The UK had suffered greatly after the First World War in terms of lives lost, financial cost, and damaged infrastructure. Therefore, when Germany invaded the Sudetenland in western Czechoslovakia, the United Kingdom followed a policy of appeasement and signed the Munich Pact. This allowed Germany to legally annex the Sudetenland; however, they did not stop there and set their sights on further expansion in central Europe.

When Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, the UK stood by its promise to defend Polish borders and declared war on Germany two days later. Mobilization of troops was slow though, and Poland fell within a month. Germany then turned its sights on Denmark and Norway in the north and Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands in the west. When Germany invaded France, the United Kingdom created the Local Defence Army to protect the home front in addition to the Army, the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Navy and Marines.

Within a couple months, Germany had captured much of northern and western Europe using what they called Blitzkrieg, or lightning war. On July 10, 1940, the Battle of Britain began. Germany sent numerous planes to attack British aircraft carriers, factories, and airfields in order to damage the RAF before they could get further involved in the war. The UK resisted the attacks and caused significant damage to the German Luftwaffe. Before the battle ended, Germany changed tactics. Beginning September 7, German pilots conducted a massive bombing raid on London. The blitzkrieg attacks destroyed many homes, killed numerous civilians, and led many parents to send their children to live in the country with grandparents, aunts and uncles, or anyone else far from the targeted cities. Towards the end of the war, Germany began to use the V1 and V2 rockets against the United Kingdom. These long-range missiles caused significant structural damage and civilian casualties.

After resisting the blitzkrieg, the UK prepared to go on the offensive. With the United States and Canada, they created Operation Overlord, the plan to storm the beaches of Normandy and take back France. The Allies spent months stockpiling weapons and troops and feeding Nazi informants false information to distract them. Then, on June 6, 1944, UK and Canadian forces stormed Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches in the largest amphibious assault of the war. Despite significant losses, the Allies were able to capture Normandy and move toward Paris, the Nazi-occupied capital. They then turned their sights on Germany.

With a final offensive, German forces attempted to resist the Allied invasion. For almost six weeks, neither side gained ground in the Battle of the Bulge. The forested Ardennes made it difficult to advance, but the Allies were victorious and began a march toward Berlin. During this time, Allied forces discovered the atrocities of the Holocaust. They learned of the mass killings and internment of Jews, ethnic minorities, Soviet citizens, and many other groups against whom Hitler discriminated.

In April 1945, Soviet forces arrived in Berlin, and Hitler committed suicide. Without a leader and with enemies on all sides, Germany surrendered to the Allies on May 8, 1945, which is now celebrated as V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. Three months later, the war ended when Japan surrendered on August 15th (V-J, Victory in Japan) Day.

The United Kingdom lost more than 300,000 soldiers and 60,000 civilians during WWII. Thousands of these soldiers were held as prisoners of war by Germany and Japan and received harsh treatment from their captors. Veterans, both living and dead were honored for their sacrifices with medals and awards.

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