World War II was a global military conflict between 1939 and 1945, which involved most of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. The war involved the mobilization of over 100 million military personnel, making it the most widespread war in history. In a state of "total war," the major participants placed their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities at the service of the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Over seventy million people, the majority civilians, were killed, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.
The start of the war was generally held to be September 1, 1939, with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by most of the countries in the British Empire.
THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM OUR UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES THAT SERVED DURING WORLD WAR II.