The 1930s was a dark period in Europe and Asia... One leading to the most catastrophic war of the modern age.
When the Nazis rose to power in 1933, their leader, Adolf Hitler, turned Germany into the most powerful and strongest military power in Europe, if not the world. Hitler already goes forth with his expansionist policy by marching into the industrial Rhineland, which would be followed by Germany seizing Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938, further worrying the British and the French.
In 1926, with the ascension of Emperor Hirohito, known as Showa, the Empire of Japan would become an incredibly aggressive and militarized society, much like in Germany. Not satisfied with their current possessions of Korea and Taiwan, the now aggressive Japanese military adopts a greater imperial doctrine by invading and seizing Manchuria in 1931. The two conflicts rapidly become closer together, when starting in 1936, Germany and Japan form a strong alliance, promising to assist each other in the case of war with another power, namely the United States or the Soviet Union.
Finally, the Second World War begins in July of 1937, with Imperial Japan's brutal invasion of China. In a series of vicious battles, Japanese forces crush Chinese resistance and seize much Chinese land, and one by one, Chiang Kai Shek's cities fall. While Chinese soldiers kept fighting against the invaders, after seizing the cities of Beiping and Tientsin, the Japanese went on to take Shanghai, where they faced determined opposition by the Chinese army. Once further Chinese ambushes slow down the Japanese advance, the response would be ruthless... For Imperial Japanese troops would savagely ravage the city of Nanking, leaving at least over 250,000 civilians dead... And throughout the war, more atrocities would follow, as the Imperial Japanese army would brutally massacre over twenty million Chinese civilians and destroy much of their homes in a sadistic genocide... Still, the Chinese resisted the Japanese invaders fiercely as Chiang Kai Shek moves his capital to Chungking.
In 1938, the war would heat up, as the Japanese army attempts an incursion North into the Soviet Union. However, after the Russians defeat the Japanese decisively at Khalkhin Gol, the Imperial military decides to move South instead. War also spreads to and heats up in Europe, for as mentioned before, Germany seized Austria and Czechoslovakia, just before they planned to take their next target. In September of 1939, the Germans invade Poland, bringing itself into war with Britain and France. Using fierce Blitzkrieg tactics, Germany gains a string of successes, fiercely beating out British and French forces as the Germans seize Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway and Denmark before the German army then crushes and seizes France. Soon, the Germans also conquer Greece, Yugoslavia and Crete.
In 1941, after Germany conquers most of Europe, due to the failures of Italy, German forces invade North Africa. In a series of fierce battles, the Germans seize much North African territory, while German soldiers keep fighting fiercely and crushing their British opponents across Libya and into Egypt in a string of brilliant victories. German general Erwin Rommel drives to take Cairo and the Suez Canal. Though the fight in the desert would become a sideshow, for later that year, an impatient Hitler breaks his pact with the Soviets, and in the colossal struggle that would follow, Hitler's armies invade the vast Soviet Union and drive forth towards Moscow. In the ferocious fighting, the Germans would conquer most of Eastern Europe, but would be bested by their failures to take Moscow and Leningrad, and as the Russians keep offering determined resistance to the invading German army, the vicious battle of Stalingrad halts the German offensive... It would become apparent that Hitler's invasion of Russia would be his greatest mistake... But sadly, that doesn't stop the Nazis' genocidal intentions for, alongside their persecution of Europe's Jewish population, the Nazis would brutally murder over twenty million Russian civilians.
Still, the defiant Losif Stalin refuses to break to Hitler's ruthless invasion and his Soviet army continues to resist even fiercely. In 1941, general Hideki Tojo becomes Japan's prime minister, and he expands greatly on the aggressive imperial agenda, making further ruthless advances into China. Emboldened by Germany's success and frustrated by America's attempts to curb Japanese aggression, Tojo has the Imperial Navy commence a surprise raid on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, causing an infuriated America to declare war on Japan immediately, which would be followed by Germany declaring war on the United States in return.
While the Germans seized most of Europe and much of North Africa, the Japanese continue expanding into China while still engaging with vicious Chinese resistance to the brutal invasion. Knowing that they have to act quickly after Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces invade and seize French Indochina, Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaya before crushing British forces at Singapore as well as conquering the Philippines. The Japanese also establish bases within the Pacific islands to defend itself from any Allied offensives... Soon, Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor would prove to be their fatal mistake, just as Germany's invasion of Russia.
However, despite the Axis successes, Russia prepares to strike back and crush Germany as America will also strike back and crush Japan... But it would still be a long, ruthless road towards victory... And vengeance... Heroes would then immediately emerge to fight the armies of evil.