When did World War II begin and end?
World War II began on the 1st of September 1939 and ended on the 2nd of September 1945. This global conflict involved nearly every country in the world, mobilizing resources for total war.
Questions about World War II
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who were the main leaders during World War II?
Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany in 1933 after an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the government in 1923. Benito Mussolini seized power in Italy from 1922 to 1925 with a nationalist agenda while General Francisco Franco led Nationalist rebels in the Spanish Civil War.
What major battles occurred during World War II?
Major battles included the Battle of Britain which began in early July 1940 with Luftwaffe attacks on shipping and harbours. The Battle of Stalingrad ended in early February 1943 with German defeat and D-Day occurred on the 6th of June 1944 when Western Allies invaded northern France.
How many people died in World War II?
The death toll exceeded 60 million people making it the deadliest conflict in history. Some 3.3 million Soviet POWs would die in total representing nearly 60% mortality rate.
Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on the 7th of December 1941 neutralizing the United States Pacific Fleet. This event followed earlier actions such as the Mukden incident in 1931 which served as a pretext to invade Manchuria.