World War 2 Facts for Kids

Proceeding World War 1, was the advent of World War 2 afterward in the year 1939 to 1945. The world was in complete turmoil with listeners far from the main battle hoping and praying for the war to end. It involved many of world's most powerful nations with many country powers stepping in to battle it out, in two opposing alliances known as the Axis and the Allies. There were as many as 70 million people who died at the hands of those who fueled the war, along with others who were subjected to its brutality and widespread impact. There were about a hundred million military personnel involved where that time was labeled as being under total war.

The events that followed pursuit like the Holocaust, the attack on Pearl Harbor and others marked the reality of what World War 2 was about, as being the deadliest of wars to have marked history. In school we learn about the war with mere reference to the casualties and what really went down in those countries, but it is important to stress to kids today on the details and causes of World War 2 and not just ramble on about facts and figures. These World War 2 facts for kids should help them understand the war briefly, although teachers should make it a point to discuss the events and the impact on the nations when it comes to one on one classes.

Interesting Facts About World War 2 for Kids

These fun facts about World War 2 for kids may not be entirely fun, but definitely prove to be a good read when learning and understanding about what happened during that period of total chaos in worldwide and American history.

1. The war is also abbreviated as WW2 or is referenced in some places as the Second World War.
2. When it came to raiding civilians by air, the Germans killed 543,000 people along with more in Britain amounting to 60,400.
3. One of the many causes as to why World War 2 started off, was the inability of the League of nations to intervene and prevent its onset.
4. The war began on September 1st, 1939 and continued until September 2nd, 1945.
5. The US got involved in the war, after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 by the Japanese.
6. Hitler executed 84 German generals as one of his many vicious and cut throat traits.
7. Those heading the Allies were Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
8. The number of soldiers that served in the war, taking only the Americans into consideration were 16,112,566, where 671,846 were wounded among these.
9. The length of service on an average scale for a US and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
10. Barely a teenage, Calvin Graham entered the war as a soldier, lying about his real age and was discharged after being wounded in battle.
11. 15 million Americans took up jobs to help out during the war.
12. A major defeat for the Germans was waving the white flag at Stalingrad where they surrendered in the year 1943.
13. After the war, Italy had to pay compensations for damages done amounting to $36 million.
14. The Russians killed their first American soldier in the year 1940 in Finland.
15. The length of service on an average scale for a US soldier in the military was 33 months.
16. German aircraft didn't fare too well when it came to battling it out in the sky. Up to 45 percent of their crafts were destroyed because of accidents and not because of being gunned down.
17. The major leaders who headed the Axis league were Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler and Emperor Hirohito.
18. There was a time when the Koreans were made to fight for both the Japanese and Germans during the war, switching sides due to being forced into submission.
19. The allies released 3.4 million tons worth of bombs, leaving it at about 27.700 tons of this on an average in a month.
20. The territories that were under the World War 2 grip were South-East Asia, Europe, Africa, China, the Middle East, Pacific, Mediterranean and Atlantic.
21. The holocaust, when it began, saw the murders of Jews already taking place in the concentration camp of Auschwitz in the year 1942. There were a total of 1,500,000 Jews killed including others amounting to 2.000.000.
22. The war involved nearly all countries of the world while it lasted, making it history's most massive and influential wars to have hit the planet.
23. At least 1.9 billion people are said to have served in World War 2.
24. 62 million people died at the hands of this war during the time of the conflict.

These World War 2 facts for kids aren't easy for one to stomach, being as devastating and life altering as it was. Today we recount this moment in history in the form stories and factual events, conveying through our words about a time that marked an important timeline in US history. It is important to understand, analyze and take in what we can about our history, because that is what has made countries what they are today.