What did you learn from World War II? by Teodor Birsa

1. Humanity isn’t nearly as civilized and humane as we like to think. Some of us are just monsters. Pictured: Nazi soldier murdering a Jewish woman and child, Ivanhorod, Ukraine, 1942.

2. Fanatics of any kind should not be allowedanywhere near political and military power.Pictured: Hitler decorates child soldiers outside the Fuhrerbunker, 1945.

3. Never underestimate Russia! Pictured: Soviet soldier Eryemenko yelling “Attack!”, seconds before being fatally wounded.

4. Military pacts and alliances amount next to nothing when shit gets real. Former allies can easily become worst enemies, and viceversa.Pictured: a German and a Soviet officer shake hands after the Invasion of Poland.

5. Nuclear weapons should never, never-ever, never-ever-ever be used. Pictured: Hiroshima after nuclear blast.

6. Corporations will stop at nothing to make money.

7. “Ordinary” people can be more heroic and brave than one would expect. Pictured: Simone Segouin (a.k.a. Nicole), a 19 year-old farmer’s daughter turned French Partisan, who captured 25 Nazis in the Chartres area, in addition to liquidating others.

What do I need to know about WWII?

Listed below is a comprised list of What Everyone Should Know About WWII.

When did World War II begin?
According to what is written and known in current history books, World War II began on September 1,1939 when Germany attacked Poland without a formal declaration of war. In support of their mutual defence treaty obligations with Poland, France and Great Britain issued ultimatums to Hitler for the immediate withdrawal of German forces from Poland. When the deadlines expired, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 2, 1939. Germany had Italy and Japan on its side, and were known as the Axis powers.

Why is December 7, 1941 considered a decisive date in World War II?
Pearl Harbor, on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii, was attacked by the Japanese Imperial Navy, on December 7, 1941. The surprise attack was masterminded by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. On December 8, 1941 the United States -- until then neutral in World War II -- formally declared that a state of war existed between the United States and the Japanese empire. Some historians believe the United States presence helped changed the Allies' (as the forces fighting the German, Italian and Japanese armies were known) fortunes.