World War II was the deadliest war in history. It was fought on land, at sea, and in the air, for six years, from 1939 to 1945.
At least 15 million people died in combat on three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. Deaths of civilians (people not in the armed forces) were even higher, as bombing raids, disease, and hunger took their toll. More than 6 million European Jews died in death camps and forced labor camps set up by Germany’s Nazi leaders.
Despite its horror, World War II is often called the “good war.” That’s because democratic nations, led by Great Britain and later the United States, battled nations led by brutal dictators (leaders with unlimited power), in Germany, Italy, and Japan.
And Britain, the U.S., and their allies won. They overpowered the enemy with additional troops and increased manufacturing
(production) of ammunition and supplies, especially after the U.S. entered the war. But the price of freedom was high. And the road to victory was long and hard.
