While World War I was confined mostly to Europe, WWII was truly global in nature.  The death toll topped 100 millions souls and changed the entire planet politically, economically, and technologically.  There were two main theatres of battle; a war was fought in Europe and the Atlantic Ocean and a related conflict raged in the Pacific Ocean.

    This was a war that included appalling civilian casualties, history's largest genocidal episode, and entrance into the Atomic Age.  The war created some very unlikely allies.

     It was probably the most infuential event in human history.  When it was over, the Great Power System of Europe was extinguished, replaced by a "New World Order" that featured two superpowers.  For the first time, mankind had developed technology capable of eradicating all human life on Earth.

     For Europe, it meant the end of the good old days when one small continent controlled most of the world's resources.  The entire planet is still adjusting to World War II.