# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

World War II saw rapid technological innovation in response to the needs of the various combatants. Many different weapons systems evolved as a result.

Note: This list does not consist of all weapons used by all countries in World War II.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
List of World War II weapons - Wikipedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia World War II saw rapid technological innovation in response to the needs of the various combatants. Many different weapons systems evolved as a result. Note: This list does not consist of all weapons used by all countries in World War II.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The famous broadcast by the British prime minister was delivered shortly after 11am on 3 September, 1939.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Adolf Hitler ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945. He called himself Führer (Leader). Hitler believed that Germans were born to rule over other peoples. This led to World War II....

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Day in the Life Of A 10-Year-Old Evacuee  - Hands on History - BBC

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The bomb was dropped to force a quick Japanese surrender. American commanders said it would save money and the lives of American servicemen and Japanese soldiers and civilians too. They said that to continue the war for weeks or months with conventional bombing and a US land invasion could have caused millions of Japanese deaths.

Retribution against the Japanese

President Truman justified his decision by pointing to the unprovoked Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and the murder of American prisoners. A few days after the bombing he wrote: "When you have to deal with a beast you have to treat him as a beast."

Demonstration of power

The development of the bomb cost billions of dollars, and American leaders wanted to justify the expense. They wanted to demonstrate to the Japanese that they faced overwhelmingly superior forces. They also wanted their new rivals, the Soviet Union, to see their powerful new weapon in action.

Was it a just decision?

In 1945, the idea of just war was firmly established in international law. In a just war, only combatants may be specifically targeted. Harm caused to civilians must be proportional to military ends and any harm caused must be necessary for the achievement of military goals. However, some argue that all citizens contribute to the war effort and can be a legitimate target in some cases.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The nuclear bombing of Japan in 1945 is widely credited with hastening the end of the Second World War. Even if true, was it ethical to drop the bomb?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Adolf Hitler Facts for Kids | Early Life, Military and Political Career, Impact

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Adolf Hitler was a man who played a significant role in history, but for all the wrong reasons. He led the Nazi Party, Started WWII, and killed millions of people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Spitfire played its part in many of the crucial battles of World War Two, giving the RAF a critical edge over the German Luftwaffe.
The ground breaking original design meant the plane could be upgraded with new engines and armaments. As the war progressed so did the Spitfire. After the original designer RJ Mitchell died in 1937, his successor Joe Smith developed the fighter to make it faster and more powerful.

Battle of Britain

In 1940 Hitler sent 2,600 Luftwaffe fighters and bombers to destroy the Royal Air Force. At the start of the battle the RAF only had 640 fighters - Hurricanes and Spitfires - and German commander Herman Goering confidently predicted victory would only take a few days.

Britain stepped up the production of fighter planes, building them faster than Germany. The Hurricanes, with their sturdy frames, took on the bombers. The Mark I Spitfires, with their superior speed and agility, were sent up to shoot down German fighters. By the end of the battle the better organised RAF had defeated the Luftwaffe and downed 1,887 German planes. The RAF lost 1,023 planes.

The tide of the war started to turn. Britain was now a launch pad for future attacks on Germany.

Air battle for Malta

Malta was a key strategic Allied base in World War Two. Axis forces laid siege to the island and attacked British supply ships. By 1942 stocks were running low. The RAF called for reinforcements and over the summer hundreds of Spitfires were shipped in by aircraft carriers.

These improved Spitfire Mark Vs had a top speed of 371mph and were armed with powerful 20mm cannons. The plane proved decisive in gaining air superiority. The siege was broken and Malta became an important base for supplying British troops in Africa and launching future attacks on Italy.

In June 1944 Spitfires played an important part in the biggest seaborne invasion in history as the Allies landed in Normandy and gained a crucial foothold in France.

The latest Spitfire Mark IX had a 1,720 horsepower engine and was equipped with both 20mm cannons and .50 calibre machine-guns. The fighters provided crucial air support for the D-Day landings and many were adapted to be fighter-bombers to carry out attacks on German ground forces.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The spitfire is the most famous plane of WW2. Its groundbreaking design and superior specifications gave the British the critical edge.