Images from the courageously heroic to the horribly horrific come to mind
when we think of World War II. Visions of exploding nuclear bombs, gas
chambers, and bodies, millions, and millions of bodies are usually the first
things that come to mind while the bravery and selflessness of those who
fought for the freedom of the world follow closely behind. We think of D-
Day, the Holocaust, Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and V-E Day. WWII is an
overwhelming thought and 60 years later people's emotions can still run high
when the topic is addressed. Considering the horrors of the Holocaust, it is
not unusual for people to blame Adolf Hitler and Germany for the entire war
without even a second thought. It is true that Nazi Germany was one of the
wars primary aggressors and it was the Germans who fired the first shot in
the European theatre. However, there is very little about our history that
is so simple and easily explained away. The beginnings of WWII are no
exception. This war was one of the most defining moments in our world's
modern history, indeed it truly did define an entire generation of humans.
Considering the vast importance this war has had on the history of our world
it is important that we dig deep, deeper than simply an understanding of the
fact that people tried to take over the world and many people died
inhorrible ways. We must dig deep so we can truly understand why the
various countries even went to war at all.
Luckily, the world has you! The United Nations has decided that in order to
do everything they can to prevent another world war, it is vital to get to
the bottom of this issue once and for all. Not only the issue of who
started the war, but more importantly the reasons why the individual Allies
and Axis nations involved themselves in the war at all. The U.N. has put
together an international taskforce composed of the world's preeminent
scholars to research and report on this important issue. You just received
an email from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and he has informed you
that YOU are on that taskforce!
