World War II officially began on September 1, 1939, and ended on September 2, 1945.
Key DatesStart Date: September 1, 1939 — Nazi Germany invaded Poland, which prompted Great Britain and France to declare war.
End Date: September 2, 1945 — Japan formally signed its unconditional surrender aboard the USS Missouri, following its announcement to surrender in mid-August.
European Theater Start: While the general global consensus marks September 1, 1939 as the start, some historians note that conflicts like the Japanese invasion of Manchuria on September 18, 1931, or the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War on July 7, 1937, marked the beginning of hostilities in Asia.
End Milestones: Major celebrations happened earlier in 1945, such as V-E Day (Victory in Europe) on May 8, 1945, after Germany's unconditional surrender on May 7, but the war globally did not officially conclude until the September surrender in the Pacific.
Coordinator: Vacant
State Coordinator: Marsha Holley
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