Lest We Forget: Start of World War II

Today is the 86th anniversary of the start of World War II.

Resistance to western imperialism in East Asia, combined with economic hardship, nationalism and militarism in the Japanese Empire culminated in 1905 Russo-Japanese War, which combined with the WWI losses in the Russian Empire contributed to its fall in 1917. In 1910 the Japanese Empire formally annexed Korea. In September 1931 in the midst of the first phase of the Chinese Civil war (1927-1936) the Imperial Japan invaded Manchuria. The Second Sino-Japanese War started in July of 1937. In September of 1940 Imperial Japan invaded French Indochina.

The European roots of WWII are known to lie in the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 after the end of World War I (1914-1918), in which the British-French(-Russian Triple) Entente 1904(07) defeated (with Russia withdrawing in 1918 due to devastating losses) the Triple Alliance (1882) of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. After fierce street battles between the members of the right (including the NDA) and left (including KPD) movements during the Political Violence period and the severe impacts of the Great Depression, the Nazi Party took control of Germany in 1933. Driven by Nazism Germany annexed Austria in March 1938, Sudetenland in October 1938 and Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939.

The Axis Powers of WWII began forming with the Rome-Berlin Axis of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany in October 1936. In November 1936 the Nazi Germany signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Imperial Japan. In May 1939 the Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy singed the Pact of Steel. In June 1940 Fascist Italy allied with Nazi Germany against France and the British Empire. Signing of the Tripartite Pact in September 1940 marked the Entry of Japan in the Axis.

The Spanish Civil War was fought from July 1936 to April 1939 between the Nationalists of Spanish State, supported by the Axis, and Republicans of the Second Spanish Republic supported by the Soviet Union and Mexico.

On September 1st, 1939 the Nazi Germany invaded Poland. On September 3rd the British Empire declared war on Nazi Germany. The preceding signing of Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact on August 23rd, 1939 divided Eastern Europe without a direct confrontation between the Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. On September 17th, 1939 the Soviet Union invaded Poland, immediately following a cease-fire with Imperial Japan. November 1939 to March 1940 Soviet Union invaded Finland and annexed part of its territory. In April 1940 Nazi Germany invaded Denmark. In April-June 1940 it invaded Norway. In May 1940 it invaded Luxembourg, Netherlands and Belgium. France was attacked and defeated by the Axis in May-June of 1940. In June 1940 Soviet Union invaded and subsequently annexed Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. In June-July 1940 it annexed parts of Romania. The air and naval battle of Britain from July to October 1940 overlapped with the bombings of the Blitz from September 1040 to May 1941.

Following the Molotov-Ribnentrop Pact, Britain and Poland signed an agreement for mutual assistance. In September 1939 the Anglo-French Supreme War Council was established. In June 1941 the first Inter-Allied Conference between United Kingdom, Commonwealth Dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zeland and South Africa, and nine governments in exile including Free France signed the London Declaration against the Axis. In August 1941 the Atlantic Charter was signed ensuring the support of the United Kingdom by the United States. In January 1942 the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union and China and subsequently 22 other nations signed what became the United Nations Declaration pledging all of their resources against the Axis.

In June 1940 the allied British Empire invaded Italian Libya. Soon after in June 1940 Fascist Italy started attacking the British colonies and protectorate surrounding the Italian East Africa. In January 1941 the allied British, Indian and several African forces initiated the counter offensive on Italian East Africa. Fighting in East Africa took place in modern day Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Sudan. In September 1940 the Kingdom of Egypt was attacked by Fascist Italy, with Nazi Germany joining in February 1941. In May 1942 Allies invaded Vichy-French controlled Madagascar. In November 1942 Allies invaded Vichy-French controlled North Africa in modern-day Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

In October 1940 Fascist Italy invaded Greece. In April-June 1941 the Nazi Germany and Bulgaria joined the invasion of Greece. In April 1941 the Nazi Germany, Fashist Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria invaded Yugoslavia. In May 1941 the allied British Empire invaded the Kingdom of Iraq. In June-July 1941 British and French Allies invaded Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon. In August 1941 the allied British Empire and Soviet Union invaded Pahlavi Iran.

In June 1941 the Nazi Germany supported by troops from Romania, Finland, Italy, Hungary and Slovakia invaded the Soviet Union. In December 1941 Imperial Japan attacked the United States.

Immediately following the Attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 Imperial Japan invaded Thailand, started the invasion of the Philippines, Hong Kong, and began invading British, USA, Australian and independent pacific islands. Brunei was also invaded in December 1941. Between December 1941 and February 1942 Imperial Japan conquered British territories of modern day Malasiya fighting against Indian and other troops of the British Empire.

In January 1942 Imperial Japan started the invasion of the Dutch East Indies - modern day Indonesia. In January 1942 it attacked Burma, defended by Indian, Chinese and African troops. Also in January 1942 it attacked New Guinea and in July 1942 the Territory of Papua. British Singapore Surrendered to Imperial Japan in February 1942. In February 1942 Imperial Japan started air raids on Australia. Also in February it occupied Portuguese Timor. In March 1942 Imperial Japan started the Indian Ocean raid and occupied Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In March 1944 it invaded the present-day Manipur and Nagaland states of India.

The complex pre-history of WWII led to the deadliest war in human history, with an unknown total number of wounded. It must never be repeated - Lest We Forget.

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