When did World War II started?

[oakranger]

If I remember right, it was a pair of british journalists that coined the 'World War 2' term.

Anyways, WW1 was global as well. Nations that declared war on Germany were : Russia (Eurasia), British Empire/Commonwealth (India/Australia/New Zealand/Africa), United States/Canada and Japan. That covers the entire globe actively engaged in combat against Germany.

I think that no war before that had ever included participants from every continent against the same foe and had combat take place around the world under 2 groups fighting each other. Not even the british / french colonial wars as colonies from each side fighting each other doesn't exactly count since they were dragged into it by the dominating powers. WW1 and WW2 however, did see the british colonies and commonwealth nations issue war declarations of their own. 

Well, read about the seven year war.  It was a war that Bitish ( UK, Britsh Colonies in North America, Britsh East India Company, Irland), France (New France of north amica, French East India Company) Austria, Handover, Burnswick- Wolfenbiuttel, Hesse-Kassel, a dozen American indain tribs and nations, Swedon, Russia, Spain, Neatherland, Portugal, and Indian, Roman empire, Saxony, Naples, and Sardinia.  

All the battles took place in North America (French and Indian War), Europe, Africa, India, and Philippines.  Back then the world was so huge to have a global confect, even for that time peroid.  That is why it should be WWI.  

[oakranger]

World War II had no exact beginning but clearly was in progress with the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 and was clearly a world conflict with the bombing of the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor by Japan in December of 1941.  However, many historians argue on what should be consider the exact date or WWII.  Most do stand on the German Invation in Poland.  But I am including events before 1939, going as far back as 1917.  There are many events that lead to WWII.


1917 - Bolshevik revolt Nov. 6 by Lenin and Trotsky overthrew Czar Nicholas and established a Communist government in Russia. After the death of Lenin in 1924, Joseph Stalin rose to power and drove Trotsky out of the government by 1927.

1918 - new states of Lithuania (Feb. 16), Estonia (Feb. 24), Czechoslovakia (Oct. 18), Poland (Nov. 11), Republic of Austria (Nov. 13), Republic of Hungary (Nov. 16), Latvia (Nov. 18), Yugoslavia (Nov. 24)
1919, June- The Treaty of Versailles was signed at the end of World War I, and was intended to disarm Germany and force her to pay war reparations. Europe is essentially redrawn, creating an independant Polish state
1920 - Treaty of Sevres Aug. 10 carved up the former Ottoman Empire in the Middle East into new mandates controlled by Britain and France: Syria, Transjordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine (that was opened to Jewish settlement in accordance with the Balfour Declaration of Nov. 2, 1917, giving British support to the Zionist movement founded by Theodor Herzl in 1897 and led by Chaim Weizmann. The Treaty denied independence sought by the Arabs led by King Hussein who had helped the British fight the Turks and who had sent Prince Feisal to the Versailles peace conference. The Ottoman Empire was replaced by the new Republic of Turkey Oct. 29, 1923, led by President Mustapha Kemal.
1923 - France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr Jan. 11 after Germany defaulted on coal reparations payments; Hitler's "beer hall putsch Nov. 8 failed to overthrow the Bavarian government and Hitler was sentenced to 5 years in prison (served 1 year) and wrote Mein Kampf.
1929, 23 October- The New York Stock Exchange crashes. A worldwide economic depression begins, pulling Germany back into its economic depression that it had been battling to escape for 10 years.
1929 - Kellogg-Briand Pact signed to outlaw war

1931
September 18- Japan's Kwantung Army attacked the Chinese barracks and occupied Mukden
July 1, 1931 - China began economic boycott against Japan
Sep. 18, 1931 - Japan invaded Manchura
Oct. 8, 1931 - Japan planes bombed Chinchow on China border - Japan army began move on China's NE provinces
For 1st time, China asked League to intervene, but no military action taken


1932
 Jan. - Japan sets up a puppet government to lead Manchuria as the new state Manchukuo. Japan and China begin a scuffling war that will continue until the end of World War II.
1933
Hitler had taken Germany out of the Leauge of Natins and annunced his intention to re-arm the country.
1934
Dec. 5, 1934, a skirmish at Wal Wal (Ualval) involving an Italian garrison 80 miles inside the Ethiopian border was used by Mussolini as a pretext for demanding compensation and preparing for war.

1935
Oct. 2, 1935, Mussolini ordered the bombing of Adowa by planes and the beginning of the invasion of Ethiopia by Marshal Badoglio Oct. 3 who was authorized to use poison mustard gas and destroy civilian villages.

1936
Spanish Civil War 1936-37
Summer: Leauge of Nations called off its sanctions on Italy.
March- Germany re-occupies the Rhineland. This was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles to create a de-militarized zone as a buffer between Germany and France. An enormous gamble on Hitler's part due to his still small military size, England and France merely protest.
September: Hitler and Mussolini formed a military alliance called the "Rome-Berlin Axis" and began referring to themselves as the axis powers."
November- The Anti-Comitern Pact is signed by Germany and Japan.
1938
March 12 - German troops crossed the border and occupied Austria. Hitler stood in his open car in his brown storm trooper uniform as he drove into Vienna. On March 13 he proclaimed the Anschluss and declared that Austria was now the Ostmark, a province of the Third Reich.
September 29, Germany, Britain, France, and Italy sign the Munich Pact allowing Germany to invade the Sudeten territories of Czechoslovakia.

