World War II, [b] or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945), was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries …

3 days ago · World War II, conflict that involved virtually every part of the world during the years 1939–45. The war was in many respects a continuation, after an uneasy 20-year hiatus, of the …

Oct 29, 2009 · On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland from the west; two days later, France and Britain declared war on Germany, beginning World War II. On September 17, Soviet troops invaded …

In 1945, economic competitors to the United States in Europe and Asia were destroyed or heavily damaged. The U.S. economy (particularly the manufacturing sector) flourished during the war and …

Facts, information, and stories about World War II, the global conflict that killed tens of millions between 1939 and 1945.

Learn more about World War II history through WWII scholarship from The National WWII Museum.

Learn all about the major events of World War II from 1918 to 1942.