75 Fascinating World War II Trivia Questions and Answers

World War II was a pivotal moment in history, filled with significant events, key figures, and groundbreaking strategies. This collection of 75 World War II trivia questions spans from the major battles and political maneuvers to the personal stories and technological advances that shaped the war. Whether you’re a history buff or just looking to test your knowledge, these questions offer a challenging and engaging way to explore one of the most transformative periods in modern history.

World War 2 Trivia Questions and Answers

General World War II Trivia

Which country suffered the largest number of civilian deaths during World War II?
Answer: Soviet Union.

In which year did Germany invade Poland, marking the start of World War II?
Answer: 1939.

What was the name of the British operation to evacuate soldiers from Dunkirk?
Answer: Operation Dynamo.

Which town in the British Midlands was destroyed during a German air raid in November 1940?
Answer: Coventry.

Which two countries were the first to declare war on Germany in 1939?
Answer: Britain and France.

World War II Events

What was the code name for the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944?
Answer: Operation Overlord.

In what year was the famous Dambuster Raid carried out?
Answer: 1943.

What was the purpose of the July 20 Plot in 1944?
Answer: To assassinate Adolf Hitler.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor took place in December of which year?
Answer: 1941.

What was the name given by the British to the period between the declaration of war and the outbreak of major military operations?
Answer: Phoney War.

Atomic Bombs

What was the name of the project that developed the first nuclear weapons?
Answer: The Manhattan Project.

What was the codename for the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima?
Answer: Little Boy.

Which aircraft dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?
Answer: Enola Gay.

What was the codename for the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki?
Answer: Fat Man.

On which date was the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki?
Answer: August 9, 1945.

Key Figures in World War II

Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for most of World War II?
Answer: Winston Churchill.

What title did Adolf Hitler bestow on himself after gaining power in Nazi Germany?
Answer: Führer.

Which U.S. President authorized the use of atomic bombs on Japan?
Answer: Harry S. Truman.

Which Soviet general led the counterattack against Germany during the Battle of Stalingrad?
Answer: Georgi Zhukov.

Who was the dictator of Italy during World War II?
Answer: Benito Mussolini.

World War II Equipment

What was the name of the German air force during World War II?
Answer: Luftwaffe.

What were the V1 and V2?
Answer: German missiles.

What was the name of the American aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki?
Answer: Bockscar.

Which American aircraft was nicknamed the “Flying Fortress”?
Answer: B-17.

What was the name of the Japanese fighter aircraft used during World War II?
Answer: Zero.

Allies and Axis Powers

Which countries made up the Axis Powers during World War II?
Answer: Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Which countries were part of the Allied Powers?
Answer: United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, China, and France, among others.

Who led the Free French Forces during World War II?
Answer: Charles de Gaulle.

Which country was invaded by the Soviet Union in 1939?
Answer: Finland.

What was the main strategy used by Germany in its early conquests, known as “lightning war”?
Answer: Blitzkrieg.

Military Strategies

What was the name of Germany’s plan to invade the Soviet Union?
Answer: Operation Barbarossa.

What was the name of the German military strategy involving rapid and decisive attacks?
Answer: Blitzkrieg.

Which battle is considered the turning point on the Eastern Front?
Answer: The Battle of Stalingrad.

What was the codename for the German plan to invade Britain?
Answer: Operation Sea Lion.

What was the objective of Operation Market Garden?
Answer: To capture bridges in the Netherlands to secure an Allied invasion route into Germany.

Naval Operations

Which ship was sunk by the Japanese shortly after delivering nuclear material to Tinian?
Answer: USS Indianapolis.

What was the name of the German battleship sunk by the British in 1941?
Answer: Bismarck.

What was the largest naval battle of World War II?
Answer: The Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Which U.S. naval base was attacked by Japan, leading to the U.S. entering World War II?
Answer: Pearl Harbor.

Which British ship was famously involved in the sinking of the Bismarck?
Answer: HMS Hood.

Miscellaneous World War II Trivia

Which island’s people were awarded the George Cross by King George VI for their bravery during World War II?
Answer: Malta.

What was the nickname given to the Allied invasion of North Africa?
Answer: Operation Torch.

Which event marked the official end of World War II?
Answer: The signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender.

Who were the Sullivan Brothers?
Answer: Five brothers who served on the USS Juneau and were killed when the ship was sunk.

What was the name of the conference where the Allies set the terms for Japan’s surrender?
Answer: The Potsdam Conference.

World War II Leaders

Which British Prime Minister signed the Munich Agreement with Hitler in 1938?
Answer: Neville Chamberlain.

Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II?
Answer: Joseph Stalin.

Who was the Emperor of Japan during World War II?
Answer: Emperor Hirohito.

Which American General led the Allied forces in the Pacific Theater?
Answer: General Douglas MacArthur.

Who succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the United States in 1945?
Answer: Harry S. Truman.

World War II Events

What was the largest tank battle in history, occurring during World War II?
Answer: The Battle of Kursk.

Which country’s forces liberated Paris in 1944?
Answer: Free French Forces, with support from American troops.

What was the name of the German counteroffensive in the Ardennes in 1944-45?
Answer: The Battle of the Bulge.

Which event caused the United States to declare war on Japan?
Answer: The attack on Pearl Harbor.

What was the name of the Allied invasion of Sicily?
Answer: Operation Husky.

Atomic Bombs

How many zones of occupation was Germany divided into after World War II?
Answer: Four.

What was the primary target for the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki?
Answer: The industrial valley of Nagasaki.

Who was the pilot of the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?
Answer: Paul Tibbets.

Which country developed the atomic bomb under the Manhattan Project?
Answer: United States.

What was the primary reason for using atomic bombs against Japan?
Answer: To force a swift Japanese surrender and end the war.

Key Figures

Who was the leader of the Nazi SS during World War II?
Answer: Heinrich Himmler.

Which U.S. General led the D-Day invasion?
Answer: General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Who was the British Field Marshal who led the Eighth Army in North Africa?
Answer: Bernard Montgomery.

Who was the Nazi Propaganda Minister during World War II?
Answer: Joseph Goebbels.

Who was the commander of the German U-boat fleet?
Answer: Karl Dönitz.

World War II Equipment

What was the German Tiger Tank known for?
Answer: Its heavy armor and powerful gun.

Which Allied tank was known as the “Sherman”?
Answer: M4 Sherman.

What was the primary Japanese aircraft carrier in the attack on Pearl Harbor?
Answer: Akagi.

What type of aircraft was the British Spitfire?
Answer: Fighter aircraft.

Which German battleship was sunk by the British in 1944?
Answer: Tirpitz.