- 3 months ago
World War II was a significant event in world history that involved more than 30 countries. The conflict started when Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland in 1939. This aggression prompted Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany. But what actually happened during the War? Which countries were taking part in it? Watch this video with Dhruv Rathee to find out as he explains in detail the events of World War 2.
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00Hello friends, World War II has been the most dreadful war in the history of mankind.
00:09Many big cities were completely destroyed. London, Tokyo, Habsburg, Berlin. Today,
00:15almost all geopolitical events and international relations can be traced back to this one war.
00:21I have told you many small stories of World War II in my old videos, friends. But in today's video,
00:26let's understand it in depth. What exactly happened from the beginning to the end?
00:32Why did it happen and what was its impact?
00:44This is the complete story of World War II, the difficult single ultimately vaster treaty
00:50starting World War II in 1939 held against Hitler and Hitler.
00:56Begins our story from the year 1919. This was the year in which World War I ended and a famous
01:12peace treaty was signed which is called the Treaty of Versailles. There was a very important clause in
01:18this treaty, Article 231, which stated that Germany was responsible for all the losses incurred in World
01:25War I. This clause is also called the war guilt clause because it basically said that this war
01:31took place between whichever countries, the fault was of Germany alone. Actually, France and Britain
01:36wanted Germany to pay a huge cost for losing this war and they wanted Germany to compensate for all
01:42their losses. The result was that according to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was asked to pay a
01:48fine of 33 billion dollars to other countries. This is 70 billion dollars in today's money.
01:55This is so much money that you won't believe that Germany made the last payment for this money in
02:00the year 2010. It took almost 100 years and you will wonder where does this money come from?
02:06Obviously it comes from the country, from the people. The first payment of this money is made by
02:11Germany in the year 1921 and immediately after that, Germany witnesses a massive hyperinflation.
02:21The currency of Germany at that time was the German mark. It devalued so fast that you won't
02:26believe it. In the year 1922, the cost of a packet of bread in Berlin was 1160 marks. Next year in 1923,
02:34the cost of the same packet of bread was 200 billion marks. Obviously, the economy was completely
02:39destroyed and unemployment started increasing rapidly. In such circumstances, Adolf Hitler enters
02:45our story. A young political leader who knew very well how to fool the public through his speeches.
02:51In the year 1923, Hitler's Nazi party tries to overthrow the German government by coup.
02:58Although this attempt fails, Hitler's popularity among the people increases further due to this.
03:03Rumors are spread among the people that Germany is facing this embarrassment.
03:12This international humiliation of Germany is because of the anti-national elements living
03:16in the country. People were very upset. It was easy to mislead people. Hitler says that it is the
03:22fault of the Jews and socialists who have started living in the country. Germany's name has been defamed
03:27because of them. In the next 10 years, propaganda is used extensively. The media is bought.
03:32Provocative speeches are seen. I will not go into much detail about this because I had talked about
03:37it in the video on Rise of Hitler. If you have not seen it, I will put the link in the description
03:41below. The Great Depression is also seen in the year 1929, due to which the condition of
03:47unemployment becomes worse. In 1933, 6 million people are unemployed in Germany. Many people became
03:53homeless. Children are dying due to hunger. As a result, in 1933, Hitler declared himself the dictator
04:00of Germany. After taking full control, Hitler set out to fulfill his dream of a German empire.
04:06A German kingdom, a state that would be racially pure. Only people of the Aryan race would live
04:12here. There is no place here for Jews and Slavic people. A conspiracy theory of Judeo-Bolshevism is
04:18created to spread hatred among people. According to this conspiracy theory, the Russian revolution that
04:23took place in 1917 was actually done by Jews, due to which the Soviet Union was formed. In 1935,
04:30the rest of the world came to know that Germany has its own air force. You will ask what is the
04:35big deal in this? Every country has its own air force. But in the Treaty of Versailles, friends,
04:40this condition was written that Germany cannot have its own military. In this way, Hitler was violating
04:45the Treaty of Versailles in a very open manner. But at this point of time many people in Britain felt
04:50that what was written in the Treaty of Versailles was very unfair to Germany. We are charging them
04:55so much money. Look what the condition of their country has become because of this. And then it
04:58is also written that the country cannot even have its own military. We should not do so much.
