Britain’s policy of appeasement had failed to stop Hitler. Hitler invaded Poland on 1

As in World War One, there were two sides in World War Two

The Axis Powers

The Allied Powers

Germany

Japan

Britain

British Soldiers being rescued from the beach at Dunkirk

An explosion at the US naval base at Pearl Harbor

After France was occupied, Britain stood alone against the Axis powers. Hitler decided to launch an invasion of Britain in June 1940. German bombers flew across the channel and dropped bombs on London and other large cities. British RAF (Royal Air Force) planes defeated the German air force and Hitler was forced to call off the invasion.

A Spitfire chasing a Messerschmitt

In June 1941, Hitler sent 3 million soldiers and 3,500 tanks into Russia. The Russians were taken by surprise as they had signed a treaty with Germany in 1939. Many Russian cities fell to Germany but Hitler had not expected the conquest of Russia to last into winter. The German soldiers did not have winter clothing and many froze to death. By November 1942 the tables were turning and the Russians won their first victory against Germany at the Battle of Stalingrad.

German soldiers surrendering to the Russians

El Alamein

After the attack on Pearl Harbour, the USA declared war on Japan. On 11^th December 1941, Germany and Italy declared war on the USA. The Japanese won a string of victories over the USA for the next six months. In June 1942 however, the USA defeated the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway. Following this victory, the US navy was able to push the Japanese back.

Exploding oil tanks on Midway Island

During the early part of the war the Axis powers had a number of victories in British controlled North Africa. The Axis powers wanted to capture the important Suez canal which would give them access to the Middle Eastern oil fields. However, the battle, at El Alamein, was won by the Allies. The Germans did not take the Suez canal or the oil fields. This left their tanks and trucks short of fuel and prevented them from taking North Africa.

Victorious allies after the Battle of El Alamein