Free World War 2 Essay Examples & Topics

Free World War 2 Essay Examples & Topics

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182 samples

World War 2 is an international war from 1939 to 1945. The conflict involved the Axis alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan against the Allied powers of France, Great Britain, the USA, the USSR, and China. WW2 remains the most significant conflict in history, with estimated 40,000,000–50,000,000 deaths.

Keep in mind that you should be politically correct and ethically proper while writing a WW 2 essay. Being one of the most crucial events in the world’s history, it has caused controversial interpretations.

In this article, our team has prepared some tips on how to write World War 2 in an essay or research paper. You’ll find great topics for practice or completing your assignment. Besides, there are World War 2 essay examples. They will be amazing for understanding the appropriate structure and argumentation.

To compose a paper about any war, you’ll have to use common techniques. In essence, writing WWII essays is similar to describing other tragic historical events. You should elaborate on the assigned timeline, refer to trustworthy sources, and be careful in stating your points.

WW2 essay writing includes the following aspects:

  • Sources. There are two types of sources that you can use. Primary sources are the first-hand retelling of the event. It might be the newspapers, documents, etc. Secondary sources are based on the primary ones. It might be researches or books. Remember that the sources should be trustworthy.
  • Citations. Make sure to cite all your quotes, even the paraphrased ones. Provide the context to each one and try to summarize information from different sources. If you do a quotation, remember to mention it in the reference list.
  • Historical context. While writing a paper about real events, it is crucial to provide historical context. You need to analyze the evidence and study various sources. Express your own thoughts based on what you’ve learned.
  • Thesis statement. In one sentence, summarize the point of your paper. That’s your thesis statement. It can be a question that you’ll answer in your essay. Our thesis generator can help you create one for your paper.
  • Outline. Writing about a war, you should follow the standard academic structure. It includes an introduction with a hook, three body paragraphs with arguments and evidence, and a conclusion. In the body paragraphs, write topic sentences that support the thesis.
  • Title. Your WW2 essay title should summarize the main idea of your paper. Make sure to capitalize the words according to the required format.

25 Word War 2 Essay Topics

You’ll have no trouble writing your WW2 essay if you use our tips. What you need to do now is to choose an idea to elaborate on. For that purpose, use our topic generator or check the list below.

There are 25 WW2 essay topics we can recommend to you:

  1. Impact of World War 2 on the world’s economy.
  2. What were the reasons for World War 2?
  3. What are the results of WW2?
  4. The military training process in the Second World War.
  5. Versailles Treaty and the way it affected Germany.
  6. What role did WW2 play in aircraft development?
  7. The role of African American soldiers in WW2.
  8. The ways rationing affected people’s lives during WW2.
  9. WW2 sides and leaders, and their impact on world history.
  10. The role of propaganda posters during WW2.
  11. The way WW2 affected civil liberties.
  12. How the creation of atomic bombs affected WW2.
  13. The reason why WW2 caused Cold War.
  14. What are the consequences of World War 2 for the USA?
  15. Universal Declaration of Human Rights after WW2.
  16. The reasons the USA entered WW2.
  17. Causes and events that led to WW2.
  18. What are the WW2 innovations that changed our lives?
  19. What role did Penicillin play during WW2?
  20. The WW2 impact on international alliances.
  21. What was the women’s role in World War 2?
  22. Activities for teaching younger students about WW2.
  23. How WW2 influenced art and culture.
  24. Could WW2 have been avoided?
  25. The ways WW2 impacted the railroads.

Thanks for reading, and good luck with your World War 2 essay! You’ll find free samples below.

182 Best Essay Examples on World War II

Reasons why Bombing Japan was not justified

According to the historian, the myth that the bombings weakened Japan's will to fight and that they saved both Japanese and American soldiers is only meant to justify Truman's decision and help in easing the [...]
  • 2.9
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1391

World War 2 Consequences

The major causes of this Great War were the unresolved issues that resulted from the World War 1. Another thing that led to the World War 2 was the failure of the League of Nations.
  • 3.3
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1085

Propaganda During World War II

The Second World War was a complicated time for both the general public and the authorities since while the former worried for their safety, family, and homeland, the latter needed to maintain the national spirit [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 396

Could the US Prevent the Start of World War II?

