THUS BEGAN THE WORLD WAR II

Abstract

World War II is now at three generations away, and this year, on September 1, it was 83 years since it broke out. The war cast a long and very dark shadow over the second half of the 20th century. The commemoration of his victims continues and the popular fascination with his history is still alive. Unlike the Great War of 1914–1918, the second conflict affected literally the entire world, resulted in around five times as many deaths, and was punctuated by remarkable moments of drama and sacrifice, all of which explain that lingering interest. The chronological distance from this war has, however, allowed historians to think differently about how to describe and define it, how to explain its course, and above all, what topics should now concern us when we think to the experience and consequences of this war

Keywords

• total war
• battle
• danzig
• holocaust
• polish forces
• english diplomacy