World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a huge fight that happened a long time ago. Many countries, like Great Britain, were part of it, mostly in Europe. It all started when Germany attacked Poland, but there were other reasons too.
Adolf Hitler, a famous leader, and his Nazi Party wanted to control Europe. Great Britain and France joined the war to stop Hitler. The war went on for six years, and finally, Hitler was defeated, but sadly, many people lost their lives during this time.
World War Two was a really important thing that happened in the past, and we still feel sad about the many people who died. Even now, in the 21st Century, lots of kids, teachers, and parents might know someone who was part of the war. Its effects are still noticeable today.
Cool Facts About World War 2 | World War second facts 2024
When did World War Two begin and end?
World War Two began on September 3, 1939, and it officially ended on September 2, 1945. However, in many places, the fighting stopped before this date.
Which countries were involved in World War Two?
In World War Two, there were two big groups of countries fighting: the Allies and the Axis. The Allies included places like Great Britain, France, Russia, China, Australia, and the USA. The main Axis powers were Germany, Italy, and Japan. Leaders for the Allies were Winston Churchill, Franklin D Roosevelt, Charles de Gaulle, and Joseph Stalin. For the Axis, the main leaders were Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Hideki Tojo.
What caused the beginning of World War Two?
- After World War One, Germany had to shrink its military and pay a lot of money because of the Treaty of Versailles. This made Germany face financial problems.
- In the 1920s, a guy named Adolf Hitler created the Nazi Party. They believed Germany needed more land, Germans should live together, and the Treaty of Versailles was unfair. They also thought some people were better than others, with Jews considered inferior.
- Hitler became Germany’s leader in 1933 and started building up the military. Germany began attacking other countries.
- On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Because of an agreement, the UK and other countries declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.
20 Interesting Facts About World War 2
- More than 70 countries were part of WW2 from 1939 to 1945.
- Around 75 to 85 million people died in World War II, with 26 million being soldiers and 59 million civilians.
- 473 people were given the Medal of Honor for their actions in WW2.
- The first person who lost their life in WW2 was Franciszek Honiok, a Polish man.
- Jeannette Rankin was the only Congress member to vote against the US going to war after the Pearl Harbor attack.
- About 17.6 million people were killed during the Holocaust.
- The youngest British soldier to die in WW2 was Reginald Earnshaw, just 14 years old.
- The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the biggest naval battle, involving over 200,000 military personnel and 300 ships.
- Hiroo Onoda, the last Japanese soldier from WW2, surrendered in 1974, almost 30 years after the war.
- The deadliest battle was the Battle of Stalingrad, with around 2 million casualties in 5 months.
- The oldest known WW2 soldier was Nikolai Morozov, serving as a sniper at 88.
- WW2 cost about $1.3 trillion, the most expensive war in history.
- William Hitler, Adolf’s half-nephew, served in the US Navy against his uncle and changed his name to “Stuart-Houston.”
- M&Ms were first sold to the US Army during WW2 and became available to the public after the war.
- The United States spent about $285 billion on WW2, equivalent to $4.6 trillion today.
- The Soviet Union had the biggest army in WW2, mobilizing 21 million troops.
- Over 10% of the Soviet Union’s population before the war was lost in WW2.
- Eight US Presidents were WW2 veterans, including Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush.
- The Second World War in Africa ended when Axis forces surrendered in Tunisia in May 1943.
- 182 Victoria Cross medals were awarded to British and Commonwealth soldiers for bravery during WW2.
World War 2 had many big fights, unlike World War 1 that happened mainly in trenches. In WW2, they used Navy, Air Force, and Armies with bombs, missiles, and tanks that destroyed a lot.
Here are some of the main fights:
- Battle of Britain
- Pearl Harbor
- Battle of Berlin
- D-Day
- Battle of Stalingrad
After six years of fighting, the Allies won World War 2 when Germany surrendered. But the war continued in some places like the USA and Japan. Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945, officially ending the war for all countries.
The Victoria Cross is given to heroes in the armed forces for being extremely brave. In World War 2, 182 heroes received this award.
When did World War Two begin and end?
World War Two began on September 3, 1939, and it officially ended on September 2, 1945. However, in many places, the fighting stopped before this date.
Which countries were involved in World War Two?
The Allies included places like Great Britain, France, Russia, China, Australia, and the USA. The main Axis powers were Germany, Italy, and Japan.