Some believe that the United States of America could prevent the outbreak of the war. Therefore, it is possible to assume that the USA could not have prevented the start of the Second World War [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 287

World War II Innovations

Named as the Manhattan Project during World War II, the nuclear program of the Allies led to catastrophic consequences for the Axis forces, particularly in the context of the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1389

Causes of World War II

Therefore the desire by the Germans under Hitler to conquer other countries and the desire by the Japanese to expand their territory was the key cause of the war in Europe and subsequently the World [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1416

The Role Played by Texans in World War II

Involvement in the war was expected because the US was against Japan's entry into Middle East, and colonization of Africa and certain regions of Europe by Germany and Italy. The US was greatly perturbed after [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 568

The World War II Propaganda Techniques

All the parties to the war, including Germany, the Soviet Union, and Britain, invested many resources in propaganda, but the present essay will focus on the United States' effort. Furthermore, propaganda messages were created to [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 323

The Nuremberg Trials and Their Criticism

For instance, the Allies used Count Methods during the trials despite the fact that they were non-European. The Nuremberg court was not impartial since the judges were selected by the victors of the war.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 525

Pearl Harbor: The Causes and the Aftermath

It is important to note that, achievement of such expectations was one of the hardest things to achieve for Japan, because of the great powers that America had over this region.
  • 5
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2793

World War II Propaganda and Its Effects

The purpose of this paper is to examine the confrontation between the German and the Soviet propaganda machines during the period of the Second Patriotic War, outline the goals and purposes of each, and identify [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2858

World War II Propaganda Posters in America

The imagery of the boot stepping on the American church is not just a threat to the religious ideals of the country but a threat to freedom itself as the church often doubled as the [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 663

Japanese Americans Internment During the WWII

Besides, the treatise reviews the historical dynamics that allowed for the internment of Japanese Americans and the impacts of internment in the Japanese American communities during and after the end of WW II.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1695

The Japanese Occupation of Southeast Asia 1941-1945

Research reveals that the transformation that marred the region was as a result of Japan's unique focus on the challenges that was facing the region and the many social and economic challenges that emerged during [...]
  • 2
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2388

The Turning Point of War; Stalingrad Battle

The Stalingrad battle began in September 1942 during the winter, led by the "German commander of the sixth army, General Paulus and assisted by Fourth Panzer Army"; indeed, General Paulus was ordered by Hitler to [...]
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2133

“The Naked and the Dead” by Norman Mailer

Moreover, the fact that the first part of the novel ends with one of the main characters passing away reflects the situation of that time and those circumstances of the war.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1343

Investigation of War Causes Between the USA and Japan

Nevertheless, it is necessary to dive into the depth of Pacific War causes analysis in order to understand its relation to the events in Europe and outline the basic effects it brought to the countries; [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1486

Pearl Harbor Attack: U.S. and Japan

This was a military base of the US military forces during the Second World War. Japan was weary of the US and wanted to suppress it as it was the only threat to Japan's conquest.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 562

The battle of Normandy

This battle was and still remains one of the most significant occurrences of contemporary history as the united forces shattered the core of the Nazi troops and as a result speeding up the devastation of [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1507

The World War II: Impact and Consequences

The Allies and the Axis were reluctant to follow any line that risked running into the antagonism of the other for fear of alienating their ally and therefore endangering one of the precepts of their [...]
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 3016

Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bombings

The aftermath of the infamous attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki remains one of the worst disasters in the history of the humankind, as well as one of the worst war crimes.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 634

The Dunkirk Pullback in World War II

Churchill used the Dunkirk evacuation as a rhetorical device in his speech to boost the spirits of the British people and inspire them to continue the battle against the Germans.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 559

Canada’s Role and Experiences in World War II

The book emphasized the painful experiences the victims of the soldiers went through and the traumatizing memories they had. In the accompaniment of readers, the authors describe strategic bombing as a series of military activities, [...]
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2127