05:03In June 1935, Britain signs the Anglo-German Naval Agreement. Under this, it is formally recognized
05:09that Hitler has the right to create his own navy. Germany can have its own navy. But seeing Germany's
05:15increasing militarization, France becomes alert. France builds a 450 kilometers long fortification
05:22on its eastern border. It is named the Maginot Line. In the year 1938, when Hitler feels that his
05:29military is ready, he casts his first glance on the neighboring country Austria. Austria was a must-have
05:36country for Hitler. He wanted all German-speaking countries to remain as one country. The real motive
05:42here was not only to occupy other countries for pride but also to use the resources of other
05:47countries to advance his country. Hitler wanted to give Lebanon and living space to the people of
05:54his Aryan race whom he considered racially superior so that they could live freely. In February 1938,
06:01Hitler meets Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schnick. An agreement is signed forcibly. Under this agreement,
06:09Hitler gives place to Nazi people in the Austrian government. The Austrian government is infiltrated
06:15by appointing his men. For example, Dr. Hans Fischberg was to be made the new finance minister of Austria.
06:21He was a Nazi and he would release all the other Nazis imprisoned in jail. Within a month, things go out of
06:28control. The Austrian Chancellor feels that if we really have to stop the infiltration, then why not ask the
06:35public whether Austria wants to remain an independent country or join the Nazis and become one country.
06:42A national vote should be held on this matter. As soon as Hitler comes to know about this national vote,
06:47Hitler immediately takes his army and marches inside Austria. The German military enters the city of
06:53Vienna. The Austrian Chancellor did not want any bloodshed. He resigns from his seat. Hitler spreads fake
06:59news through his propaganda ministry that riots are starting in Vienna. Riots are taking place and
07:04communists are responsible for these riots. That is why the Austrian government has called our army so
07:10that we can protect the country. The very next day the Austrian parliament is dissolved and Austria is
07:15no longer an independent country. This invasion is successful without any bloodshed. A big reason behind
07:22this was that at this time there were many people in Austria who were actually in favor of Hitler
07:26because they too were victims of propaganda. They thought that Hitler's venture was a good thing.
07:31The country would become a superpower in this way. After capturing Austria, Hitler's eyes fell on the
07:37next country, Czechoslovakia. Now there was a region on the border of Czechoslovakia,
07:42Sudetenland Gravyk. Out of the people living here, about 30 lakh people were Germans.
07:48Hitler used this point as an excuse saying that this region should be ours for sure because Germans live
07:53here. Here British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain enters our story. He did not want another war under any
08:00circumstances. He thought that if we give Hitler what he is asking for, he will sit quietly. There
08:06will be no war. Due to this reason, a Munich agreement was signed in September 1938. The
08:15settlement of the Czech problem which has now become a thing is in my view only the two to a
08:19larger settlement in which there is peace in all of Europe. Under this, this region of suit and land
08:27should be given to Germany. But on the other hand, Hitler should promise that there will be no war
08:32here. Hitler happily takes this piece of Czechoslovakia for himself. But it does not take even
08:37a year to break this Munich agreement. In March 1939, Hitler takes his army and invades the remaining
08:44Czechoslovakia. There is a little fight here for the first time. But the German army wins it very
08:49easily and the country is split into two. One part is included in the German territory. One part of the
08:56country and the other is made a Nazi client state. A puppet government is formed by the name of
09:01Slovak Republic. British Prime Minister Chamber has to face a lot of criticism because of this.
09:06Winston Churchill had famously said at this point of time, you are given the choice between war and
09:12dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war. Hitler's eyes now fall on the next country which is
09:18Poland. To capture Poland, Hitler very cleverly signs a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union.
09:25In the year 1939, on the surface, it would seem that Hitler hated the Soviet Union and the communists.
09:32How did he do this? The only reason behind this was to invade Poland. The Soviet Union also wanted a
09:37part of Poland. So in this situation, the interests of both the countries matched each other. On the 1st of
09:42September 1939, about 10 lakh German troops start moving towards Poland. They are planning to attack
09:48from both the north and the south. At this time, the rest of the countries are surprised to see this.
09:54UK and France feel that this is crossing the limit. If Hitler continues to capture one country after
09:59another in this manner, then our turn will come next. What will happen to the world? We cannot tolerate
10:04any more. UK gives an ultimatum to Hitler. If he attacks Poland, we will declare war against Germany.
10:11Hitler ignores this ultimatum. Due to which UK officially declares war against Germany.
10:19After this, France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada also declare war on Germany.
10:26UK Prime Minister Neville Chambers broadcasts an announcement on radio.
10:31A state of war would exist between us.
10:34I have to tell you now that no true undertaking has been received and finally this country is at war
10:40with Germany. But at this point of time, friends, World War II had not actually started here.
