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Redesigned and refactored by

Brigadier General John S. Brown, USA (Ret.)

Chief Historian/Writer

Produced and directed by

Original design by

United States President Woodrow Wilson and others spoke of World War I as "the war to end all wars" or "to make the world safe for democracy." In the twenty years that followed, these high ideals ran afoul of a flawed and retributive peace treaty, the unwillingness of the United States and other non-European powers to assume responsibilities for maintaining peace, newly established dictatorships, national ambitions, and world economic collapse. As horrific as World War I was, it proved the prelude and groundwork for an even more appalling conflict, a world wide struggle that would take the lives of over 60 million people ... World War II.

Early in World War II the Allies committed to the principles of the Atlantic Charter as a definition of their war aims. These principles included national self determination, territorial changes only with the consent of those affected, freedom from want and fear, freedom of the seas, the reduction of trade barriers, global economic and social cooperation, and disarmament. Victory in World War II was a pre-condition to achieve these lofty goals, but much work remained to be done.

Developments through the forty years following World War II, in particular the general advance of democratic governance, greatly justified the sacrifices made by American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and civilians during World War II.

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World War II Timeline Experience - American Battle Monuments Commission

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An interactive World War II timeline of events with descriptions, videos, and photos

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DK Learning: Make every lesson your best yet

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DK's uniquely visual approach engages students, enhancing their learning experience

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World War II

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Interesting facts, images and videos about World War II for primary school children to use in topic-work.

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What do you know about WWII?

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KS2 World War II | Which Countries Fought and Why

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You may think the Second World War was between Britain and Germany but it involved many nations and all of the great powers. Find out exactly which countries fought in World War II and why, in this interactive history quiz created by teachers for KS2 students in Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6.

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Evacuation of children during the World War II

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Annelies "Anne" Marie Frank is the most talked about Jewish victim of the Holocaust. Her diary that was discovered was used to make several plays and movies. Anne Frank kept a diary while she was hiding from the Germans in an attic of a house in Amsterdam, Holland.

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Children in World War II

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How did the War affect people's everyday lives?

During the war life changed for everybody, including children. For most children, the war years were a time of anxiety. For many, it was a period of family separation. For some, it was a time of profound personal loss.

Many children had to grow up quickly during wartime. Many children had to look after themselves and younger siblings while their mothers worked.

Evacuation

Nearly two million children were evacuated from their homes at the start of World War Two. They were evacuated to the countryside to escape the bombing.

Children had labels attached to them, as though they were parcels. They stood at railway station not knowing where they were going nor if they would be split from brothers and sisters who had gathered with them. They felt scared about being away from their families and had to adjust to new schools and make new friends.

Find out why children were evacuated, and where evacuees were sent on our evacuation page.

Rationing

Children experienced a restricted diet because of rationing.

Find out what things were rationed, including sweets on our rationing page.

Air Raids

Children lived in fear from the constant threat of air raids. They spent some nights living in air raid shelters just in case German planes dropped bombs on their houses. Their fears came true during the blitz. One in ten of the deaths during the Blitz of London from 1940 to 1941 were children.

Gas Masks

The government thought that children under five would be scared of the gas masks so they produced a specially designed Micky Mouse gas mask. It was brightly coloured in red and blue.

School Life

Children had to take regular gas drills at school. They found these drills hard to take seriously, especially when they discovered blowing through the rubber made 'rude' noises.

The war had an affect on the kind of rhymes children told and the games they played.

Games children played

How many of the games above do you recognise?

A Wartime diary

Written by one of our students.
We asked our Year 6's to imagine what it was like to be a child during the war and to write a diary as though they were adults reflecting back on their experiences. Read the diary here

Wartime as a child in Bexhill by John S. Spray

Anne Frank and other Jews

Many children and their parents living in countries which had been invaded by the Germans were imprisoned and killed because they were Jewish.

Anne Frank was a German Jewish girl whose family was under attack.
Click here to find out about Anne Frank

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How did the War affect people's everyday lives? During the war life changed for everybody, including children. For most children, the war years were a time of anxiety. For many, it was a period of family separation. For some, it was a time of profound personal loss.

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World War II

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Kids learn about World War II in history. Educational articles for teachers, students, and schools including WWII battles, leaders, generals, countries, Allied vs. Axis powers, Europe, Germany, Hitler, Holocaust, atomic bomb, daily life, weapons, and causes.