Disclaimers contact wikipedia developers statistics cookie statement mobile view. This is a list of infantry weapons which were in mainstream use during world war ii 19391945. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. We present our top ten ww2 fiction books of all time. A discovery by nuclear physicists in a laboratory in berlin, germany, in 1938 made the first atomic bomb possible, after otto hahn, lise meitner and fritz strassman discovered nuclear fission. Ww2 weapons 19391945 no other war of recent history holds the interest of many as does world war 2 with its veritable array of characters, events and of course weaponry.
People have used weapons in warfare, hunting, selfdefense, law enforcement, and criminal activity. These interesting facts about world war ii are just some of the little known facts regarding the war. The second world war saw many varied weapons being used by soldiers. The taj mahal was covered with a huge scaffold during ww2 to make it look like a stockpile of bamboos and misguide any japanese bombers. This article focuses on ww2 vehicles used by americans, the british, and germans. The comprehensive guide to over 1500 weapons systems, including tanks, small arms, warplanes, artillery, ships and submarines. As technology has developed throughout history, weapons have changed with it. However, many of these inventions were downright bizarre, and this list aims to explore the inventions which. Lets look at what was manufactured and being used on the battlefield. There is much discussion about how it stacked against world. This is part 2 of the 30 kickass and interesting facts about world war 2. They even brought 3 complete bottling plants ashore in north africa to supply the troops with this beverage. As a result, the widespread and often desperate fighting led to many new inventions, from computers, to jet engines, to atomic bombs.
Countries from all over the globe fought in world war ii. The following world war 2 facts for kids can be used to help introduce the conflict which has shaped the world we know today. This is a list of infantry weapons which were in mainstream use during world war ii. During wwii, the japanese launched 9,000 wind ship weapons of paper and rubberizedsilk balloons that carried incendiary and antipersonnel bombs to the u. However there are depths that can be explored by fiction in a way that cannot be paralleled by true storytelling. Interesting facts about militarism and main causes of ww1. Ww2 affected virtually almost any corner of the globe. Hitlers foreign divisions and the military atlas of world war ii, among many other military history titles. It is often said that necessity is the mother of all invention, and at no other point in a countrys history is necessity greater than in wartime. World war ii was fought from 1939 to 1945 and saw variety of weapons used in the field. Jan 25, 2015 the efficient engine of this destruction was the gatoclass sub, the backbone of the u.
The types of vehicles varied greatly on the theatre of war and particular battle conditions. Military weapons technology experienced rapid advances during world war ii, and over six years. World war 2 facts for kids national geographic kids. Strange facts about the deadliest weapons in world war 2. World war ii,documentary, 2015 world war ii documentary, ww2, full documentary. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. World war ii was total war every person, every business, every service was involved. Check out this book to find out more about the weapons used. Apr, 2020 world war 2 was the deadliest conflict in modern history.
Earlier wars may have planted the seeds for lethality, but this new war that engulfed the planet was a quantum leap into the future of weaponry. There are sections on the rifles used in the war, submachine guns, planes, boats, tanks, and a whole lot more. General editor chris bishop was the editor of the encyclopedia of weapons of world war ii, and author of german campaigns of world war ii, the rise of hitlers third reich, ss. The holocaust, when it began, saw the murders of jews in the concentration camp of auschwitz, in the year 1942. Staying engaged in the effort to prevent nuclear war requires an understanding of the history of nuclear weapons and the impact their use and production has had on people and the planet. In the early years of the war most people could freely buy any goods they could afford. Ww2 was probably the first time when advanced weaponry systems were used on a large scale, and one where nations decided it was time to strengthen what you have in your arsenal if you need to be taken seriously. World war 2 was the deadliest conflict in modern history. The worlds worst weapons from exploding guns to malfunctioning missiles. Hitlers plan to invade britain in the summer of 1940 was called operation sea lion. The second world war was started by germany in an unprovoked attack on poland.
It is estimated that 50 million people lost their lives during world war 2. More than 1,000 balloons hit their targets and they reached as far east as michigan. The encyclopedia of weapons of world war ii by chris bishop. Rosie the riveter was probably the most effective propaganda to recruit women workers for the defense industry during ww2 by 1943, 310,000 women worked in the u. At ww2 reads we focus primarily on nonfiction which has more than enough drama and excitement to keep any student of the period occupied. Weve compiled a diverse list of some of the best books about nuclear weapons. Britain and france declared war on germany after hitler had refused to abort his invasion of poland. Despite ww2 saw the rise of technology unimaginable in previous conflicts, the infantry remain the single most important element of any military force, and this section details the weapons that the infantrymen wielded. Through the course of the war, weapons of all types evolved greatly and increased incomplexity. The germans used a number of type designations for their weapons.
