Thread:DatAsymptote/@comment-25954732-20160516001058/@comment-3991308-20160517052355

Ah interesting! I haven't taken History at school in literal years, but we touched down mostly on the basics, mostly how the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria was one of the leading factors, because it inspired Mussolini and Hitler to rise in power/invade some nations, resulting in war declarations.

Have you looked at Japanese war crimes, particularly in East Asia and South East Asia yet? They're all absolutely horrific and I'm still highkey disgusted that the Japanese government hasn't owned up to them like the Germany government has owned up to their war crimes. The Nanking Massacre is one of the most well-known (although I should warn you that looking it up, even at a Wikipedia level, is highly triggery, btw). Nanjing, China is my hometown and I've heard enough horror stories from it to last my whole life.

Not specifically World War II, but Fritz Haber, who's name you might recognise from Chemistry stuff like the Born-Haber cycle and whatever, was one of the leading German scientists in the chemical warfare side of things. He's probably more WWI than WWII since he died before WWII but his methods were developed and adapted for the Second World War as well. Obviously he killed a lot of people through chemical warfare, but he also saved a lot of lives and boosted food production through his method of synthesising ammonia for fertilisers, so his existence leads to quite a bit of controversy, even amongst modern-day scientists. [Personally, though, I want to fight him. The Born-Haber cycle, as simple as it is to draw and answer in a chemistry exam, is tedious af.]

Btw, have you considered looking at ANZAC achievements? I know a lot of history books portray the US as "rushing in and saving everyone. Liberty!!!" but we can't erase the work of the Kiwis and the Australians who were protecting the Pacific way before Pearl Harbour and US' declaration of war. New Zealand soldiers fought significant battles in Crimea! And Greece! And our greatest battalion was the 28th Battalion, which was completely composed of Maori soldiers.