World War II
The deadliest conflict in history ran from 1939 to 1945.
About this topic
World War II (1939 to 1945) was the deadliest conflict in history, killing about 70 to 85 million people. It began on September 1, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland using blitzkrieg, lightning war with tanks and planes, and Britain and France declared war. In 1940 Germany conquered France, and Britain survived the Battle of Britain in the air under Churchill. The Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) fought the Allies (Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States, China and others).
Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, and the Soviets turned the tide at Stalingrad (1942 to 1943). Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, bringing the US in. Turning points in the Pacific included Midway (1942). The Allies invaded Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and Germany surrendered in May 1945. After the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, Japan surrendered.
Civilians suffered heavily through bombing, occupation, forced labour and genocide. Home fronts mobilized industry, rationing and women workers, as with Rosie the Riveter. Afterwards the United Nations formed, Germany was divided, Europe was in ruins, and the US and USSR emerged as superpowers, starting the Cold War. Misconception: it was not just Europe; it was a global conflict, and China suffered enormously. Trials at Nuremberg judged Nazi leaders.
Key ideas
- Axis vs Allies
- Pearl Harbor and D-Day
- Ended with atomic bombs
Quick check
Use cases: where World War II helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind World War II before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall World War II without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how World War II changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain World War II in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is World War II?
The deadliest conflict in history ran from 1939 to 1945.
What will I learn in World War II?
Axis vs Allies. Pearl Harbor and D-Day. Ended with atomic bombs.
Is World War II part of World History?
Yes. It is one of 80 World History topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the World War II lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study World War II?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.