World War II lasted from 1939-1945. The war began in Europe on Sept. 1, 1939, when Germany attacked Poland, and ended on Sept. 2, 1945, with the formal surrender of Japan aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The rival powers were the victorious Allies (Great Britain and the Commonwealth, France, the United States, the USSR, and China). The losing side consisted of Germany, Italy, and Japan, as well as smaller nations.

World War II killed more people, destroyed more property, disrupted more lives, and probably had more far-reaching consequences than any other war in history. Casualties totaled about 17 million, civilian deaths numbered approximately 25 million. Expenditures for war materials and armaments totaled at least $1.154 trillion. The war brought about the downfall of Western Europe as the center of world power and led to the rise of the Soviet Union.

During the 1930s, the Depression brought hardships to every country in the world. Leaders complained in Germany, Italy, and Japan that their nations did not have fair access to raw materials, markets, and capital investment areas, all of

which were necessary for their economic health. They argued that their nations were the victims of economic warfare--with its protective tariffs, managed currencies, and cutthroat competition--and that they had been left behind in the race for economic self-sufficiency and a favorable balance of trade. They made it plain that they would fight, if necessary, for a better economic status.

Before the Depression began, Germany had to pay huge reparations (about $33 billion) for World War I, which crippled its economy. In 1922 and 1923, the German economy was in a major crisis when inflation ruined the value of German money. Then on October 29, 1929, the Wall Street stock market fell and started a worldwide depression. The German economy was especially vulnerable since it was built out of foreign capital. Germany took most loans from America and was very dependent on foreign trade. When those loans suddenly came due and when the demand for German exports fell, German businesses quickly came to a halt. As production levels declined, workers were laid off, causing massive unemployment. Along with this banks failed throughout the country, savings accounts were instantly wiped out. The Germans were cast into poverty and deep misery by events beyond their control. They wanted a solution to their problems and turned to Adolf Hitler. People were attracted to his promises to improve the economy, defy the hated Treaty of Versailles and rebuild Germany's military force. All of this helped bring Hitler to power.

When the Great Depression struck, the Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini tried to distract the Italians from the economic crisis by starting a foreign war. In 1935, he sent his army into Ethiopia in North Africa. The Ethiopians fought bravely but their old-fashioned rifles were no match for the modern Italian tanks and airplanes. Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia asked the League of Nations for help. The league took little action. Nations such as Britain and France were distracted by their own economic problems. Also they did not want to anger Mussolini. So the world stood by as Italy took over Ethiopia.

Japan was hit hard by the Great Depression. The economic crisis cut deep into Japanese trade and ruined many businesses. Many Japanese grew impatient with their democratic government that seemed unable to solve the crisis. The civilians felt that military expansion and the acquisition of new markets and sources of raw materials would cure Japan's economic ills.

In the early 1930s, military leaders took power in Japan and wanted Japan to expand into Asia. Since Japan was only a small island nation it lacked many important resources. In 1931, it seized Manchuria part of northern-eastern China and gained rich supplies of coal and iron. Japan continued its expansion over Asia. In 1937, it was in war against China and soon occupied northern and central China.

By mid 1930s, Italy had conquered Ethiopia, and Japan had seized Manchuria. In 1936, Hitler moved his army into the Rhineland near the border of France and Belgium. As Hitler expected, neither Britain nor France did anything to stop him. In1938, Hitler peacefully annexed Austria to Germany. Next he claimed Sudetenland, the western part of Czechoslovakia. France and Britain had signed treaties to protect Czechoslovakia. At the Munich Conference in 1938, however, they gave in to Hitler's demand in order to preserve the peace. This practice became known as appeasement. At Munich, Hitler said that he wanted no more territory. But then in March 1939, he took over the rest of Czechoslovakia. Britain and France saw that Hitler's ambitions must be stopped. On September 1, 1939, German armies attacked Poland. Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany and World War II officially begun.