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World War II

World War II
World War II (WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, though related conflicts began earlier. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. In a state of "total war", the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world. Chronology The start of the war in Europe is generally held to be 1 September 1939,[9][10] beginning with the German invasion of Poland; Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later. Others follow the British historian A. Background

World War I World War I (WWI or WW1), also known as the First World War, or the Great War, was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history. Over 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians died as a result of the war (including the victims of a number of genocides), a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents' technological and industrial sophistication, and the tactical stalemate caused by trench warfare, a grueling form of warfare in which the defender held the advantage. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, and paved the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. Prelude

World War II for Kids: Causes of WW2 History >> World War 2 for Kids Go here to watch a video about the Causes of World War II. There were many events throughout the world that led to the beginning of World War 2. In many ways, World War 2 was a direct result of the turmoil left behind by World War 1. Below are some of the main causes of World War 2. Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I between Germany and the Allied Powers. The problem with the treaty is that it left the German economy in ruins. Japanese Expansion In the period before World War II, Japan was growing rapidly. Fascism With the economic turmoil left behind by World War 1, some countries were taken over by dictators who formed powerful fascist governments. Hitler and the Nazi Party In Germany, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power. Hitler resented the restrictions put on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles. Appeasement After World War 1, the nations of Europe were weary and did not want another war. Great Depression Works Cited

Espionage wiki Espionage or spying involves a government or individual obtaining information considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information.[1] Espionage is inherently clandestine, as it is taken for granted that it is unwelcome and, in many cases illegal and punishable by law. It is a subset of intelligence gathering, which otherwise may be conducted from public sources and using perfectly legal and ethical means. It is crucial to distinguish espionage from intelligence gathering, as the latter does not necessarily involve espionage, but often collates open-source information. Espionage is often part of an institutional effort by a government or commercial concern. One of the most effective ways to gather data and information about the enemy (or potential enemy) is by infiltrating the enemy's ranks. History[edit] Different intelligence services value certain intelligence collection techniques over others. Targets of espionage[edit] Organization[edit]

THE WAR . For Educators . Lesson Plan These lesson plans have been developed to help teachers bring Ken Burns’s THE WAR into the classroom. Classroom activities are appropriate for students in grades 9-12 and cover major themes addressed in the film. Many of the lessons also incorporate video clips from the film and other resources found on this site. Double V (PDF) » Subjects: American History, Media Literacy, Civics, Language Arts Grade level: 9 - 12 During World War II African Americans found themselves with conflicting feelings about supporting the war effort when their own country did not offer them the freedom America was fighting for overseas. In this lesson students wage their own Double V campaign in their classroom and/or school through writing news articles, mounting photographic exhibits, producing radio programs and generating banners, slogans and songs. Video clips incorporated into this lesson: The War Through the Eyes of Al McIntosh (PDF) » Subjects: U.S. While big-name journalists like Edward R. Just War (PDF) »

Rationing Di Natale ration stamps printed, but not used, as a result of the 1973 oil crisis Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services. Rationing controls the size of the ration, one's allotted portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time. In economics[edit] In economics, rationing is an artificial restriction of demand. It is done to keep price below the equilibrium (market-clearing) price determined by the process of supply and demand in an unfettered market. Romanian ration card, 1989 A reason for setting the price lower than would clear the market may be that there is a shortage, which would drive the market price very high. Rationing using ration stamps is only one kind of non-price rationing. Authorities which introduce rationing often have to deal with the rationed goods being sold illegally on the black market. Health care rationing[edit] Credit rationing[edit] Military rationing[edit] Civilian rationing[edit]

