World War II: The War That Changed Everything

Overview

This video chronicles World War II, the deadliest conflict in human history, spanning six years across six continents and claiming sixty million lives. It details key events from the Blitzkrieg and the fall of France to the turning points at Midway and Stalingrad, culminating in the D-Day invasion, the horrors of the Holocaust, and the war's final end in 1945.

In this video

• World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, lasting six years across six continents and claiming sixty million lives.
• The war began in September 1939 with the Blitzkrieg, where armored columns, tanks, dive-bombers, and infantry stormed into Poland.
• The Dunkirk evacuation saw hundreds of thousands of troops rescued by a ragtag fleet of little ships after France fell in just six weeks.
• In June 1941, over three million troops launched the largest invasion in history, pouring east into the Soviet Union along a thousand-mile front.
• December 7th, 1941, marked America's entry into the war after waves of aircraft struck the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor without warning.
• The Battle of Midway in June 1942 was a major turning point in the Pacific, where dive-bombers sent four enemy carriers to the bottom.
• Stalingrad represented a great turning point in the war, with two armies tearing each other apart for months in a frozen and shattered city.
• The greatest invasion ever launched, D-Day on June 6th, 1944, involved a vast armada crossing the Channel and paratroopers aiding the Allies in storming the beaches of Normandy.
• As armies advanced, they uncovered the Holocaust, a systematic genocide where six million Jewish people and millions more were murdered.
• The war concluded in August 1945 after a single new weapon caused two cities to vanish, leading to Japan's surrender.

Frequently asked questions

When did World War II begin?

World War II began in September 1939 when armored columns stormed into Poland, marking the start of a six-year global conflict.

What was Blitzkrieg?

Blitzkrieg, meaning 'lightning war,' was a military tactic involving tanks, dive-bombers, and infantry moving as one, famously used by Germany at the war's outset to rapidly conquer nations like Poland.

How many lives were lost in World War II?

World War II resulted in the loss of sixty million lives, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.

What was the significance of Pearl Harbor?

On December 7th, 1941, waves of aircraft struck the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor without warning, leading to America's entry into World War II the very next day.

What was D-Day?

D-Day, on June 6th, 1944, was the greatest invasion ever launched, with a vast Allied armada crossing the Channel and storming the beaches of Normandy to begin the liberation of Europe.