Army ambulances and medical vehicles in world war ii. From actionpacked eyewitness accounts such as guadalcanal diary to devastating holocaust memoirs like the diary of anne frank and night to the thrilling espionage tale of operation mincemeat, world war ii is the subject of some of the most fascinating and influential nonfiction books ever written. Weapons of world war ii capstone library capstone publishing. The majority of the developed world was involved in the conflict to some degree, with close to 2 billion people being involved in the conflict and more than 24 million killed on both sides. The encyclopedia of weapons of world war ii, by numerous authors but edited by chris bishop, is a nonfiction book covering a massive array of weapons from world war ii. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful. Ballantines illustrated history of world war ii the violent century. The war involved nearly all countries of the world while it lasted, making it historys most massive and influential wars to have hit the planet. Best sellers, newest to oldest oldest to newest price low to high price. Covers a wide range of the weapons used by the third reich during the second world war, from the pistol up to the battleship tirpitz, and including a wide range of tanks, armoured vehicles, aircraft, artillery etc.
The book covers weapons from the russians, germans, americans, italians, french, british, japanese, czech, and any other axis or ally power in world war ii. May 01, 2015 world war ii,documentary, 2015 world war ii documentary, ww2, full documentary. The number of us soldiers in the war was 16,112,566. This article needs additional citations for verification. Jan 18, 2018 world war ii was fought from 1939 to 1945 and saw variety of weapons used in the field. A must read go through book for a ww2 fanatic, or even if you are slightly interested in warfare. For part 1, click here 15 interesting facts about ww2. Bursting with facts, this book is a treasure trove for anyone interested in history or military history wishing to learn more about how developments in weapons technology influenced the course of world war ii. World war ii spawned a massive variety of weapons systems. Britain did not fight alone, the war also involved many countries. Russia alone suffered more than 21 million casualties more than any other country involved in the war. Facts and data for germanys special weapons programme world war ii germany by david porter jan 1, 2010.
M3 lee tanks under construction in the huge new tank factory of the detroit arsenal. World war 2 timeline chronological timeline of ww2. World war ii, to date, caused more destruction and cost more money than any other conflict. It was the costliest and utmost widespread conflict the world has forever obtained. The following world war 2 facts for kids can be used. Airplanes also played an important role in the war at sea through the use of aircraft carriers.
There are more than 500 separate items of equipment used between 1939 and 1945, from combat handguns to massive aircraft carriers. The backstory of weapons employed in world war 2 on land, sea and air was the intense focus of the scientific tech communities to create the means for the greatest devastation. Bursting with facts, this book is a treasure trove for anyone interested in history or military history wishing to learn. Nuclear weapon, device designed to release energy in an explosive manner as a result of nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or a combination of the two. For almost six years from 1939 to 1945 britain fought the toughest war it had ever experienced. The book provides the vital statistics of each weapon as well as a brief history of it. There were a total of approximately 1,500,000 jews killed during the war.
The soviet union used a similar tactic to bring down german aircraft. The efficient engine of this destruction was the gatoclass sub, the backbone of the u. Dec 01, 2016 the second world war saw many varied weapons being used by soldiers. John walter, guns of the third reich, greenhill books, 2004, p. At the time the united states entered world war ii, the military was still using weapons that had been in use during the first world war, including long trench knives. The top ten ww2 fiction books of all time ww2 reads. List of common world war ii infantry weapons wikipedia.
Technology played a significant role in world war ii. World war ii greatly advanced technology and the weapons developed helped shape the postwar world. Oct 10, 2019 world war 2 rationing in nazi germany surpassingly enough there werent many restrictions that the government at the time laid upon the civilians, at least during the first part of the war. Interesting facts about the aircraft of world war ii. The japanese used a tactic called kamikaze where they would purposely crash a plane into an enemy ship to sink it.
Four of every five german soldiers killed in the war, died on the eastern front. Before the war, there had been less than 1% of women working in the industry. Weapons also serve many other purposes in society including use in sports, collections for display, and historical displays and demonstrations. The following article on ww2 vehicles is an excerpt from barrett tillman dday encyclopedia. Classical strategies for a modern world takes a unique approach. Leave a comment below letting us know what weapon you. More than 600 fullcolor artworks accompany entries that feature a detailed history of each weapons design and. A lavishly illustrated compendium of military hardware covers everything that fought in the air, on the ground, and on the seas during world war ii. Fission weapons are commonly referred to as atomic bombs, and fusion weapons are referred to as thermonuclear bombs or, more commonly, hydrogen bombs. List of german military equipment of world war ii wikipedia. All supported by a mix of full colour illustrations and contemporary photographs, giving an idea of vast range of weapons produced by.
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