World War II History

World War II was the largest war in history involving most of the population of the world in one way or another. The major conflict went on from the German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 through the surrender of the Japanese on 2 September 1945, but the war was actually in progress for years before 1939. The Timeline provides a listing of all the major dates during The War.

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Employees on the Sunshine assembly line at North Americans plant put the finishing touches on another B-25 bomber, Inglewood, CA
North American Aviation employees put the finishing touches on a B-25 bomber at the Inglewood, CA plant, October 1942. As the "Arsenal of Democracy" the United States provided war material to all the World War II Allies opposing the Axis, a critical factor in winning the war.

Today in WW II: 20 Jun 1943 Operation TOENAILS opens with Marines landing at Segi Point on Vangunu Island, southeast of New Georgia.  

Major World War II History Sections of Olive-Drab

There will never be one source with a full history of WW II since there are millions of stories to be told and many ways to tell those stories. In this section of Olive-Drab.com the major dimensions of the conflict are outlined and links provided to many more sources. The narrative is written from the perspective of the Allied forces, the United States in particular, although with recognition that much can be learned from other views as well.

Each of the above sections has many sub-sections, so please explore them in depth. If the link is not active, the section is still in preparation.

Members of the first class of WAVES to graduate from the Aviation Metalsmith School, at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Oklahoma, 30 July 1943
Members of the first class of WAVES to graduate from the Aviation Metalsmith School, at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, OK, 30 July 1943. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph, Donation of Shirley Feldstein Bell (seated, 2nd from left).

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