Roosevelt's "Great Design" for a [[United Nations]]  with "Four Policeman" to enforce the peace, the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, and the Chinese Nationalist Government avowed in the [[Joint Four Power Declaration]] of United Nations at the Moscow conference of October 1943<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1943/431000a.html Joint Four Power Declaration], Moscow Conference, October, 1943.</ref>  But [[Stalinist]] agents in several countries, including subversive infiltrators in key [[U.S. Government]] positions, were able to subvert American [[foreign policy]].

   

   

Stalin, throughout the war, had assured the United States through Ambassadors [[Averell Harriman]],<ref> John R. Deane, The Strange Alliance: The Story of Our Efforts at Wartime Co-operation with Russia (NY:Viking, 1947) p. 226.</ref> Pat Hurley,<ref> William D. Leahy, I Was There: The Personal Story of the Chief of Staff to Presidents Truman and Roosevelt; Based on his Notes and Diaries Made at the Time; (NY:Whittlesey House, 1950), p. 147.</ref> and Secretary of State [[Cordell Hull]]<ref>Cordell Hull, Memoirs (NY:Macmillian, 1948), Chapter 90, p. 1398.</ref> that he would enter the war against Japan.  In 1943, to Hull, the promise had been made "without any strings to it." In 1944, when the matter was again discussed with Harriman, Stalin specified his conditions: "provided that the United States would assist in building up sixty divisions in Siberia" and "provided the political aspects of Russia's participation had been clarified."<ref> John R. Deane, The Strange Alliance: The Story of Our Efforts at Wartime Co-operation with Russia (NY:Viking, 1947) p. 247.</ref>  On the eve of [[Yalta conference]] the Japanese Foreign Minister asked the Russian Ambassador in Tokyo about the possibility of arranging for a settlement. Stalin did not communicate this to either Roosevelt of Churchill.<ref>''While You Slept: Our Tragedy in Asia and Who Made It'', John T. Flynn,  New York: The Devin-Adair Company, 1951, [http://www.mises.org/books/whileyouslept.pdf pg. 168] pdf.</ref>

Stalin, throughout the war, had assured the United States through Ambassadors [[Averell Harriman]],<ref> John R. Deane, The Strange Alliance: The Story of Our Efforts at Wartime Co-operation with Russia (NY:Viking, 1947) p. 226.</ref> Pat Hurley,<ref> William D. Leahy, I Was There: The Personal Story of the Chief of Staff to Presidents Truman and Roosevelt; Based on his Notes and Diaries Made at the Time; (NY:Whittlesey House, 1950), p. 147.</ref> and Secretary of State [[Cordell Hull]]<ref>Cordell Hull, Memoirs (NY:Macmillian, 1948), Chapter 90, p. 1398.</ref> that he would enter the war against Japan.  In 1943, to Hull, the promise had been made "without any strings to it." In 1944, when the matter was again discussed with Harriman, Stalin specified his conditions: "provided that the United States would assist in building up sixty divisions in Siberia" and "provided the political aspects of Russia's participation had been clarified."<ref> John R. Deane, The Strange Alliance: The Story of Our Efforts at Wartime Co-operation with Russia (NY:Viking, 1947) p. 247.</ref>  On the eve of [[Yalta conference]] the Japanese Foreign Minister asked the Russian Ambassador in Tokyo about the possibility of arranging for a settlement. Stalin did not communicate this to either Roosevelt of Churchill.<ref>''While You Slept: Our Tragedy in Asia and Who Made It'', John T. Flynn,  New York: The Devin-Adair Company, 1951, [http://www.mises.org/books/whileyouslept.pdf pg. 168] pdf.</ref>

==Greek Civil War==

==Greek Civil War==

[[Greece]] sided with the [[Allies]] in World War II after [[Mussolini]]'s demands for surrender were met with the famous "[[Okhi]]" (''[[Greek]] for "no"'') statement of Greek Prime Minister [[Ioannis Metaxas]]. [[Italy]] invaded in October of 1940, and were repulsed by Greek troops in the [[Greco-Italian War]]. [[Germany|German]] and [[Bulgaria|Bulgarian]] troops joined their Italian allies in the fight, and overran the Greek, [[Great Britain|British]], [[Australia|Australian]], and [[New Zealand]] forces. The [[Nazi]] invasion during the [[Battle of Crete]] was delayed by fierce [[Crete|Cretan]] resistance, delaying the German [[Operation Barbarossa|invasion]] of the [[Soviet Union]] for over a month. Despite their efforts, the Nazi war machine was able to annex Greece. After liberation, Greece fell into [[Greek Civil War|civil war]] between [[communists]] and royalists. Lasting until 1949, the conflict resulted in a Royalist victory, preserving the Greek state, but at the cost of 40,000 lives.

[[Greece]] sided with the [[Allies]] in World War II after [[Mussolini]]'s demands for surrender were met with the famous "[[Okhi]]" (''[[Greek]] for "no"'') statement of Greek Prime Minister [[Ioannis Metaxas]]. [[Italy]] invaded in October of 1940, and were repulsed by Greek troops in the [[Greco-Italian War]]. [[Germany|German]] and [[Bulgaria|Bulgarian]] troops joined their Italian allies in the fight, and overran the Greek, [[Britain|British]], [[Australia|Australian]], and [[New Zealand]] forces. The [[Nazi]] invasion during the [[Battle of Crete]] was delayed by fierce [[Crete|Cretan]] resistance, delaying the German [[Operation Barbarossa|invasion]] of the [[Soviet Union]] for over a month. Despite their efforts, the Nazi war machine was able to annex Greece. After liberation, Greece fell into [[Greek Civil War|civil war]] between [[communists]] and royalists. Lasting until 1949, the conflict resulted in a Royalist victory, preserving the Greek state, but at the cost of 40,000 lives.

==Chinese Civil War resumes==

==Chinese Civil War resumes==