In an effort to reclaim land deemed "stolen" from Germany, Adolf Hitler set a course for European domination. In 1939, Germany invaded Poland and started WWII. The German Luftwaffe, (air force), utilized a blitzkrieg (lightening war). Germany then invaded the Soviet Union and after this action, the Soviet Union joined forces with the Allied powers. The Axis powers were largely made up of Germany, Japan, and Italy. The Allied forces were made up largely of the U.S., Britain, and the Soviet Union.
Initially the U.S. only wanted to help the Allies and was not involved in the war, so they implemented the cash and carry program, and the Lend-Lease Act. After the fall of France, Germany tried to defeat Britain with the Blitz, a heavy air bombing campaign of British towns and cities. The U.S.'s neutral stance changed after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the U.S. entered WWII. Germany invaded the Soviet Union and casualties were high. The German invasion of the Soviet Union was the deadliest operation of the war. However, the results of this battle finally put Germany on the defensive.