1939
Jan. 2 - Time magazine pronounced Hitler Man of the Year for 1938, but for the first time did not show the face of the Man of the Year on the cover of the magazine.
Mar. 15- German troops enter Prague and complete the invasion of Czechoslovakia, ignoring the Munich Pact.
Mar. 23 - Hitler occupied Memelland (NE Prussia ceded to Lithuania) & demanded Danzig - map
Mar. 31- Britain declares that it will support Poland.
Apr. 8 - Italy invaded and occupied Albania, driving King Zog into exile in Greece.
July-  First Opium War in China against the west, forcing China to import British opium. Britain won the war and as a result gained control over Hong Kong.
Aug- Allies form non-aggression pacts with Turkey, Greece, Romania, and Poland.
Aug. 23 - Nazi-Soviet Pact
Sep. 1, 1939 - Poland invaded by "Blitzkrieg"
Sep. 3 - Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declare war on Germany after German forces penetrate deeper into Poland. This marks the beginning of World War II For most of the world.
Sep. 5 - FDR declared neutrality and national emergency.
Sept 10 - Canada declares war on Germany; Battle of the Atlantic begins.
Sep. 17 - Russia invaded Poland, Baltics
Sep. 27 - fall of Warsaw after 20 days bombardment
Sep. 29 - German-Russian treaty partitioned Poland
Oct. 2 - Declaration of Panama - 300 mile "safety belt"
Nov. 30 Russia invaded Finland. The Russo-Finnish War begins


1940
Mar. 12- Finland surrenders to the USSR
April 9- Nazis invade Denmark and Norway.
May 10 - western front attack began by Germany (Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France)
May 13 - Ardennnes break-through into France b y German Panzer Div.
June 10 - Norway surrenders to the Nazis; Italy declares war on Britain and France.
July 23 - Soviets take Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Aug 3-19 - Italians occupy British Somaliland in East Africa.
Sept 13 - Italians invade Egypt.
Oct 7 - German troops enter Romania.
Oct 28 - Italy invades Greece.
Nov 20- Hungary joins the Axis Powers.
Nov 23 - Romania joins the Axis Powers.

1941
April 3 - Pro-Axis regime set up in Iraq.
June 4 - Pro-Allied government installed in Iraq.
June 8 - Allies invade Syria and Lebanon.
Dec. 6 - Britain declared war on Finland, Hungary, and Rumania. 
Dec 7 - Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, invades Philippians, Malaysia, Burma, all British Colonies,  CANADA DECLARES WAR ON JAPAN
Dec 8 - United States and Britain declare war on Japan.
- Japan invaded Thailand
- AUSTRALIA DECLARES WAR ON JAPAN Union of South Africa, New Zealand,      Australia, Free France declared war on Japan.
- THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS DECLARES WAR WITH JAPAN
- Colombia broke diplomatic relations with Japan.
- Costa Rica declared war on Japan.
- The Dominican Republic declared war on Japan.
- El Salvador declared war on Japan.
- Guatemala declared war on Japan.
- Haiti declared war on Japan.
- Honduras declared war on Japan.
- Panama declared war on Japan.
Dec. 9 - CHINA'S DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST JAPAN, ALSO AGAINST GERMANY AND ITALY
-   Cuba declared war on Japan.
-   Mexico broke diplomatic relations with Japan. 
Dec 11 - Germany declares war on the United States.
-   Poland declared war with Japan.
-   Nicaragua declared war on Japan.
-   Cuba, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua declared war with Germany and Italy.
-   Mexico broke diplomatic relations with Germany and Italy.
-   Haiti, Honduras, Panama declared war on Germany and Italy.
-   Rumania declared war with the United States.
Dec 13- El Salvador declared war on Germany and Italy.
-   Bulgaria declared war on the United States.
Dec 16- Czechoslovakia declared war on all countries at war with Great Britain, Russia, or the United States.
Dec 17- Albania reported declared war on the United States.
Dec 20 - Nicaragua declared war on Rumania, Hungary, Bulgaria.
Dec 23 - Mexico broke off relations with Bulgaria, Hungary, and Rumania.

1942
Jan 1- Declaration of the United Nations signed by 26 Allied nations.


From September 1 1939 (Germany invades Poland) to August 8 1945 (Japan surrenders) would be what most people believe WWII timeline.  2222 Days.  I ask you all  what you think was the start of WWII, and you did.  I am please that you all have a rich knowledge of history.  However, the question I asked, “When did WWII started” may be a trick question.  You see, with the events on invasions and declaration of war occur on different days or years.  You never thought of the individual countries.  Case example, WWII started for Manchuria in 1931 and ended 1945.  Ethiopia saw the war in 1935 and ended 1944.  It all depends what country you are.  That is my opinion on when the war started.  And I believe WWII was official when Nicaragua declared war on Rumania, Hungary, Bulgaria on Dec. 20, 1941.  Reason is that’s was the last country to declare war and officially in it. 
I bet on December 8th was Japans first of many, many bad days of the war.  And take note, The Iroquois Nation dose have a separate government system and bill of rights from U.S. They too declared war on all the axis countries.  They are the ONLY North American Indian Nation that has a system that U.S. recognized.   

