World War II

World War II

World War II, a global war from 1939 to 1945, was the deadliest conflict in human history. The immediate precipitating event was the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany on September 1, 1939, but many other events certainly played a role. The Japanese government was perceived as being very aggressive as they put pressure on French Indochina to stop trade with China, an ally. Japan did invade French Indochina, and the US decided the Japanese had gone too far.

In 1940 and 1941 the Americans and Chinese organized a volunteer squadron of planes and pilots to attack the Japanese from Chinese bases. Known as the Flying Tigers, its first combat came two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The attack on Pearl Harbor was to have destroyed the main American battle fleet anchored there. Meanwhile the Japanese also attacked the Philippines and the British held sites in Malaya Singapore and Hong Kong. The Japanese had formally declared war on the US.

Immediately following their declaration, Canada, Britain and then the US declared war on Japan, citing "unprovoked acts of war against the Government and the People the United States of America" was the cause. 4 days later, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy declared war on the US. And the war was on.