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 …

May 26, 2026 · 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 …

World War II was fought from 1939 to 1945. Learn more about World War II combatants, battles and generals, and what caused World War II.

Apr 9, 2026 · The most significant events of World War II come to life in this vivid documentary featuring original and colorized footage. 00:00:00 Hitler Strikes East After the unsuccessful attempt to...

By the end of World War I in late 1918, the world's social and geopolitical circumstances had fundamentally and irrevocably changed. The Allies had been victorious, but many of Europe's …

Mar 3, 2026 · Coming in May 2026, The HISTORY Channel's World War II with Tom Hanks is a landmark documentary event that reexamines the war through the lens of a new century.

May 2, 2025 · World War II (WWII) was a long and bloody war that lasted about six years. Officially beginning on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, World War II lasted until both the …

Jul 12, 2026 · About 70 million total soldiers fought on behalf of the Allied or Axis countries. Some scholars argue that the "start" of WWII was in 1937 when Japan invaded China instead of when …