The war happened as a direct result of unresolved conflict from WW1, the Great Depression, failure of appeasement and the League of Nations. War was declared on Germany by Britain and France on 1st September 1939 after the Germans would not stop trying to invade Poland by the Prime Minister of Britain, Neville Chamberlain. The War had ended May 7th 1945 after the Germans had surrendered to the Soviets and about 50 million people lost their lives during World War 2. People went overseas and went into hiding to avoid the conflict of the war. The Soviets had lost 21 million lives after they were taken prisoners by the Nazis and Germany 7 to 9 million with most of the deaths from the Military.10 million Nazis fought in the war from Germany alongside its allies.