ICSE Class 10 Answered

The Second World War began in 1939. Germany, Italy and Japan formed an alliance and came to be known as Axis powers and Britain, France and the USA came to be known as the Allied powers.

Soviet Russia also attacked Eastern Poland and occupied territories which were part of Russia earlier. Almost all countries were engulfed in the war. Only Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Turkey remained neutral.

• Germany conquered Norway, Denmark, Holland and Belgium by May, 1940.
• Germany launched rapid military strikes on the enemies’ lines. This came to be known as blitzkrieg which means a ‘lightening war’.
• Fall of France: The German armies marched into France and by June 14, 1940, Paris fell into the hands of the German forces.
• The Battle of Britain: In the Battle of Britain, the German Air force began bombing the British territories. In retaliation, the Royal Air Force of Britain conducted air raids on the German territories.
• In June 1941, Hitler began the invasion of Soviet Russia against the peace agreement which was signed between Germany and Russia.
• Battle of Stalingrad: In August 1942, Hitler targeted Stalingrad but the frigid temperature and counter attack by the Soviet troops forced the Germans to surrender. Thus, Germany lost the Battle of Stalingrad.
• America remained neutral during the beginning of the war. It had naval fleet at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. Japan was fearful of the American naval fleet at Pearl harbour. On December 7, 1941, Japan carried a surprise aerial attack on the American naval fleet at Pearl Harbour. The battle ships were sunk and important airfields were attacked.
• This incident aroused the indignation of the Americans and thus the latter joined the Second World War on December 8, 1941.

• Battle of Berlin: In April 1945, the Germans were caught between the British and Americans on one side and Russians on the other front. When the Allies marched to Berlin to capture it, Hitler committed suicide and on May 7, 1945, the last of the German armies surrendered.
• May 8 was celebrated as the Day of Celebration in Europe.