World War II
Definition
World War II was a global conflict that took place from 1939 to 1945, involving many of the world's nations divided into two military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It is considered the most widespread war in history.
Analogy
Think of World War II as an intense, high-stakes game of Risk where nearly every player on the board is involved. The stakes are incredibly high, with each move potentially changing the course of history.
Related terms
Axis Powers: This was an alliance during World War II consisting primarily of Germany, Italy, and Japan who opposed the Allied Powers.
Holocaust: This refers to the genocide during World War II where approximately six million Jews were killed by Nazi Germany.
D-Day Invasion: This was a major turning point in World War II when Allied forces invaded Normandy, France on June 6, 1944.
"World War II" appears in:
Study guides (6)
AP World History: Modern - 7.7 Conducting World War II
AP World History: Modern - 7.9 Causation in Global Conflict
AP World History: Modern - 8.1 Setting the Stage for the Cold War and Decolonization
AP World History: Modern - 8.2 The Cold War
AP World History: Modern - 8.5 Decolonization After 1900
AP World History: Modern - 9.9 Continuity and Change in a Globalized World
Practice Questions (20+)
- All of the following fueled the deadliness of World War II EXCEPT
- What country lost the most lives in World War II?
- Which of the following BEST explains the primary cause of World War II?
- Which of the following BEST explains the impact of the Great Depression on the outbreak of World War II?
- Which of the following BEST explains the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the outbreak of World War II?
- Which of the following BEST explains the role of appeasement in the outbreak of World War II?
- What was the main reason for the failure of the League of Nations to prevent World War II?
- Which of the following was a significant factor contributing to the growth of West African nationalism before World War II?
- Which of the following best explains why European nations engaged in imperialist expansion before World War II?
- Which of the following best characterizes the nature of imperial resistance in Africa and Asia before World War II?
- What were the two primary reasons for the rise of fascist and totalitarian regimes before World War II?
- How did Hitler manage to gain dictatorial powers in Germany prior to World War II?
- Which country successfully implemented export-oriented industrialization post-World War II becoming major economic power?
- How were the causes of World War I different from those of World War II?
- Which event is considered the turning point in decolonization after World War II?
- What is a common result between colonization efforts led by European powers during the Age of Exploration and decolonization movements following World War II?
- What is a primary difference between the causes of World War I and World War II?
- Which event significantly shifted the global balance of power from Europe to the United States and USSR post World War II?
- Which event triggered significant changes in global political landscape post World War II?
- What was an ongoing global trend from late-19th century up until World War II?
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