Within this gallery is a brief summary of the events that preceded, began, and ended the Second World War, beginning with Hitler's rise to power and new social policy, his invasion of Poland, the D-DAY invasion, and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan.
Burning Synagogue, Hulton Archive, 1939-11-10, From the collection of: Getty Images
Following the war, Nazis were notorious for trashing Jewish synagogues, stores, and homes, notably on "Reichskristallnacht", or "Night of broken glass".
These atrocities were met with little to no resistance other than hordes of Jewish masses leaving the country.
Forbidden For Jews, 1941, From the collection of: Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei
One of the key points of Hitler's 1,000-year Reich was ethnic cleansing, beginning with the alleged "Jewish monsters" that were ruining their society.
A bit of history on this topic:
During World War I, a majority of seat-holders within Kaiser Wilhelm's Reich (Empire) were Jewish. After the loss of the war and the introduction of Nazi Socialism, Adolf Hitler directed the blame of Germany's problems, including the loss of the war and the mass amount of reprimandations faced with the Treaty of Versailles.
The Jewish population were the main target for elimination from there on.
German Invasion Of Poland, Pictorial Parade, 1939-09-01, From the collection of: Getty Images
An invasion with no justification other than a madman's dream to provide a place for the Aryan Race to live "in peace and harmony". Hitler invades Poland, only then to divide it between Germany and the Soviet Union.
Sadly, the mistrust of Stalin by Hitler broke their non-aggression pact signed months earlier, ultimately turning a major super-power against the Third Reich. Possibly one of the worst mistakes Hitler made throughout his campaign of Europe.
D-Day Headline, FPG, 1944-06-06, From the collection of: Getty Images
Operation Overlord begins, signaling the beginning of the end for Germany's empire. Hundreds of thousands of American and Canadian troops invade the beaches of Normandy.
Wounded Nazis Rushed With Allied Casualties To Hospitals, United States Navy, 1944, From the collection of: The George C. Marshall Foundation
A more relaxing depiction of rationality between two sides. The importance of human life is universal, combat medics understand and implicate this morality, showing a brighter side to war.
Symbol of American Courage, Samuel Eliot Morison, 1944-06-06, From the collection of: The George C. Marshall Foundation
During the battle on the Normandy beaches, countless acts of heroism and gallantry were shown by numerous and often fatal pushes through lines of fire and bombardment. These men represent honor and bravery in every aspect of the words.
When The Tide Went Out, United States Coast Guard, 1944-06-16, From the collection of: The George C. Marshall Foundation
Following the successful invasion of Nazi Occupied France, days after the beach was taken, thousands of Allied bodies were washed ashore, countless of them either being shot in the water, or even drowning.
"The Big Three" at the Yalta Conference, US government photographer, 1945-02-04/1945-02-11, Original Source: US Department of Defense
The famous shot of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin during the conference that would demand Germany's surrender.
Before Roosevelt's untimely death in the last few months of the war, these three convened with the intentions of hastily ending any conflict.
Japan however, was another issue.
1945-08-09, From the collection of: LIFE Photo Collection
After Germany's surrender on May 7th, 1945, Japan continued to produce propaganda and war efforts within the Pacific.
Even after being pushed into the Japanese mainland, their cities burning to ash with all of the regular bombings, their military being diminished along with it's innocent civilians, Hiro-Hito never gave word of surrender.
On August 6th and 9th that same year, the nuclear bombs "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, driving the Imperial Japanese Army to surrender. The destruction has long been repaired, but the scar on their culture still remains to this very day.
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