Four Important People

Hitler-  Adolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers Party) commanding Germany's forces during WWII.  Hitler turned Germany into into a totalitarian fascist state.  He urged to make German larger by demanding some land from Czechoslovakia.  The leaders of Great Britain and France met with Hitler to discuss his demands, and instead of fighting him about it, they granted him control of the land.  Hitler then invaded Poland, thus beginning the Holocaust.

Stalin- General Secretary of the USSR, until his death in 1953.  During World War II, Stalin requested immediate assistance of the Allied nations before the worst of the war with Germany.  Stalin unfortunately knew that they would lose without help.  President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreed to cooperate with Stalin.  In return, Stalin promised to give aid in the war between the US and Japan, once this controversy was over.

Churchill-  Prime Minister of Great Britain, whom led against Nazi Germany.  Churchill hoped to join America in building a post war order that limited Stalin's access to dominate European affairs.  Britain declared war on Nazi Germany when they invaded Poland.  The Soviet Union also invaded Poland around the same time, but Great Britain did not declare war on them.  Churchill figured he had enough on his plate already dealing with Hitler, whom has superior power.

Roosevelt/Truman-  President Franklin D. Roosevelt had gotten America through the Great Depression alone with WWII (besides the last four months of war, due to death).  Roosevelt led America into war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  After Roosevelt's death, Harry Truman took over.  Truman had very little education (high school) and had only served as Vice President for 82 days before FDR's death.  Since Truman served as president, he also served as the Commander and Chief of the US military.  Under Truman's command, two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, ultimately ending WWII.