Causes of the Second World War – The Holocaust Explained: Designed for schools The causes of the Second World War are neither singular or straightforward. This section will explore the primary causes which led to the outbreak of war in 1939. Germany’s foreign policy Germany’s aggressive foreign policy was not the sole cause of the Second World War, but it was a large contributing factor. From 1935 onwards, Germany had actively pursued an aggressive foreign policy: reintroducing conscription, creating the Luftwaffe, planning for war as detailed in the Hossbach Memorandum of 1937, and occupying Austria, the Sudetenland, and Czechoslovakia before eventually invading Poland in 1939. By breaking international agreements set out in the Treaty of Versailles and pursuing aggressive expansionism, Germany’s actions made a major European war more likely. The aftermath of the First World War Following the end of the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles was agreed. The Treaty of Versailles also reduced the size of Germany. Creation of the Axis Powers

LEGO lotr Coming fall 2012 Based on The Lord of the Rings motion picture trilogy, LEGO® The Lord of the Rings follows the original storylines of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, taking players through the epic story events reimagined with the humor and endless variety of LEGO play. Trusted with the dangerous task to destroy an ancient magical ring that threatens all that is good, Frodo is forced to leave his peaceful home. To help Frodo, a Fellowship is formed — Aragorn the Ranger, Gandalf the Wizard, Legolas the Elf, Gimli the Dwarf, Boromir a Man of Gondor, and Frodo’s Hobbit friends Sam, Merry and Pippin. LEGO® The Lord of the Rings complements the brand new, recently released LEGO® The Lord of the Rings toy collection, available summer 2012. Wield the power of the Palantír or Seeing-stone (‘one that looks far-away’), and jump between multiple storylines.

World War 2 The PIAT, for Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank, was the first effective anti-tank weapon based on the HEAT shell. It was developed by the British starting in 1941, reaching the field in time for the invasion of Sicily in 1943. Unlike the US bazooka and it's German copy, the Panzerschreck, the PIAT could be used in enclosed spaces which made it more useful in close-combat and for hiding in houses. At the start of World War II, all major armies were investing in research into HEAT to produce an infantry weapon capable of defeating modern armor. Instead they turned to a prewar weapon known as the Blacker Bombard, a small man-portable mortar using a large spring for propulsion. The Blacker Bombard was never used operationally, but was perfect for modification as the launcher for a HEAT round. The three pound HEAT warhead was able to penetrate about 100mm of armor at 100m, the weapon's rate range. << World War 2 Weapons | World War 2 >>

Oxford spelling Oxford spelling (or Oxford English Dictionary spelling) is the spelling used by Oxford University Press (OUP), including in its Oxford English Dictionary (OED), and other publishers who are "etymology conscious", according to Merriam-Webster.[1] Oxford spelling is best known for its preference for the suffix ‑ize rather than -ise. Apart from OUP, British dictionary publishers that use it include Cassell, Collins, and Longman.[2] In digital documents it may be indicated by the language tag en-GB-oed. Defining features[edit] Oxford spelling can be recognized by its use of the suffix ‑ize instead of -ise: organization, privatize and recognizable instead of organisation, privatise and recognisable. The spelling affects about 200 verbs, and is favoured on etymological grounds, in that -ize corresponds more closely to the Greek root, -izo, of most -ize verbs.[3] The suffix -ize has been in use in the UK since the 15th century,[4] and is the spelling variation used in American English.

Events of World War I | Boundless World History The Alliances During the 19th century, the major European powers went to great lengths to maintain a balance of power throughout Europe, resulting in the existence of a complex network of political and military alliances throughout the continent leading up to World War I. According to some historians, this caused a localized conflict to escalate into a global war. Learning Objectives Name the members of the two alliances that clashed in WWI Key Takeaways Key Points Key Terms Triple Alliance: A secret agreement between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed on May 20, 1882, and renewed periodically until World War I. During the 19th century, the major European powers went to great lengths to maintain a balance of power throughout Europe, resulting in the existence of a complex network of political and military alliances throughout the continent by 1900. Bismarck held Russia at Germany’s side to avoid a two-front war with France and Russia. Central Powers Allies of WWI The Schlieffen Plan

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