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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

Collection D-Day
D-Day
Content Type
The Island War, Part 6 6

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
The Island War, Part 6
Episode 6
One of our veterans recalls the bombing of Iwo Jima, and going below to his quarters to get a little sleep. He opened his Bible and it fell open to the 91st Psalm, which he reads. Our veterans discuss...
The Island War, Part 6 - The Rock | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 6 The Island War, Part 5 5

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
The Island War, Part 5
Episode 5
With Japan's navy in ruins, America unleashed its air forces. Our veterans describe their experiences, their training, and the aircraft they flew.
The Island War, Part 6 - The Rock | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 6 The Island War, Part 1 1

Video

Grades

  • 5
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
The Island War, Part 1
Episode 1
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 6 - The Rock | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 6 The Island War, Part 2 2

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
The Island War, Part 2
Episode 2
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 7 - The First Blow, Guadalcanal | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 7 The Rising Sun, Part 4 4

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
The Rising Sun, Part 4
Episode 4
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 7 - The First Blow, Guadalcanal | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 7 The Rising Sun, Part 5 5

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
The Rising Sun, Part 5
Episode 5
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 7

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Higher Education
The Rising Sun, Part 7
Episode 7
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 7 - The First Blow, Guadalcanal | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 7 The Rising Sun, Part 6 6

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
The Rising Sun, Part 6
Episode 6
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 7 - The First Blow, Guadalcanal | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 7 The Rising Sun, Part 2 2

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
The Rising Sun, Part 2
Episode 2
The segment includes reflections on training at Parris Island.
The Rising Sun, Part 7 - The First Blow, Guadalcanal | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 7 The Rising Sun, Part 1 1

Video

Grades

  • 5
  • 8
The Rising Sun, Part 1
Episode 1
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 7 - The First Blow, Guadalcanal | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 7 The Rising Sun, Part 3 3

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
The Rising Sun, Part 3
Episode 3
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...
A World War, Part 2 - Victory in Europe | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 2 A World War, Part 5 5

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
A World War, Part 5
Episode 5
Veterans and family members recall the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor in detail.
A World War, Part 2 - Victory in Europe | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 2 A World War, Part 7 7

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
A World War, Part 7
Episode 7
This segment focuses on how the Japanese took control of the Pacific waters. The Philippines had been promised their independence. Within hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese turned...
A World War, Part 2 - Victory in Europe | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 2 A World War, Part 8 8

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
A World War, Part 8
Episode 8
The damage done to the American ships at Pearl Harbor is discussed. The devastation was hard to accept. The one thing the Japanese had missed was the tank farm where all of the fuel was stored. It was...
A World War, Part 4 4

Video

Grades

  • 3
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  • 5
  • 9
  • 10
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  • 12
A World War, Part 4
Episode 4
Veterans share their recollections of the day that Pearl Harbor was attacked. They were at war again.
A World War, Part 2 - Victory in Europe | South Carolinians in WW II - Episode 2 A World War, Part 3 3

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
A World War, Part 3
Episode 3
Japan needed resources and could only get them from other countries. The United States continued to try to prevent this. Japan sent an envoy to try to negotiate some sort of compromise, but the...
A World War, Part 2 2

Video

Grades

  • 5
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  • 12
A World War, Part 2
Episode 2
"The American soldiers arrived, and the tanks came in and ran over those big, high fences like they were matchboxes." Veterans provide their remembrances of the end of the war in Europe and the...
A World War, Part 1 1

Video

Grades

  • 5
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  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
A World War, Part 1
Episode 1
German soldiers were surrendering so fast, they just would surrender a whole unit and we couldn't handle them all. The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) was announcing "Today in Europe, the war is...
Liberation, Part 3 3

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
Liberation, Part 3
Episode 3
Veterans reflect on being captured and taken prisoner or killed by the Germans. It was bitter cold, but the Americans knew better than to complain. There was never any food and there was nothing to...
Liberation, Part 6 6

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
Liberation, Part 6
Episode 6
Veterans who arrived to rescue people in the camps describe what they saw; human skeletons barely alive, and some not able to walk. Some were fed too much, too soon, and died from overeating. Bodies...
Liberation, Part 5 5

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
Liberation, Part 5
Episode 5
The Siegfried Line ran along the entire border of Germany from north to south. There was barbed wire, and there were land mines, and Dragon's Teeth, which were concrete blocks, that no tank could pass...
Liberation, Part 4 4

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
Liberation, Part 4
Episode 4
Diny Adkins recalls being taken in by an elderly couple who later couldn't take care of her, so they took her to a nun. The nun kept her hidden in a closet and was very cold and mean to her. The nun...
Liberation, Part 2 2

Video

Grades

  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Higher Education
Liberation, Part 2
Episode 2
Veterans share their recollections of the Battle of the Bulge and the siege of Bastogne. It was the cold winter in 50 years, and they were not dressed for the cold. The sky was blackened with shells...