The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : In what year did World War II officially begin?
Possible answers:
- 1937
- 1939
- 1940
- 1941
Explanation: World War II began on September 1, 1939 with Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland. France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany two days later.
Question 2 : Which country was invaded on September 1, 1939, triggering the world conflict?
Possible answers:
- Czechoslovakia
- France
- Belgium
- Poland
Explanation: Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland marks the beginning of World War II. This lightning attack (Blitzkrieg) lasted only 5 weeks.
Question 3 : On which beaches did the famous Allied landing of June 6, 1944 take place?
Possible answers:
- Pas-de-Calais
- Provence
- Normandy
- Brittany
Explanation: The Normandy Landing (D-Day) remains the largest amphibious operation in history. Over 156,000 soldiers landed on 5 beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.
Question 4 : Which dictator led Nazi Germany during World War II?
Possible answers:
- Mussolini
- Hitler
- Franco
- Stalin
Explanation: Adolf Hitler led Germany from 1933 to 1945 as Führer. He committed suicide in his Berlin bunker on April 30, 1945, just days before the German surrender.
Question 5 : In what year was Paris liberated from German occupation?
Possible answers:
- 1942
- 1943
- 1944
- 1945
Explanation: Paris was liberated on August 25, 1944. General Leclerc and the 2nd Armored Division entered Paris, supported by Parisian resistance fighters and American forces.
Question 6 : Which country suffered the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945?
Possible answers:
- Japan
- Korea
- Vietnam
- China
Explanation: The United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan: "Little Boy" on Hiroshima on August 6 and "Fat Man" on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, leading to Japanese surrender.
Question 7 : In what year did World War II end?
Possible answers:
- 1943
- 1944
- 1945
- 1946
Explanation: The German surrender took place on May 8, 1945, celebrated as "Victory in Europe Day" (V-E Day). The war in the Pacific ended on September 2, 1945.
Question 8 : What was the name of the military alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan?
Possible answers:
- The Alliance
- The Coalition
- The Pact
- The Axis
Explanation: The Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) opposed the Allies (France, United Kingdom, USSR, United States). The name comes from the Rome-Berlin Axis created in 1936.
Question 9 : Which American general commanded the Allied forces during the Normandy landing?
Possible answers:
- Eisenhower
- Patton
- Montgomery
- MacArthur
Explanation: General Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe. He became the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961.
Question 10 : Approximately how many casualties (military and civilian) did World War II cause?
Possible answers:
- 20 million
- 40 million
- 70-80 million
- 120 million
Explanation: World War II is the deadliest conflict in history with 70 to 85 million deaths, including approximately 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust.
