<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><ins class="ice-ins ice-cts-1" data-changedata="" data-cid="2" data-last-change-time="1533761505640" data-time="1533761505640" data-userid="162" data-username="Author"><b><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">World</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">War</mark></mark>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">II</mark></mark></b>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">(often</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">abbreviated</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">to</mark>&nbsp;<b><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">WWII</mark></b>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">or</mark>&nbsp;<b><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">WW2</mark></b><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">),</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">also</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">known</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">as</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<b><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Second</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">World</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">War</mark></mark></b><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">was</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">a</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_war" title="World war"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">global</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">war</mark></mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">that</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">lasted</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">from</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">1939</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">to</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">1945,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">although</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">conflicts</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">reflecting</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology" title="Ideology"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">ideological</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">clash</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">between</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">what</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">would</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">become</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Allied</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Axis</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">blocs</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">began</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">earlier.</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_by_country" title="World War II by country"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">The</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">vast</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">majority</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">world&#39;s</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">countries</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">&mdash;including</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">all</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_power" title="Great power"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">great</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">powers</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">&mdash;eventually</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">formed</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">two</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">opposing</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_alliance" title="Military alliance"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">military</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">alliances</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">:</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_II" title="Allies of World War II"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Allies</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_powers" title="Axis powers"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Axis</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">.</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">It</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">was</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">most</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_globalization" title="Military globalization"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">global</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">war</mark></mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">in</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">history;</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">it</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">directly</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">involved</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">more</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">than</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">100</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">million</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">people</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">from</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">over</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">30</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">countries.</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">In</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">a</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">state</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_war" title="Total war"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">total</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">war</mark></mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">major</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">participants</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">threw</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">their</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">entire</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">economic,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">industrial,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">scientific</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">capabilities</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">behind</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_effort" title="War effort"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">war</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">effort</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">blurring</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">distinction</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">between</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">civilian</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">military</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">resources.</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">World</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">War</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">II</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">was</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_by_death_toll" title="List of wars by death toll"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">deadliest</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">conflict</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">in</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_world" title="History of the world"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">human</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">history</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">marked</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">by</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">50</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">to</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">85</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">million</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">fatalities,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">most</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">whom</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">were</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">civilians</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">in</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Soviet</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Union</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China_(1912%E2%80%931949)" title="Republic of China (1912–1949)"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">China</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">.</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">It</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">included</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre" title="Massacre"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">massacres</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide" title="Genocide"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">genocide</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust" title="The Holocaust"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Holocaust</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bombing_during_World_War_II" title=""><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">strategic</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">bombing</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">premeditated</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">death</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">from</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starvation" title="Starvation"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">starvation</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">disease</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">only</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">use</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon" title="Nuclear weapon"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">nuclear</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">weapons</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">in</mark></mark> war.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGilbert2001291_2-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGilbert2001291-2">[1]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-3">[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESommerville2008p._5_(2011_ed.)_4-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-FOOTNOTESommerville2008p._5_(2011_ed.)-4">[3]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-5">[4]</a></sup></ins></p>

<p><ins class="ice-ins ice-cts-1" data-changedata="" data-cid="2" data-last-change-time="1533761505640" data-time="1533761505640" data-userid="162" data-username="Author"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">The</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan" title="Empire of Japan"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Empire</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Japan</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">aimed</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">to</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">dominate</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia" title="Asia"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Asia</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean" title="Pacific Ocean"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Pacific</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">was</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">already</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sino-Japanese_War" title="Second Sino-Japanese War"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">at</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">war</mark></mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">with</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China_(1912%E2%80%9349)" title="Republic of China (1912–49)"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Republic</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">China</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">in</mark></mark> 1937,<sup id="cite_ref-6"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-6">[b]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBarrettShyu20016_7-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBarrettShyu20016-7">[5]</a></sup>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">but</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">world</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">war</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">is</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">generally</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">said</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">to</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">have</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">begun</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">on</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">1</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">September</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">1939,</mark><sup id="cite_ref-8"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II#cite_note-8">[6]</a></sup>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">day</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland" title="Invasion of Poland"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">invasion</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Polish_Republic" title="Second Polish Republic"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Poland</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">by</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany" title="Nazi Germany"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Nazi</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Germany</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">subsequent</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">declarations</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">war</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">on</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Germany</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">by</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Third_Republic" title="French Third Republic"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">France</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">United</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Kingdom</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">.</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">From</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">late</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">1939</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">to</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">early</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">1941,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">in</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">a</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">series</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">campaigns</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_Pact" title="Tripartite Pact"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">treaties</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Germany</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">conquered</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">or</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">controlled</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">much</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">continental</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Europe,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">formed</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Axis</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">alliance</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">with</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Italy" title="Kingdom of Italy"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Italy</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan" title="Empire of Japan"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Japan</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">.</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Under</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov%E2%80%93Ribbentrop_Pact" title="Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Molotov&ndash;Ribbentrop</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Pact</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">August</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">1939,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Germany</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Soviet</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Union</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">partitioned</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">annexed</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">territories</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">their</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">European</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">neighbours,</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_invasion_of_Poland" title="Soviet invasion of Poland"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Poland</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War" title="Winter War"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Finland</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_occupation_of_Bessarabia_and_Northern_Bukovina" title="Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Romania</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_the_Baltic_states" title="Occupation of the Baltic states"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Baltic</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">states</mark></mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">.</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">The</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">war</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">continued</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">primarily</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">between</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">European</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Axis</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">powers</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">coalition</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">United</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Kingdom</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations" title="Commonwealth of Nations"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">British</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Commonwealth</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">with</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">campaigns</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">including</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Desert_Campaign" title="Western Desert Campaign"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">North</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Africa</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Campaign_(World_War_II)" title="East African Campaign (World War II)"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">East</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Africa</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">campaigns,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">aerial</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Britain" title="Battle of Britain"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Battle</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Britain</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blitz" title="The Blitz"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Blitz</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">bombing</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">campaign</mark></mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkan_Campaign_(World_War_II)" title="Balkan Campaign (World War II)"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Balkan</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Campaign</mark></mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">as</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">well</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">as</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">long-running</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Atlantic" title="Battle of the Atlantic"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Battle</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Atlantic</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">.</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">On</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">22</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">June</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">1941,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">European</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Axis</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">powers</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">launched</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Barbarossa" title="Operation Barbarossa"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">an</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">invasion</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Soviet</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Union</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">opening</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Front_(World_War_II)" title="Eastern Front (World War II)"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">largest</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">land</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">theatre</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">war</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">in</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">history</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">which</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">trapped</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Axis,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">most</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">crucially</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">German</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wehrmacht" title="Wehrmacht"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Wehrmacht</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">into</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">a</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attrition_warfare" title="Attrition warfare"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">war</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">attrition</mark></a><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">.</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">In</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">December</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">1941,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Japan</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor" title="Attack on Pearl Harbor"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">attacked</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">United</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">States</mark></mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_Malaya" title="Japanese invasion of Malaya"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">European</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">colonies</mark></a>&nbsp;<mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">in</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Pacific</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Ocean,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">and</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">quickly</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">conquered</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">much</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">of</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Western</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Pacific.</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">The</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Japanese</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">conquests</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">were</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">perceived</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">by</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">many</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">in</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Asia</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">as</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">liberation</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">from</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">Western</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">dominance;</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">as</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">such,</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">several</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">armies</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">from</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">conquered</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">territories</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">aided</mark> <mark class="mark" data-markjs="true"><mark class="mark" data-markjs="true">the</mark></mark> Japanese.</ins></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
