It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million people serving in military units. It involved the vast majority of the world's nationsâ€”including all of the great powersâ€”eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis.

World War II ( WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945.

Emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowersĮurope Poland Phoney War Winter War Denmark & Norwayįrance & Benelux Britain Balkans Yugoslav Front Eastern Front Finland Western Front (1944â€“45) Asia & The Pacific China Pacific Ocean South-East Asia South West Pacific Japan Manchuria (1945) Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre North Africa East Africa Mediterranean Sea Adriatic Malta Iraq Syria-Lebanon Iran Italy Dodecanese Southern France Other campaigns Atlantic Arctic Strategic Bombing America French West Africa Madagascar Contemporaneous wars Chinese Civil Sovietâ€“Japanese Border Frenchâ€“Thai Ili RebellionĠ-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.

Clockwise from top left: Chinese forces in the Battle of Wanjialing, Australian 25-pounder guns during the First Battle of El Alamein, German Stuka dive bombers on the Eastern Front winter 1943â€“1944, US naval force in the Lingayen Gulf, Wilhelm Keitel signing the German Instrument of Surrender, Soviet troops in the Battle of Stalingradġ September 1939 ( ) â€“ 2 September 1945 ( ) ( 70006000000000000006 years, 70001000000000000001 day)Įurope, Pacific, Atlantic, South-East Asia, China, Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa, briefly North and South America

1944 battle of tannenberg line