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World War II


World War II (1939-1945) was a global conflict involving most of the world's nations. It was characterized by widespread military engagements across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. The war can be traced back to the rise of aggressive expansionist powers, including Nazi Germany led by Adolf Hitler, fascist Italy led by Benito Mussolini, and militarist Japan under Emperor Hirohito.

The war officially began on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany. The conflict quickly escalated as Germany conquered much of Western Europe and Japan expanded in the Pacific. The Axis Powers, led by Germany, Italy, and Japan, fought against the Allied Powers, including the United Kingdom, Soviet Union, United States, and others.

Key events and theaters of the war included the Holocaust, in which millions of Jews and others were systematically murdered by the Nazis, the Battle of Stalingrad, a turning point on the Eastern Front, and the D-Day landings in Normandy, which marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

The war concluded in 1945 with the unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan. The conflict had devastating consequences, resulting in an estimated 50 million fatalities, widespread destruction, and significant social, political, and economic changes worldwide. The war also led to the establishment of the United Nations, an international organization aimed at promoting peace and cooperation among nations to prevent such a global conflict from happening again.

Our World War II Gift Ideas

The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: Trace Your Roots, Share Your History, and Create Your Family Tree
Essential Skills for The Occasional Genealogist: Beyond-beginner Genealogy Skills for Busy Family Historians
Operation Underworld: How the Mafia and U.S. Government Teamed Up to Win World War II
World War II: The Definitive Visual History from Blitzkrieg to the Atom Bomb
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World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Eric James HOLMANDER (25 November 1924, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (East, North, South) (Allston) (Readville) (Roslindale) - 19 June 2009, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA (North Kingston) (Wickford) (Davisville) (Saunderstown) (Allenton))
(Eric Harold HOLMANDER & Maria ABRAHAM)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Richard Lawrence HOLMANDER (14 May 1927, , Rhode Island, USA - 3 March 2005, )
(Eric Harold HOLMANDER & Maria ABRAHAM)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Bennie Milton HOUCK (24 July 1920, Tabor, Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, USA - 30 January 2009, Sedona, Arizona, USA)
(Noah HOUCK & Martha Jane MUMMA)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Ralph Kloseman HOUSER (19 August 1909, Holbrook, Massachusetts, USA (East Randolph) - 6 February 1995, )
(Frank Christian HOUSER & Bertha Minnie KLOSEMAN)
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World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Arthur Brady JACKSON (4 July 1898, Surry, North Carolina, USA - 15 April 1997, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA)
(Albert Lindsey JACKSON & Mary WALL)
World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   George Joseph JALBERT (18 June 1920, Grafton, Massachusetts, USA (Saundersville) (Fisherville) - 8 November 2011, Grafton, Massachusetts, USA (Saundersville) (Fisherville))
(Edward Francis Xavier JALBERT & Helen E CROWE)
World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   Daniel "Chappie" JAMES (11 February 1920, Pensacola, Florida, USA - 25 February 1978, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Harold Floyd JAMIESON (7 January 1916, Traverse City, Michigan, USA - 2 September 1994, Maple City, Leelanau, Michigan, USA)
(Hiram Floyd JAMIESON & Myrtle NEWMAN)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  John E JASKOVIAC (4 December 1923, , Massachusetts, USA - 20 May 2008, )
(John JASKOVIAC & Sarah Ann FURNESS)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Raymond L JERDO (13 March 1927, Essex, New York, USA - 6 December 2007, Plattsburgh, New York, USA)
(John Henry JERDO & Elinor J TYRELL)
World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   Kenneth Edward JOHNSON (7 November 1920, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA (Indian Orchard) - 1 January 2012, Wilbraham, Massachusetts, USA)
(Charles Richard JOHNSON & Hildur Laurentia GUMMERSON)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Donat Joseph JOLY (21 March 1924, Putnam, Connecticut, USA - 12 August 1989, Webster, Massachusetts, USA)
