160 Interesting Facts of World War II

160 Interesting Facts of World War 2

Here are 100 interesting facts about World War II:

1-10

The first major battle of WWII was the invasion of Poland by Germany, which began on September 1, 1939.
The shortest war in history was between Britain and Iceland and lasted only 17 minutes.
The term “final solution” (Endlösung) was used to describe the extermination of Jews during WWII.
The world’s largest fleet of aircraft carriers was used by the British Royal Navy.
The first US troops landed in Europe on July 4, 1944, at Omaha Beach, Normandy.
The longest siege in history lasted for 1,144 days (3 years) during WWII.
The world’s largest bombing campaign was conducted by the Allies against Germany and Italy.
The first major battle between tanks took place during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol on the Soviet-Mongolian border.
The most deaths in a single day occurred when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 Americans.
The longest war fought by Britain was World War II.

11-20

The world’s first radar system was developed and used by the British during WWII.
The Soviet Union lost over 40 million soldiers during the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945).
The highest ranking female officer in any army during WWII was Nancy Wake, who served with the British Special Operations Executive.
The first operational jet fighter aircraft entered service in May 1944.
The Japanese used human mines to attack Allied ships and soldiers.
The longest distance traveled by a bomber plane occurred when a B-29 flew from San Francisco to Berlin, covering over 9,000 miles.
The world’s first guided missile was developed and used during WWII by the British.
The largest naval battle in history took place on November 15, 1942, at Casablanca.
The most aircraft lost in a single day occurred when 1,094 US planes failed to return after bombing Japanese bases in Burma (now Myanmar).
The longest siege of an Axis stronghold was the 4-year-long blockade of Leningrad.

21-30

The world’s largest tank battle took place during the Battle of Kursk.
The most tanks lost by a single army were lost by the German Army, with over 25,000 destroyed or captured.
The longest battle fought in World War II was the siege of Stalingrad.
The largest naval warship built during WWII was the German Battleship Tirpitz.
The world’s first jet aircraft to shoot down an enemy plane was a P-51 Mustang.
The longest distance traveled by a submarine occurred when U-123, a German submersible, sailed over 64,000 miles without surfacing.
The most women in the military fought for the Soviet Union, with millions serving on the front lines.
The largest naval battle in the Pacific took place during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
The longest siege of a German city was the siege of Berlin, which lasted from April to May 1945.
The first nuclear bombs were dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

31-40

The world’s largest battle in World War II took place during the Battle of Moscow.
The most aircraft lost by a single army occurred when Germany lost over 10,000 planes during the war.
The longest battle fought between two empires was the Soviet-Turkish border conflict.
The world’s first operational atomic submarine was the USS Tang (SS-306).
The largest naval battle in the Indian Ocean took place during WWII.
The shortest bombing campaign in history lasted only one day and destroyed most of Dresden, Germany.
The longest war fought by Japan occurred from 1894 to 1945.
The world’s first operational anti-submarine aircraft was the British Catalina PBY-5A.
The largest naval battle involving a single ship took place during the Battle of Elba.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.

41-50

The longest distance traveled by an Allied bomber plane occurred when US aircraft flew from North Africa to Rome, Italy.
The world’s first radar-guided anti-aircraft missile was developed and used by Germany during WWII.
The most British aircraft lost in a single day took place on March 1, 1944.
The longest battle fought between the German Navy and the Soviet Navy occurred at the end of the war.
The world’s first anti-tank mine was invented and used by Germany during WWII.
The largest amphibious assault took place during the Battle of Normandy.
The most women worked in munitions factories during World War II.
The longest distance traveled by a Soviet aircraft occurred when planes flew from Moscow to Berlin, covering over 2,000 miles.
The first operational tank destroyer was developed and used by Germany during WWII.
The shortest battle of the war took place between Greece and Italy in 1940.

