When did World War 2 begin and end? — It began on September 1, 1939 (Germany invades Poland) and ended on September 2, 1945 (Japan's formal surrender).

What were the main causes of WW2? — The rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism, the failures of the Treaty of Versailles, global economic depression, appeasement policy, and extreme nationalism.

Who were the Allied Powers in WW2? — Primarily the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, France, and China.

Who were the Axis Powers in WW2? — Germany, Italy, and Japan.

What was Hitler's full title and party? — Adolf Hitler was Führer (leader) of Germany and head of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party).

What was the invasion of Poland (September 1, 1939)? — Germany's blitzkrieg (lightning war) attack on Poland. Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later, officially starting WW2.

What was Blitzkrieg? — German for "lightning war" — a fast, coordinated military tactic using tanks, aircraft, and motorized infantry to overwhelm enemies before they could respond.

What was the Battle of Britain (1940)? — An air campaign where Germany's Luftwaffe tried to destroy Britain's Royal Air Force. Britain's successful defense prevented a German invasion.

What was Operation Barbarossa (June 1941)? — Germany's massive invasion of the Soviet Union — the largest military operation in history. It ultimately failed, leading to catastrophic German losses.

What was Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)? — A surprise Japanese air attack on the US naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing 2,403 Americans. It caused the United States to enter WW2.

What was the Holocaust? — The systematic, state-sponsored genocide by Nazi Germany of six million Jewish people, along with millions of others including Roma, disabled people, and political prisoners.

What were concentration camps? — Facilities built by Nazi Germany where millions of Jewish people and others were imprisoned, used for forced labor, and murdered — including Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Dachau.

What was the Battle of Stalingrad (1942–1943)? — A turning point on the Eastern Front. Soviet forces surrounded and defeated a German army, ending Germany's advance into the Soviet Union.

What was the Battle of Midway (June 1942)? — A decisive naval battle in the Pacific where the US destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers, turning the tide against Japan.

What was D-Day (June 6, 1944)? — The Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France at Normandy beaches. The largest seaborne invasion in history, involving 156,000 Allied troops in one day.

What was VE Day? — Victory in Europe Day — May 8, 1945 — marking Germany's unconditional surrender and the end of WW2 in Europe.

What were the atomic bombings of Japan? — The USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9), 1945. An estimated 110,000–210,000 people died, leading to Japan's surrender.

What was VJ Day? — Victory over Japan Day — August 15, 1945 — when Japan announced its surrender, ending WW2. The formal signing was September 2, 1945.

How many people died in World War 2? — An estimated 70–85 million people died — approximately 3% of the world's 1940 population — making it the deadliest conflict in human history.

What was the Nuremberg Trials? — Post-war military tribunals (1945–1946) held to prosecute Nazi Germany's leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

What was the Manhattan Project? — The top-secret US research program that developed the first nuclear weapons. Led by physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, it produced the atomic bombs dropped on Japan.

What was Operation Overlord? — The codename for the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Western Europe, beginning with D-Day on June 6, 1944.

What was the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944)? — Germany's last major offensive on the Western Front. Despite initial success, Germany failed and suffered massive losses, accelerating the end of the war.

What was the Lend-Lease Act (1941)? — A US policy allowing America to supply Britain, the Soviet Union, and other Allied nations with food, oil, and military equipment before the US officially entered the war.

What international organization was created after WW2? — The United Nations (UN), established in 1945 to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars — replacing the failed League of Nations.

What was the Pacific Theater in WW2? — The area of WW2 combat in the Pacific Ocean and Asia, primarily between the United States and Japan, including battles at Midway, Iwo Jima, and the Philippines.

What was the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (1943)? — The largest Jewish resistance against the Nazis during the Holocaust. Jewish fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto held off German forces for nearly a month before being overwhelmed.

Who was Winston Churchill? — Prime Minister of Britain (1940–1945) during most of WW2, known for his powerful speeches and determination that helped Britain survive the German onslaught.

What was the significance of the Battle of El Alamein (1942)? — Allied victory in North Africa that stopped the German advance toward Egypt and the Suez Canal, marking a major turning point in the North African Campaign.

What agreement was made at the Yalta Conference (1945)? — Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin agreed on the post-war reorganization of Europe, including free elections in liberated countries and the division of Germany.