World War II (1939–1945)

World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The war involved the many of the world's countries. Two opposing military alliances were formed: the Allies and the Axis.

While Japan was already at war with China in 1937,  the Second World War began on September 1, 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Germany conquered much of Europe, eventually forming the Axis alliance with Italy and Japan. Approximately six million European Jews were killed by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany and this event would become known as the Holocaust.

 

Within this Collection

The Island War, Part 1
Episode 1

Video

Veterans recall the brutality of war with the Japanese, their allegiance to their emperor, the tropical heat, the jungle, the danger of the rocky reefs, and the threat of malaria, for which they took...
The Island War, Part 2
Episode 2

Video

Women discuss serving in the WAVES, the SPARS, the WACS, the WAFS, and the WASPS. All the services needed women during this period. Our women veterans remember many of the details of their service...
The Rising Sun, Part 4
Episode 4

Video

Fritz Hamer, military historian, explains that Japan was an industrial power, but it needed the resources to maintain it. Japan's purpose was to nullify the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor, then destroy the...
The Rising Sun, Part 5
Episode 5

Video

Midway Island was a U.S. outpost located about a thousand miles west of Hawaii. Prior to World War II, it was basically a weather station with some U.S. Naval groups on it to protect it. The Japanese...
The Rising Sun, Part 7
Episode 7

Video

The island of Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, was the major offensive area for the Japanese, in order to control Australia and the South Pacific. Veterans and historians reflect on...
The Rising Sun, Part 6
Episode 6

Video

Veterans recall what life onboard a Navy ship was like, including being bored, being seasick, how crowded they were, the schedule, poker and Monopoly, gambling, learning to drink, including some...
The Rising Sun, Part 1
Episode 1

Video

This segment includes the Marine Corps Hymn, reflections on the attraction that the Marine Corps has for young people who want to serve, and memories of some individuals who made the decision to sign...
The Rising Sun, Part 3
Episode 3

Video

Veterans remember arriving after the attack on Pearl Harbor and seeing how devastating the losses to the United States Navy were. They didn't realize that well over 2,000 people had been killed...