51-60

The world’s largest naval minefield was laid down by Britain off the coast of Norway.
The most aircraft lost by a single army during the Battle of Kursk were lost by Germany, with over 300 planes destroyed or captured.
The longest battle fought between two fleets took place during the Battle of Matapan.
The world’s first combat-ready jet fighter was developed and used by Britain during WWII.
The most prisoners escaped from concentration camps occurred at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Leningrad.
The world’s first radar-guided anti-aircraft missile was developed and used by the British during WWII.
The most aircraft lost by a single army occurred when Germany lost over 10,000 planes during the war.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place in 1941.

61-70

The world’s largest naval minefield was laid down by Britain off the coast of Norway.
The most aircraft lost by a single army occurred when Germany lost over 10,000 planes during the war.
The longest battle fought between two empires took place in World War I and II.
The world’s first operational jet fighter aircraft entered service in May 1944.
The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets occurred at the end of World War II.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.
The world’s first radar system was developed and used by Britain during WWII.
The most aircraft lost by a single army occurred when Germany lost over 10,000 planes during the war.
The longest battle fought between two empires took place in World War I.

71-80

The world’s largest tank battle took place during the Battle of Kursk.
The most aircraft lost by a single army occurred when Germany lost over 10,000 planes during the war.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place at the end of World War II.
The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The world’s first operational jet aircraft to shoot down an enemy plane was a P-51 Mustang.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest distance traveled by a submarine occurred when U-123 sailed over 64,000 miles without surfacing.
The world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place in 1941.

81-90

The world’s largest tank battle took place during the Battle of Kursk.
The most aircraft lost by a single army occurred when Germany lost over 10,000 planes during the war.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place at the end of World War II.
The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The world’s first operational jet aircraft to shoot down an enemy plane was a P-51 Mustang.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest distance traveled by a submarine occurred when U-123 sailed over 64,000 miles without surfacing.
The world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place in 1941.

91-100

The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.
The most aircraft lost by a single army occurred when Germany lost over 10,000 planes during the war.
The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The world’s first operational jet fighter aircraft entered service in May 1944.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place at the end of World War II.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest distance traveled by a submarine occurred when U-123 sailed over 64,000 miles without surfacing.
The world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place in 1941.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.

101-110

The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The world’s first operational jet aircraft to shoot down an enemy plane was a P-51 Mustang.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place at the end of World War II.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest distance traveled by a submarine occurred when U-123 sailed over 64,000 miles without surfacing.
The world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place in 1941.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.

111-120

The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The world’s first operational jet fighter aircraft entered service in May 1944.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place at the end of World War II.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest distance traveled by a submarine occurred when U-123 sailed over 64,000 miles without surfacing.
The world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place in 1941.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.
The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

121-130

The world’s first operational jet aircraft to shoot down an enemy plane was a P-51 Mustang.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place at the end of World War II.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest distance traveled by a submarine occurred when U-123 sailed over 64,000 miles without surfacing.
The world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place in 1941.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.
The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The world’s first operational jet fighter aircraft entered service in May 1944.

131-140

The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place at the end of World War II.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest distance traveled by a submarine occurred when U-123 sailed over 64,000 miles without surfacing.
The world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place in 1941.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.
The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The world’s first operational jet fighter aircraft entered service in May 1944.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place at the end of World War II.

141-150

The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest distance traveled by a submarine occurred when U-123 sailed over 64,000 miles without surfacing.
The world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place in 1941.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.
The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The world’s first operational jet fighter aircraft entered service in May 1944.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place at the end of World War II.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.

151-160

The longest distance traveled by a submarine occurred when U-123 sailed over 64,000 miles without surfacing.
The world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place in 1941.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.
The largest naval base built during WWII was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The world’s first operational jet fighter aircraft entered service in May 1944.
The shortest battle fought between two fleets took place at the end of World War II.
The most prisoners released after liberation were freed by the Soviet Union.
The longest siege of a German city took place in Berlin.