(Joseph Noe JOLY (JOLLY) & Eugenie Marie Beatrix "Beatrice" LEPAGE)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Henry Joseph JOLY (JOLLY) (14 April 1921, Putnam, Connecticut, USA - 8 March 1995, Providence, Rhode Island, USA)
(Joseph Noe JOLY (JOLLY) & Eugenie Marie Beatrix "Beatrice" LEPAGE)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Albert Robert "Bobby" JONES (30 July 1926, Meriden, Connecticut, USA - 14 December 1999, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA)
(Arthur Raymond "Ray" JONES & Ruby M SPENCER)
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World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   Donald Eugene KAHMS (15 June 1918, New Britain, Connecticut, USA - 5 January 2001, Neosho, Missouri, USA)
(Herman Paul KAHMS & Katherine "Carrie" RITZ)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Robert Henry KAISER (20 April 1916, Detroit, Michigan, USA - 21 July 1965, , Michigan, USA)
(Robert Calvin KAISER & Edith MILLSON)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Leonard John KANEHL (21 April 1925, Manchester, Connecticut, USA (South Manchester) - 15 January 1981, Manchester, Connecticut, USA (South Manchester))
(Herbert G KANEHL & Lillian P CROSSEN)
World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   Woodrow Wilson KEEBLE (16 May 1917, Waubay, South Dakota, USA - 28 January 1982, Sisseton, South Dakota, USA)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Cameron Bruce KERR (3 September 1922, Chicago, Illinois, USA - 18 July 1986, Reseda, California, USA)
(Victor Hugh "Vic" KERR & Rosa Lena "Rose" CASPER)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Kenneth KLESS (16 May 1922, Niagara Falls, New York, USA - 29 December 1999, Tamarac, Florida, USA)
(Moe KLESS & Anna UNKNOWN)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Frank George KOPA (9 November 1918, Grafton, Massachusetts, USA (Saundersville) (Fisherville) - 13 February 1993, , New York, USA)
(Frank KOPA (KOUPIS) & Elizabeth (Elzbieta) PIMPA)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  John KOPA (4 July 1917, Grafton, Massachusetts, USA (Saundersville) (Fisherville) - 30 June 1961, , New York, USA)
(Frank KOPA (KOUPIS) & Elizabeth (Elzbieta) PIMPA)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Joseph Paul KOPA (24 November 1920, Grafton, Massachusetts, USA (Saundersville) (Fisherville) - 31 October 2014, , Arizona, USA)
(Frank KOPA (KOUPIS) & Elizabeth (Elzbieta) PIMPA)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  George Frank KORCH (6 May 1924, Webster, Massachusetts, USA - 15 May 1989, )
(George Frank KORCH & Mae Natalie OSTBERG)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Harold Earl KORCH (1 October 1925, Webster, Massachusetts, USA - 14 February 2007, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)
(George Frank KORCH & Mae Natalie OSTBERG)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Kenneth A KORCH (19 January 1919, Webster, Massachusetts, USA - 4 December 2005, Webster, Massachusetts, USA)
(Andrew (András) Henry KORCH & Anna "Panna" ROZGONYI)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Ronald E N KORCH (10 February 1925, Webster, Massachusetts, USA - 15 October 2001, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA)
(Andrew (András) Henry KORCH & Anna "Panna" ROZGONYI)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Warren Carl KORCH (2 July 1928, Webster, Massachusetts, USA - 6 January 1979, Middletown, Connecticut, USA)
(George Frank KORCH & Mae Natalie OSTBERG)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Chester Leslie KRUEGER (3 January 1911, Dudley, Massachusetts, USA - 3 March 1993, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville))
(Herman Gustave KRUEGER & Anna JESSE)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Theodore Roosevelt KRUGER (12 August 1906, Webster, Massachusetts, USA - 14 October 1975, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA)
(Adolph Gustave KRUGER & Alma Rose SCHORTMANN)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Roy James KUNCE (July 19 1922, Detroit, Michigan, USA - 26 January 2007, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA)
(Roscoe KUNCE & Beulah Mae POWELL)
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World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Jean Paul LACHANCE (May 30 , 1922, Saint Agatha , Maine, USA - September 27, 1981, Portland, Maine, USA (Deering))
(Patrick LACHANCE & Alice ROY)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Leo Romeo LACHAPELLE (16 September 1922, Woodstock, Connecticut, USA - 2 June 2004, Woodstock, Connecticut, USA)
