@jopantson: During World War II, from 1939 to 1945, Germany operated under a centralized totalitarian government led by the National Socialist party. The conflict in Europe officially began in September 1939 following the invasion of Poland, which led to declarations of war from Britain and France. Over the next several years, the Berlin-based government expanded its control across much of mainland Europe through rapid military campaigns, while implementing severe state-mandated persecution and discriminatory policies against targeted demographics. The regime's aggressive expansion eventually collapsed under the combined pressure of the Allied powers and Soviet forces, culminating in the Battle of Berlin and the unconditional surrender of German forces in May 1945. #History #education #DeutchesReich