World War 2 Facts and Figures

World War Two, the global conflict of 1939-1945, was the greatest and most destructive war in history. Whereas military operations in World War I were conducted primarily on the European continent, World War 2 included gigantic struggles not only in Europe but in Asia, Africa, and the far-flung islands of the Pacific as well. More than 17 million members of the armed forces of the various belligerents perished during the conflict. Its conduct strained the economic capabilities of the major nations and left many countries on the edge of collapse.

The events leading to World War II, its military operations, diplomacy, statistical data, and results, are discussed under the following headings

World War 2 Information in Brief
Between World Wars
Early Campaigns of WW2
Fall of the Low Countries and France
Recovery of France and Advance into Germany
German Invasion of the USSR
Balkan Campaigns
Mediterranean Operations
WW2 in the Southern and Southwestern Pacific
WW2 in the Central and Northern Pacific
WW2 in Eastern Asia
Developments in Naval Warfare
Developments in Air Warfare
Diplomatic History of World War Two
Postwar World
World War 2 Timeline
Costs, Casualties, and Other Data