(Jean Baptiste Narcisse "Nelson" LACHAPELLE & Marie Anne MATHIEU)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Kenneth John LACOSS (3 March 1911, Barre, Vermont, USA (Graniteville) (South, East) - 19 October 1983, Manchester, Connecticut, USA (South Manchester))
(John B LACOSS & Marie Alma PILON)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Gerard E LAFLECHE (20 August 1916, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville) - 28 September 2004, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville))
(Joseph LAFLECHE & Aldena "Diana" MATHIEU)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Maurice Joseph LAJOIE (March 2 1916, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA - September 17, 1976, Nashua, New Hampshire, USA (Dunstable))
(Dionis LAJOIE & Bernadette COUILLARD)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Arthur Alexis LALIBERTE (29 January 1911, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville) - 25 January 1983, San Francisco, California, USA)
(Eusebe LALIBERTE & Julia ANGER)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Edgar Eugene LAMBRECHT (18 July 1922, Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA - 20 December 1967, Hartford, Michigan, USA)
(Charles Edward LAMBRECHT & Hazel Belle HOPKINS)
World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   Clarence George LAPOINTE (June 6 1920, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA - September 10 2001, Plymouth, Hennepin, Minnesota, USA)
(George Joseph LAPOINTE & Delia Marie LAPOINTE)
World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   John Bourgarde LAPOINTE (16 May 1915, Meriden, Connecticut, USA - 13 September 1999, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA)
(John Henry (Jean William Honore) LAPOINTE & Katherine Elizabeth BOURGARDE)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Nels William LARSEN (29 October 1900, , Minnesota, USA - 13 September 1997, Altamonte Springs, Florida, USA)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Jean Noel LAVIGNE (20 December 1918, Providence, Quebec, Canada - 12 March 2009, Biddeford, Maine, USA (Biddeford Pool))
(Frederick Joseph LAVIGNE & Marie Leda Eudoxie SAVOIE)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Raymond Joseph LAVOIE (28 September 1921, Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon, Québec, Canada (Saint-Gabriel) - 12 January 1965, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)
(Joseph-Leo LAVOIE & Therese-Bernadette CHARRON)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Franklyn Edward LEARNED (14 October 1908, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA (Coltsville) - 13 November 1985, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA (Cotuit) (Centerville) (Hyannis))
(Edward LEARNED & Maud Blanche FRALEY)
World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   Lloyd Lewis LEARNED (8 May 1923, Malone, New York, USA - 8 January 2003, Utica, New York, USA)
(Lloyd Lewis LEARNED & Alma Bengta CLAUSSON)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Joseph Gerard "Jerry" LEBLANC (21 April 1927, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, USA - 28 February 2008, Leominster, Massachusetts, USA)
(Hilaire LEBLANC & Alma Marie LEBLANC)
World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   Samuel Herbert LEGGETT (March 17, 1913, Weare, New Hampshire, USA (East, North, South) (Chase Village) (Clinton Grove) (Riverdale) (Slab City) - June 6, 1986, Siloam Springs, Benton, Arkansas, USA)
(Samuel Herbert LEGGETT & Ozile Adele CLEMENT)
World War II Soldier  male ancestor  Joseph Ferdinand LEMIEUX (1 January 1922, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA - 27 July 1987, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA)
(Louis Henry LEMIEUX & Justine Gertrude MASSON)
World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   Frederick Parker LESTER (4 September 1906, East Hampton, Suffolk, New York, USA - 14 November 1995, East Hampton, Suffolk, New York, USA)
(Frederick Benjamin LESTER & Winifred Henrietta CULLUM)
World War II Soldier  photo of ancestor   Robert Alvin LEWIS (18 October 1917, Brooklyn, New York, USA (Flatlands) (Flatbush) (Coney Island) - 18 June 1983, Newport News, Virginia, USA)
(George Washington LEWIS & Marie Anna Auguste Caroline DIETZ)
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Start your day with a touch of gratitude and a steaming cup of coffee in our "Honoring Heroes" Veterans Tribute Mug. This ceramic coffee mug is more than just a vessel for your favorite brew – it's a heartfelt salute to the brave men and women who have served our country.