World War II lasted for a little over six years, beginning on September 1, 1939, with Germany's invasion of Poland, and ending on September 2, 1945, with the official surrender of Japan
. Key timeline points include:
- Start: September 1, 1939 (Germany invades Poland)
- End in Europe: May 8, 1945 (V-E Day, German unconditional surrender)
- End in the Pacific: September 2, 1945 (Japan's formal surrender)
Thus, the war spanned from 1939 to 1945, totaling six years and one day