Cold War Impact on Germany

The question of Germany's destiny, its state structure, and postwar borders were on the agenda of the meetings of representatives of the leading countries - members of the anti-Hitler coalition in the years of the [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 583

German Strategy During the Beginning of WWII

The German's use of the Nine Variables - Elements of Strategy aided them with great success at the beginning of the war from 1939 - 1941, and the failure to accurately access the Nine Constants [...]
  • Pages: 15
  • Words: 4266

The Role of Propaganda During World War II

The poster encourages men to enroll in the army to protect the peaceful lives of women and children. By manipulating emotions and feelings, propaganda influenced people to enroll in the army or work harder.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 300

Wartime Conferences of World War II

The wartime conferences of World War II were genuinely significant in deciding the strategy undertaken by the Allies but also helped shape the world order during and in the aftermath of the world.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 355

D-Day: The Role in World War II

By the end of 1944, Paris was released after the Allies approached the Seine River. D-Day became a significant event that influenced the pace of World War II.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 302

Doing Academic World War II Research

Researchers can use the information on the authors at Britannica to determine the reliability of the information provided on the website.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1120

Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing

In addition, the refusal of Japanese troops to surrender and Japan's "all-out war" have also been put forward as arguments in favor of the bombing that stopped the atrocities of the "all-out war" of Japanese [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 330

Wikipedia: Posts About World War II

There have been arguments voiced against the reliability of internet sources such as Wikipedia as a source of scholarly information. Wikipedia commands a huge following on the internet as a source of information.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 412

Matures: 1920-1940 Analysis

Despite the fact that one may not incline to the collective mind set of a given generation, one is bound to be influenced by the mind set and hence the personality is shaped by the [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 603

The Cold War: Gains and Losses

The United States was one of the countries that took part in the Cold War; it also involved itself in Space Race. The formation of alliances among the nations involved in the Cold War contributed [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 586

The Iron Curtain Speech by Winston Churchill

It also reassured the people that everything that was necessary at the time was being done by the governments and there should be no fear in expecting another war, as the governments of the world [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1158

The Liberation of the Nazi Concentration Camps

Most camp inmates were put to work in stone quarries, other extractive industries, and in SS-owned factories With the invasion of Poland in 1939 and the rest of Europe soon after, the opportunity came to [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 556

The Reality and Myth of “The Good War”

And despite the fact that it is ethically controversial to praise the positive outcomes of the war there were many reasons for the United States to enter WWII and there is little evidence of its [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 551

Paul Kramer: Exceptions, and Anglo-Saxons

The focus of the paper is on the debates about the annexation of the Philippines, the colonialism of Britain and the USA, and "Anglo-Saxon" racism that was presented in the late 19th century as the [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 868

Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco

She played a very important role in the history of the United States: The ship took part in the D-Day invasion and carried "beans, bullets, and black oil" to all the men and women fighting [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 573

The Decision to Drop the Atom Bomb

President Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a decision of unprecedented complexity and gravity and, without a doubt, the most difficult decision of his life.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 593

Atmosphere and Culture of the 30’s

It goes without saying that the cultural and artistic life of America was subjected to the influence of the economic crisis in the United States.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 850

Comparing World War II to September 11th

Both attacks were condemned on a global scale, and a huge fraction of the rest of the world rallied behind the US. Over 16 million soldiers were deployed to settle the score with the Japanese, [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 985

The Rape of Nanjing: Issue Analysis

Nevertheless, the exact details of the war crimes are a source of controversy among the Japanese, the Chinese, and also the American historians to this day.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 562

Women’s Role in World War II

The significance of this event is not only due to the destruction and the great number of people that were killed in the said conflict but also the numerous precedents that help changed the course [...]
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1969

Donovan Webster’s Book Aftermath

The influence of weapons and military strategies is considered to be under expansion without any involvement of civilian populations and any kind of their infrastructure, water, and air; besides, the military used to target jungles, [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1514

Anti-Japanese Propaganda During World War II

The content of propaganda was much the same as that of broadcast propaganda: emphasis on the Allies' growing war potential, ridicule of the more preposterous assertions of the National Socialists, evidence of self-contradictions in the [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 994

