World War 2

World War II, beginning with Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939 and ending with the surrender of the Axis powers in 1945, was the deadliest war in history. It was also the most far-reaching, sweeping across Europe and extending to other parts of the globe. Battles took place in a number of diverse environments, from the naval battles of the Coral Sea and Midway Island, to the dense forests of the Pacific Land War, to the inhospitable terrain of the Desert War in North Africa. As forces adapted to the changing circumstances, new tactics and strategies were developed and major advances were made in the various weapons of war.

For instance, air-to-air combat became a major aspect of modern warfare. Equipped with radar, powerful jet engines, and sophisticated missiles, aircraft themselves were transformed into serious weapons.

Amphibious assault also played a large role in the Allied victory, particularly at Iwo Jima against the Japanese, as well as the Normandy Invasion, which marked the beginning of the end for Germany.

Tanks, used mostly to support infantry in WWI, became the most important force in battle during WWII. Tank warfare’s effectiveness was especially demonstrated by the German concept of Blitzkrieg, involving large concentrations of tanks.

Throughout the war, Germany made a number of developments in weaponry, with much lore and speculation surrounding Hitler’s Secret Weapons—particularly V1 rockets, the first cruise missiles; V-2 rockets, the precursor to intercontinental ballistic missiles; and disc-shaped aircraft called “foo fighters,” which resembled UFOs.

Learn more about Germany’s war machine and watch secret weapons testing in this fascinating DVD series. Through videos with expert commentary about each subject, as well as a full-length book complete with photos, maps, and timelines, you can fully explore the following WWII-related topics.