10:47This period is called funny war. Funny war means a fake war. For the sake of saying,
10:53all these countries had declared war on Germany. But none of these countries gave military support to
10:59Poland. And Poland's own army was very old-fashioned. They still used horses in their army. They could not
11:06stand against Germany's military strategies at all and neither Britain nor France could come to their
11:11rescue. About 13 lakh people were mobilized on behalf of Poland. But it did not take even a week for the
11:16German army to defeat them. On the 8th of September 1939, German troops capture Poland. Friends, it is worth
11:24mentioning here about Hitler's revolutionary warfare strategy which was called Blitzkruz. With its help,
11:30Hitler successfully invaded many countries. There was a military strategy in which the focus was on
11:36speed and stealth. We will invade other countries so fast using tanks that others will not even get a
11:43chance to think. Then our air force will come from above which was called Luftwaffe and the invasion
11:49will happen at a lightning speed. The word Blitzkruz means lightning in German. Hitler's focus was to
11:55fight the smallest wars. They should fight such a war that it ends as quickly as possible. It doesn't
12:00even take a week to maintain this brilliant scream. German soldiers were also given drugs.
12:06You heard it right. A drug called Pervidin was very common which we know today as crystal meth.
12:14Confidential military communications reveal the suspected drug to supercharge them.
12:20They had no idea what it was. When this drug is taken, your fatigue goes away. You don't need to
12:28sleep at night. Your hunger and thirst reduce. You feel less pain and a strange confidence comes
12:34inside you. Giving such drugs to soldiers proved to be very beneficial, although it would be very
12:39harmful for their long-term health. But in the short term it is very useful to win this battle.
12:45The soldiers on the other side would waste their time sleeping at night, but German soldiers can finish
12:50the job in just two-three days by working day and night. Further in the story you will see how successful
12:56blitzes military strategy proved to be for Germany. Coming back to Poland, Poland was not only invaded
13:02by Hitler but also by the Soviet Union. After the defeat, Poland was partitioned into two. Half of it
13:10went to Nazi Germany and the other half to the Soviet Union. The Soviets gave their logic that before the
13:16Russian Revolution, this area was actually Soviet. That is why they deviate from it. But from the Soviet
13:21perspective, there was another country which was a part of the Russian Empire before 1917.
13:27This country was Finland. Stalin was afraid that Germany would now invade Finland and Stalin did
13:32not trust Hitler that much. The biggest problem in this was that the city of Leningrad where Stalin
13:38lived was only 50 kilometers away from the Finnish border. If Finland was actually occupied by Nazi
13:44Germany, it would have come very close to Stein's house. That is why we should wait before Hitler comes
13:50and takes over Finland. Soviet Union asks Finland to give it its territory. Finland obviously refuses
13:57and Soviet again launches military action against Finland in November 1939. This battle was also a
14:04very imbalanced battle. Soviet Union's army was much bigger than Finland's. Their equipment was also much
14:11better. But this battle goes on for more than two months and Soviet is not able to move much ahead.
14:16Finally, this battle ends in March 1940 and a Moscow peace treaty is signed under which Finland gives 11%
14:24of its land to Soviet Union. Meanwhile, Hitler's eyes were actually not on Finland but on Norway and
14:33Denmark. In April 1940, Hitler prepares his plans on how to take control of Norway and Denmark.
14:39On the 9th of April 1940, Hitler uses his blitzkrieg strategy to invade Norway and Denmark.
14:48This war also does not last long. Both are very small countries. How will they be able to compete against
14:53the German army? The Norwegian government escapes to London to save its life and a government in exile is
15:00formed in London. Hitler sets up his puppet pro-Nazi government in Norway. Britain's Prime Minister Neville
15:07Chamberlain accepts his failure. Failure that he could not save so many countries around him from
15:13the Nazi invasion. Due to this, on the 10th of May 1940, he resigns from the position of Prime Minister.
15:20I as an audience accept the gratitude to my friend and colleague Mr. Winston Churchill the task of a new
15:31administration on a national basis. The responsibility of sitting on the Prime Minister's chair now goes to
15:41the infamous Winston Churchill. On the same day, the 10th of May, Hitler launches an attack against the
15:46countries of France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. This was a declaration of an all-out war.
15:52Everyone could see that Hitler was not going to stop now. At the beginning of the video I told how
15:57France had built its magnet line. They were already afraid that Hitler might attack their country,
16:02so they started building a wall on the border. Now French troops go and stand near this wall to
16:08protect their country. The fog of Hohl and Belgium like that of Poland, Czechoslovakia and will be decided
16:15by the victory of the British Empire. Elite forces are standing on the borders of Belgium and Luxembourg
16:22to protect these countries. Hitler uses his trademark blitzkrieg strategy. More than a thousand fighter
16:29bomber airplanes. The German army had about 30 lakh people on the ground for offense. This battle is
16:35called the Battle of France. German troops are divided into three groups A, B and C. Group B's job
16:42was to attack the Netherlands and then go to Belgium and fight with the elite forces.
16:48Group C's job was to attack the Maginot Line and you will ask what was Group A's plan.
