The war had many causes, but the most immediate was the invasion of Poland by Germany in September 1939. The United Kingdom and France declared war on Germany in response, and the war began.
The war in Europe ended with the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945. The war in the Pacific ended with the surrender of Japan in August 1945.
Some of the key topics that were discussed during World War II included:
- The war effort: This included discussions about military strategy, the production of war materiel, and the financing of the war.
- The peace: This included discussions about the postwar order, the creation of the United Nations, and the punishment of war criminals.
- The Cold War: This included discussions about the growing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, which would eventually lead to the Cold War.
Throughout the war, world leaders met at a number of conferences to discuss these and other issues. Some of the most important conferences included:
- The Munich Conference: This conference was held in September 1938 and resulted in the Munich Agreement, which allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.
- The Yalta Conference: This conference was held in February 1945 and resulted in the Yalta Agreement, which divided Europe into spheres of influence after the war.
- The Potsdam Conference: This conference was held in July 1945 and resulted in the Potsdam Declaration, which called for the unconditional surrender of Japan.
These conferences were crucial in shaping the course of World War II and determining the postwar world order.