World War II

"My grandfather told me when I was a child that there was a Korean who served at the Wehrmacht during World War II. His name is Yang Kyoungjong. He's my great uncle. He did the best for Germany when it was a fascist country back then, even in World War II. He was my idol. My hero."

--Su Ji-Hoon, Memories

World War II (often abbreviated to WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, although related conflicts began earlier. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most global war in history; it directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. In a state of total war, the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources.