June 6 was the anniversary of "D-Day" - the invasion of northern France by the Allies in 1944.
The European portion of World War II war ended in early May of 1945 - just about 1 year after D-Day.
Prominent in the military defeat of Germany were the
Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom (Great Britain and
Commonwealth). Canada (in the Commonwealth) and Poland. France, The
Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Greece, Yugoslavia are some of the other
nations that were "Allies".
The British Commonwealth included Australia, Canada,
India, New Zealand, Pakistan and numerous colonial possessions in
Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. The Republic of Ireland
was neutral, although many Irish citizens joined the British forces.
The United States "colonial empire" included the
Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico. The Philippines (1942) and Guam
(1941) were captured by the Japanese early in the Pacific war when the
United States choose to concentrate on defeating Germany.
Nations that seem to have suffered the most from
German and Japanese aggression include China, Soviet Union, Poland,
Hungary, Czechoslovakia among others. From June of 1940 until mid-1944
France was ruled by the "Vichy" government who choose to cooperate with
Germany - including deportations of people based on race / religion.
Things are tough now - but the United States has
been lucky compared to many nations in the world who have suffered wars,
occupations, genocides and political upheaval.
Note that Japan and Germany are now our "friends".
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