The Basic Of World War II Trivia Quiz!

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  • 1/19 Questions

    What was the treaty that ended WWI that laid some of the unrest that would later explode into WWII?

    • Geneva Conference
    • Treaty of Versailles
    • Paris Peace Accords
    • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
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About This Quiz

The Second World War lasted from 1939 to 1945, and some argue it started in 1937 when Japan invaded China rather than when Germany invaded Poland. How much do you know about this war, and can you separate facts from fiction? Take up this exciting quiz to test your knowledge. All the best!

The Basic Of World War II Trivia Quiz! - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II?

    • Lenin

    • Trotsky

    • Stalin

    • Khrushchev

    Correct Answer
    A. Stalin
    Explanation
    Joseph Stalin was the premiere of the Soviet Union during WW2 through to the early 1950s.

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  • 3. 

    The leading Axis powers of WWII consisted of:

    • Germany, Russia, Japan

    • Germany, Italy, Romania

    • Germany, Finland, Japan

    • Germany, Italy, Japan

    Correct Answer
    A. Germany, Italy, Japan
    Explanation
    During World War II, the Axis powers were a coalition of countries that fought against the Allies. The correct answer is Germany, Italy, and Japan. Germany, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, sought to expand its territory and establish dominance in Europe. Italy, led by Benito Mussolini, joined forces with Germany in pursuit of similar goals. Japan, led by Emperor Hirohito, aimed to expand its empire in Asia and the Pacific. These three countries formed a formidable alliance, sharing common interests and strategies, which ultimately led to their collaboration in the war.

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  • 4. 

    The term "D-Day" refers to:

    • The Allied invasion of the coast of Normandy

    • The Allied Invasion of Southern France

    • The Allied Invasion of Italy

    • The Soviet Invasion of Germany

    Correct Answer
    A. The Allied invasion of the coast of Normandy
    Explanation
    "D-Day" is a  ubiquitous  term meaning the day an operation kicks off.In this context it refers to the Allied landings o n the French Normandy Coast on June 6th, 1994.

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  • 5. 

    Which event began World War II?

    • Pearl Harbor

    • Assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand

    • Invasion of Poland

    • Battle of Britain

    Correct Answer
    A. Invasion of Poland
    Explanation
    Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Britain and France shortly after declared war on Germany.

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  • 6. 

    The decisive city battle of the Eastern European Front was:

    • Kursk

    • Stalingrad

    • Kharkov

    • Kiev

    Correct Answer
    A. Stalingrad
    Explanation
    Stalingrad was the bloodiest battle of world history. Following the battle the Germans never regained the initiative in the East.

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  • 7. 

    Hitler became the essential dictator of Germany in which decade?

    • 1920s

    • 1950s

    • 1940s

    • 1930s

    Correct Answer
    A. 1930s
    Explanation
    Hitler was appointed Chancellor in 1933, and within a few years through various legislation was the de facto ruler of Germany.

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  • 8. 

    The Battle of Britain consisted of:

    • A Sea-borne landing operation

    • Unrestricted submarine warfare

    • Strategic bombing campaign

    • The largest tank battles in history

    Correct Answer
    A. Strategic bombing campaign
    Explanation
    The Battle of Britain consisted primarily of an aerial war between Britain and Germany, with the stated goal of the German Luftwaffe to force Britain out of the war through bombing and later invasion.

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  • 9. 

    The aftermath of WWII led directly to the collapse of Imperialism and the self-determination of former colonies.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    India was granted independence shortly after WWII from the British Empire, and numerous nations were granted self determination.

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  • 10. 

    Who was the Commanding General of the German Afrika Korps nicknamed 'The Desert Fox'?

    • Rommel

    • Von Manstein

    • Von Rundtsted

    • Goering

    Correct Answer
    A. Rommel
    Explanation
    Erwin Rommel commanded the Afrika Korps from 1941 to 1943, and is considered one of the wars finest leaders.

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  • 11. 

    What was the last major attempt at a peaceful resolution with Germany prior to the outbreak of WWII?

    • The Munich Conference

    • The 1936 Olympic Conferences

    • The Washington Naval Conference

    • The Geneva Convention

    Correct Answer
    A. The Munich Conference
    Explanation
    The Munich Conference of 1938 was an attempt to diffuse growing tensions in Europe. British Prime Minister Chamberlain returned from the conference saying we have secured "peace in our time".

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  • 12. 

    The British Expeditionary Force was made to evacuate France in 1940 through the French port of:

    • Calais

    • Le Rochelle

    • Antwerp

    • Dunkirk

    Correct Answer
    A. Dunkirk
    Explanation
    Operation Dynamo rescued hundreds of thousands of British and French soldiers from Dunkirk, after the Germans had pushed them to the sea.

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  • 13. 

    When did Pearl Harbor occur?

    • December 7th, 1942

    • December 11th, 1941

    • December 7th, 1941

    • December 8th 1940

    Correct Answer
    A. December 7th, 1941
    Explanation
    Pearl Harbor occurred on December 7th, 1941. This date is significant because it marks the day when the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This attack resulted in the United States entering World War II. The other dates listed in the options are incorrect and do not correspond to the actual date of the Pearl Harbor attack.

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  • 14. 

    This was a line of fortifications across the French border with Germany:

    • The Siegfried Line

    • The Maginot Line

    • The Stalin Line

    • The Verdun Line

    Correct Answer
    A. The Maginot Line
    Explanation
    The Maginot Line was an extremely complex series of fortifications on the French-German border. Its guns, however, were never fired in anger as the Germans bypassed it during the Battle of France.

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  • 15. 

    True or False: The Japanese never occupied U.S. Territory.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    Early in the war the Japanese occupied Kiska and Attu in the Aleutian islands, which is U.S. territory off the coast of Alaska.

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  • 16. 

    The Battle of the Bulge refers to:

    • The American breakout through the hedgerow country

    • The Cherkassy Bulge

    • The German summer counteroffensive at Kursk

    • The German winter counteroffensive on the Western Front

    Correct Answer
    A. The German winter counteroffensive on the Western Front
    Explanation
    The Germans launched Operation Wacht am Rhein (Watch on the Rhine) in December 1944, intended to cut the Allied lines and capture the Belgian port of Antwerp.

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  • 17. 

    What war during the 1930s greatly influenced the development of military tactics that were used in WWII?

    • The Spanish-American War

    • The Boer War

    • The Spanish Civil War

    • The Korean War

    Correct Answer
    A. The Spanish Civil War
    Explanation
    The Spanish Civil War was between the German supported Fascist government of Franco against the Soviet supported Republican government. In this war tactics and early production models were battle-tested and refined.

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  • 18. 

    What was the most significant early U.S. victory in the Pacific theatre?

    • Battle of the Coral Sea

    • Wake Island

    • Iwo Jima

    • Midway

    Correct Answer
    A. Midway
    Explanation
    Midway was up to that point the most decisive victory for the U.S. in the war. The Japanese lost four aircraft careers and never again could regain the initiative.

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  • 19. 

    The firebombing of this German town was a major civilian tragedy during the war.

    • Dusseldorf

    • Dresden

    • Stuttgart

    • Frankfurt

    Correct Answer
    A. Dresden
    Explanation
    The firebombing of Dresden in 1945 killed more than 30,000 civilians and leveled most of the city.

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  • Mar 10, 2025
    Quiz Edited by
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  • Feb 28, 2009
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    Drakhl
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