Intelligence, War and International Relations

In order to make the plans a success, the first part of the execution entailed the leaking of the plans pertaining to the invasion of Norway and Calais, which was done by the British Secret [...]
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2749

Rights of Prisoners of War in the Geneva Convention

Most famously realized in the various Geneva Conventions negotiated in the wake of the two world wars, these norms confer upon detainees both substantive rights and the right to a judicial determination of their proper [...]
  • Pages: 20
  • Words: 4833

America During the 1960s Review

Morgan explains about the social change in America where civil rights were ultimately granted to African-Americans in the aftermath of massive led black demonstrations that will always be remembered on account of several incidents: the [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1154

The Holocaust: Historical Analysis

The Holocaust, now the example of Jewish pain, has long stopped to be a piece of history, and is now regarded by spiritual and material alike, as a piece of divinity - a sacred text [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 558

Shifting Images of Chinese Americans During World War II

Therefore, it is important to elaborate on the history of relationships between Japanese Americans and Chinese Americans in the period between 1920 and 1940. Thus, the tendency for the distinguishing and distancing of the Chinese [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 297

From World War to Cold War

The end of World War significantly shifted the balance of power in Europe and globally, leaving a void that both the United States and the Soviet Union sought to fulfill.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 613

“Judgment Without Trial” by Tetsuden Kashima

It is possible to state with certainty that the topic of the imprisonment of the Japanese American population during World War II is paid significant attention in the academic literature due to the magnitude of [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 548

The Second World War and Its Legacy

While being spatially distanced from the military conflict that grasped the entirety of Europe at the time, the United States also experienced the drastic effects of WWII, including the tremendous number of human lives devoured [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 893

The Impact of the Attack on Pearl Harbor

With the country focusing on the reality of the Pearl Harbor attack, it was quite clear that there was a need to join the Allies and make the world safe again.
  • 5
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 846

Atomic Bomb as a Necessary Evil to End WWII

Maddox argued that by releasing the deadly power of the A-bomb on Japanese soil, the Japanese people, and their leaders could visualize the utter senselessness of the war.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1457

Deindustrialization After the World War II

The battle for equality in different working environments led to the passage of the Fair Employment Practices Commission. The tightening labor market in the country also resulted in new employment patterns.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 561

The Cold War: A New History

The United States of America and the Soviet Union were the two most powerful nations involved in the war. Another factor that contributed to the end of the cold war was the economic deterioration of [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1146

The United States and the Second World War

He suggested that talking could deter Hitler and his people from the homicide mania. Tribunals could be set up to find alternative ways of solving the issues affecting the Jews and Christians.
  • 3
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 576

US Army Air Corps’ Innovation During Interwar Period

The influence of the theories of air warfare on the development of technology and innovation during the Interwar Period is evident as both Mitchell and Douhet had rather similar views on the role of air [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1226

Cold War Discussion: Six Facts

The continuously developing conflict between the USSR and the USA became one of the most important aspects of the 20th century.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 639

Pearl Harbor Attack: Paranoia and Conspiracy

According to a conspiracy theory related to the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt was informed of the impending attack and had not warned military commanders in Hawaii in order to involve the country in [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1671

World War II: A Very Short Introduction

The questions addressed in the book were not very often discussed previously, as the author states in the introduction; Weinberg examines Germany's responsibility for World War II, the reasons behind the eventual victory of the [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1189

United States Military Challenges

Nearing the end of the Second World War, the United States demonstrated to the global society that it was moving a step ahead of the rest in military development when it used the first atomic [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 564

The Spirit of the Marshall Plan

The political and military tension between the United States of America and the Soviet Union soon after the end of the Second World War made it necessary for the United States to spread its influence [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1396

Kamikaze Reinterpretation in “Wings of Defeat”

For the purpose of accurate historical documentation of the Second World War, it is important to point out that Kamikaze fighters are not comparable to religious extremists, because they plunged to their deaths on the [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 564

American Homefront During World War II

The people who remained at home also had to change their lives to suit the war. On the same note, the people left at the homefront had to work together in order to survive.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 569
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