Once the United States and the Soviet Union entered on the Allied side of the war in 1941, the combined economic output of the Allies was approximately twice that of the Axis powers. But the most important factor was economics. The full YouTube animation, available here is even more detailed, with a frame for each day of the war.Ģ) The Allied countries had larger economies, a crucial factor in their triumph Tyson Whiting, data courtesy of Mark HarrisonĪ lot of factors contributed to the ultimate victory of the Allies over the Axis powers. It shows Japanese conquests in the Pacific, German gains in Europe, and then the slow but inexorable Allied effort to recapture the lost territory. This amazingly detailed animated map, by YouTube user Emperor Tigerstar, provides a global view of the conflict. World War II was the biggest conflict in world history, with major battles on three continents and some of the largest naval engagements in history. Here are 42 maps that explain the conflict - how it started, why the Allies won, and how it has shaped the modern world.īackground 1) World War II, animated EmperorTigerstar
Yet the war also spurred rapid technological development, hastened the end of colonialism, and laid the foundation for institutions like the United Nations and the European Union. World War II was a great tragedy, claiming 60 million lives and throwing millions more into turmoil.