[BlauK]

1940
Mar. 12- Finland surrenders to the USSR

 
False on 2 counts.

- Finland did not surrender, the war was ended after negotiations. Soviets did not occupy Finland, Finland remained independent. Hardly a surrender, right?
- The date is Mar 13th, 1940. The peace treaty was signed on 12th, but the treaty ended the war on 13th.


Yes I know... a small detail and a side issue, but that's what a small country always is

[DiabloTX]

I still like my answer the best.

[Masherbrum]

Karaya, This is NOT multiple choice

Loading error on my end.   1st one is correct.   I did a delete, repost thingie.   

[Anaxogoras]

Yes, I like how a lot of these answers require the entry of the United States for it to be a legit "world war."  They really do a number on us in sophomore history, don't they.

I answer "whenver Japan invaded China," because it's a clear beginning for a chain of military events that ended in 1945.  It's a mistake to get caught up in the semantics of "world war."  We're not debating the meaning of words, but the location of a causal-chain of events in time.

[321BAR]

Well, to be honest, WWI should be WWII and WWII should be WWIII.  The Seven Year War (1751-1757) should be WWI.  The war consist of French, British, Austria, India and the Colonial and North American Indians.  French and Indian War is part of the Seven Year war.

dang man, any war with Britain involved before the Empire was torn down can be considered a World War; even further if you consider all of the major Empires that were around then. Even a war between France and Britain alone encompassed the Globe. All of their territories were included in this. (world war is only considered a war that encompasses the globe, it doesnt need multiple countries, etc.)

[oakranger]

False on 2 counts.

- Finland did not surrender, the war was ended after negotiations. Soviets did not occupy Finland, Finland remained independent. Hardly a surrender, right?
- The date is Mar 13th, 1940. The peace treaty was signed on 12th, but the treaty ended the war on 13th.


Yes I know... a small detail and a side issue, but that's what a small country always is

ooops. Yes, Finnland did sign a peace treaty with Russia. 

[mietla]

1917 - Bolshevik revolt Nov. 6 by Lenin and Trotsky overthrew Czar Nicholas and established a Communist government in Russia.

not quite. Tsar Nicholas was overthrown in Feb 1917 which gave way to the Provisional Government

... from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_Revolution

The February Revolution (Russian: Февральская революция) in 1917 in Russia was the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the collapse of Imperial Russia and the end of the Romanov dynasty. The non-Communist Russian Provisional Government under Prince Georgy Lvov replaced the Tsar, Prince Lvov being succeeded by Alexander Kerensky after the tumult of the July Days. The Provisional government was an alliance between liberals and socialists who wanted to instigate political reform, creating a democratically-elected executive and constituent assembly. The February Revolution took place in March 1917 of the modern calendar (Gregorian calendar). In the calendar Russia was using at the time (Julian calendar), the events occurred in February, which would explain the revolution's name.

This revolution appeared to break out spontaneously, without any real leadership or formal planning. The tensions which had for so long been building up finally exploded into a revolution, and the western state of Petrograd (the City of Saint Petersburg prior to the war) became the focal point of activity. An illustration of just how large Russia was is that it took some years for eastern parts of the country to realise that a revolution had actually taken place.[citation needed]

The February Revolution was followed in the same year by the October Revolution, bringing about Bolshevik rule and a change in Russia's social structure, while also paving the way for the USSR. Two revolutions were required in order to change the composition of the country: the first overthrew the Tsar, and the second instituted a new form of government.

[Masherbrum]

ooops. Yes, Finnland did sign a peace treaty with Russia. 

in 1947.   

[BlauK]

in 1947.   

Yup, but that was another war and another peace treaty
Finland was busy, it fought 3 wars during WW2.

[Anaxogoras]

And what's the lesson of those wars?  Never fight Finland, e.g. the Winter War:

Finland
Strength
250,000 men
30 tanks
130 aircraft[1][2]    

Russia
1,000,000 men
6,541 tanks[3]
3,800 aircraft[4][5]

Casualties and losses:

Finland
26,662 dead
39,886 wounded
1,000 captured

Russia    
126,875 dead or missing
264,908 wounded
5,600 captured
2,268+ tanks

[BoSoxFan]

The Fins must have been using aimbot.

[Angus]

There was a funny event who chain reacted into WW2, and was a one-man's thought.
At the beginning of WWI, a German captain sailed his battlecruiser to Turkey and managed therewith to get the Turks to the German side. Had it been the other way around, Germany would have lost much before, thereby changing the whole affair of WWI....

[-tronski-]

That kinda makes no sense

 Tronsky