Culture & sport · Updated September 2026
World War II facts
World War II ran from 1939 to 1945 in Europe (Asia’s war began earlier). Allies vs Axis, why 8 May and 2 September are remembered, and that this is a facts sheet — not a film.
In Europe, World War II is dated from 1 September 1939 (Germany’s invasion of Poland) to 8 May 1945 (Victory in Europe). Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945; the formal surrender was 2 September 1945 — the date many Pacific histories use as the end.
The main Axis powers were Germany, Italy and Japan. The main Allies were the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, the Soviet Union, the United States, China and the governments-in-exile of occupied Europe. Alliances shifted (Italy changed sides in 1943).
The Holocaust was the genocide of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, alongside millions of other victims. The United Nations was founded in 1945 in the war’s shadow. This page is a date-and-alliance sheet for searchers, not a full history course.
World War II facts — key facts (2026)
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| Europe start (usual) | 1 September 1939 |
| VE Day | 8 May 1945 |
| Japan formal surrender | 2 September 1945 |
| Axis (core) | Germany, Italy, Japan |
| Allies (core) | UK, USSR, USA, China, plus many others |
| US entered after | Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941 |
| UN founded | 1945 |
| Not the same as WWI | 1914–1918 — a different war |
Figures are the usual classroom and news-desk numbers for 2026. Border disputes and membership votes can change a count by one or two.
People also ask
When did World War 2 start and end?
Europe: 1939–1945. The wider Asian war between Japan and China began in 1937. Formal end with Japan: 2 September 1945.
Who were the Allies and Axis?
Axis: Germany, Italy, Japan (core). Allies: UK and Commonwealth, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others.
Why did the US join?
After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the US declared war. Germany then declared war on the US.