16:53Group A actually had a master plan. Group C's attack on the Maginot Line was just a distraction so that
16:59Group A could secretly carry out its master plan. Entering France through the Ardennes Forest.
17:06This forest was a large forest which French military experts believed was like a large fortress.
17:11The German army would never come through this forest because it would be very difficult to come.
17:15They did not expect at all that the German army would exactly come through this forest.
17:20Using more than 400 military vehicles, Group A enters through this forest.
17:25On the 15th of May 1940, they capture Sedan and travel to the north.
17:31The British army and French army soldiers who were actually fighting in Belgium with Group B were
17:36shocked to see that such a large force had suddenly come from behind them.
17:41These soldiers are surrounded from three directions by the Nazi army.
17:45There is only one way to escape, that is towards the sea.
17:49Near the port of Dunkirk and from there they plan to escape.
17:54What happens in Dunkirk was a historic turning point in the story of World War II.
17:58What happened was that about 4 lakh elite troops were stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk.
18:03When I am using the word elite, it basically means the British and French army.
18:09The group of countries that were fighting against Hitler, their coalition is called allies and
18:13those who were fighting with Hitler are called access powers.
18:17So it was very important to save these elite soldiers on time because the Nazi army was advancing
18:22there very fast.
18:24They had no way to escape.
18:26They could evacuate only through the sea.
18:28If not done on time, 4 lakh troops will be killed here.
18:31Britain and France will suffer a huge blow.
18:34Maybe they will lose their country forever.
18:37Winston Churchill makes a plan to evacuate these soldiers.
18:40Operation Dynamo is launched on the 26th of May 1940.
18:45The biggest evacuation till date in the history of military history.
18:48On the ground, the German army had almost reached the beach.
18:51They were firing on the troops.
18:53In the sky, the German air force was attacking the beach.
18:57Christopher Nolan has a big historical film named Dunker which depicts the events that
19:01happened here very well.
19:03In this film, the focus is on three places of evacuation.
19:06First, the counterattack of the British Royal Air Force.
19:10The British Air Force covers the allied soldiers who are coming here to rescue them.
19:15Protect them.
19:15Second, there are some private fishing boats present in the English Channel.
19:19These are ordinary civilian people who set out to help in the evacuation.
19:23And third, the story that is going on on the beach of Dunker.
19:26People are trying to save themselves.
19:28They are helping each other.
19:36On the 4th of June 1940, about 3.5 lakh soldiers are successfully evacuated.
19:42As you must have seen in the film.
19:44But the bad news is that most of the military equipment of the allied forces is destroyed
19:49in this evacuation.
19:51A few days later, on the 2nd of June 1940, France surrenders to Hitler.
19:56At this point of time, Italy was also ruled by a dictator named Mussolini.
20:01He forms an alliance with Hitler to wage war against France.
20:05The alliance formed between Italy and Germany is called Pack of Steel.
20:09These two countries declare war against France and Britain on the 10th of June.
20:14So by July 1940, the situation is such that Hitler has captured almost all the countries
20:20around him.
20:21Austria, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France.
20:27At this point of time, only three big countries are left in Europe.
20:31Hitler's Germany, Britain and Soviet Union.
20:33There is a peace agreement between Germany and Soviet Union, so Hitler has no need to
20:38fear the Soviet Union.
20:40Soviets will never attack Germany.
20:42Britain is the only country now that stands against Germany.
20:46You will ask what about America?
20:47America has not been involved in World War II, friends.
20:51America has kept its hands behind because after what happened in World War I, America said
20:56that I have no interest.
20:57Whatever happens in Europe, I will keep my hands away from here.
21:00So it is very clear that if the fighting is stopped at this time, then Hitler has won
21:05this war.
21:06Hitler has such a big upper hand.
21:09So how does it happen that the situation turns and Britain is able to defeat Germany?
21:16We should fight all over the landing ground.
21:19We should fight in the field and in the streets.
21:24We should fight in the hills.
21:26We should never surrender.
21:28Friends, we will talk about this story in the next video of part 2 of World War II.
21:34I know what you guys are thinking.
21:35You will think what did he say?
21:37Now the next video will come after who knows how many months.
21:40Don't worry, I will not leave you in suspense for long because this time both the videos
21:44were made together and edited together.
21:47Till then you can watch this video in which I have explained how Hitler used propaganda to
21:52brainwash the people of Germany.
21:54Basically how Hitler took power in his hands.
21:57There is a very interesting angle of Albert Einstein in this story as well.
22:00So you can watch by clicking here.
22:02See you in the next video.
22:04Thank you very much.
Recommended
5:20
|
Up next
49:34
20:59
21:42
28:25
5:55
51:47
2:04
52:01
Comments
1