World War II

World War II was the deadliest war in world's history. Deaths are estimated to have been between 50 million and 80 million most of whom were civilians. The Russians suffered the highest number of casualties estimated at 26.6 million. Poland lost over 5.5 million, Germany lost 5.3 million, China lost over 20 million, and the Japanese 3.1 million. United States lost 419,000 and the UK lost 450,000. Among those dead were 6 million Jews killed in campaign by the Nazis to kill all of the Jews of Europe that became known as the Holocaust.


Select one of the sections below to learn details of different years of the war. There is also a section on the Holocaust, personal accounts of the war and government reports of the war.

 

Select the year for details on all the major event of that year.

 

 

1939-40

The War Begins

Germany on the Offensive

1941

Japan Strikes the US

Germany attacks the Soviet Union

1942

Germany and Japan are Stopped

Midway and Stalingrad

1943

Allies go on Offensive

North Africa, Sicily, and Tarawa

1944

Victory Nears

D-Day, Invasion of Philipines

1945

Victory

Germans and Japanese Surrender

1941- 1945

Reports

Reports on Naval Aviation

1941-1945

Personal Stories

Stories of the war