How much do you really know about the most significant conflicts of the 20th century? These 80 World Wars history quiz questions cover key events, major battles, political leaders, military strategy, and the global impact of both World War I and World War II.
This quiz is divided into 8 rounds of 10 questions, perfect for classroom activities, history buffs, pub quizzes, or anyone looking to challenge their knowledge of modern warfare. Ready to begin?
🪖 Round 1: World War I – The Basics
1. In what year did World War I begin?
2. What event is commonly cited as the spark that started WWI?
3. Which country did Franz Ferdinand represent?
4. What alliance included Britain, France, and Russia?
5. What new type of warfare emerged on the Western Front?
6. Which country switched sides during the war and joined the Allies in 1915?
7. What was the name of Germany’s plan for quickly defeating France?
8. Which battle in 1916 was one of the bloodiest in WWI, with over 700,000 casualties?
9. Who was the British Prime Minister during the final years of WWI?
10. What treaty officially ended World War I in 1919?
🪖 Round 2: World War I – Events & Fronts
11. What was the name of the British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915?
12. What new weapon was first widely used at the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915?
13. Which Eastern Front empire collapsed during World War I?
14. What was the name of the failed Allied campaign in modern-day Turkey in 1915–1916?
15. Who led the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia during the war?
16. What country sent the Zimmerman Telegram proposing an alliance with Mexico?
17. What major power joined the war in 1917, tipping the balance in favor of the Allies?
18. What was the nickname for American troops in World War I?
19. What battle marked the last major German offensive on the Western Front?
20. What date is commemorated as the end of World War I?
Round 3: Between the Wars – Treaties & Tensions
21. What was the international organization created after WWI to maintain peace?
22. What global economic event began in 1929 and helped destabilize Europe?
23. Who became Chancellor of Germany in 1933?
24. What agreement allowed Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia in 1938?
25. What was the policy of giving in to Hitler’s demands to avoid war called?
26. What fascist leader ruled Italy during the interwar period?
27. What empire did Japan invade in 1931, beginning its expansion in Asia?
28. What was the name of the alliance between Germany and Italy in 1936?
29. What 1936–1939 conflict is often considered a prelude to WWII?
30. What pact did Germany and the Soviet Union sign in 1939, agreeing not to attack each other?
🪖 Round 4: World War II – The Early Years
31. In what year did World War II begin?
32. What country did Germany invade to trigger the start of WWII?
33. What two countries declared war on Germany in response to the invasion of Poland?
34. What was the name of Germany’s rapid military strategy?
35. What was the name of the British evacuation from France in 1940?
36. Who became Prime Minister of Britain in 1940?
37. What was the name of the sustained bombing campaign over Britain in 1940–41?
38. What was Germany’s air force called during WWII?
39. What Axis power joined the war by invading Greece and North Africa?
40. What country did Germany betray by invading in June 1941?
🪖 Round 5: World War II – Major Battles & Turning Points
41. What 1942 battle marked the turning point of the war in the Pacific?
42. What city was the focus of a brutal and decisive Eastern Front battle in 1942–43?
43. What major amphibious invasion took place on June 6, 1944?
44. What was the codename for the D-Day operation?
45. What battle in late 1944 was Germany’s last major offensive in the West?
46. What battle was fought between Allied and Japanese forces for control of a small Pacific island in 1945?
47. What North African battle in 1942 halted Axis advances?
48. What was the name of the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943?
49. What naval battle secured Australia from Japanese invasion?
50. What German city was heavily bombed in February 1945, causing major civilian casualties?
🪖 Round 6: World War II – The Holocaust & War Crimes
51. What was the name of the Nazi plan to exterminate the Jews of Europe?
52. What concentration camp became the most infamous extermination site?
53. What term describes the genocide of six million Jews during WWII?
54. What country lost the highest number of Jewish citizens during the Holocaust?
55. Who was the head of the SS and a key architect of the Holocaust?
56. What was the name of the 1942 meeting where Nazi officials formalized plans for the Holocaust?
57. What international trials prosecuted top Nazi leaders after the war?
58. What charge was most commonly brought against Nazi officials?
59. What term is used for blind allegiance to authority, often studied after WWII atrocities?
60. What symbol were Jews forced to wear in Nazi-occupied territories?
🪖 Round 7: The End of WWII & Aftermath
61. What German leader committed suicide in April 1945?
62. What city fell to Soviet forces in May 1945, marking the end of the war in Europe?
63. What is the name of the day celebrating the Allied victory in Europe?
64. What two Japanese cities were hit by atomic bombs in August 1945?
65. What U.S. president authorized the use of atomic bombs?
66. What is the name of the day marking the end of the war in the Pacific?
67. What was the name of the U.S. project that developed nuclear weapons?
68. What general led Allied forces in the Pacific and oversaw Japan’s postwar occupation?
69. What postwar conference divided Germany into zones of occupation?
70. What organization was created in 1945 to promote international peace?
🪖 Round 8: Legacy & Impact
71. What two superpowers emerged after World War II?
72. What conflict immediately followed WWII between Western powers and the Soviet bloc?
73. What military alliance was formed in 1949 as a Western counter to Soviet influence?
74. What parallel divided North and South Korea after WWII?
75. What term describes the postwar economic and military support the U.S. gave to Western Europe?
76. What trials set the precedent for prosecuting crimes against humanity?
77. What international declaration was adopted in 1948 to protect human rights?
78. What ideology spread through Eastern Europe under Soviet control after WWII?
79. What war began in 1950 as a direct result of post-WWII tensions?
80. What is the long-lasting political and ideological division that shaped the second half of the 20th century?
📝 Outro
That’s the end of this 80-question journey through two of the most defining conflicts in modern history. Whether you’re prepping for a history competition or just testing your memory, we hope these World Wars history quiz questions gave you a challenge — and maybe a few surprises.
Explore our other quizzes on science, literature, and general knowledge to keep the momentum going. And if you’re running a classroom, pub quiz, or trivia night, feel free to use and share this set — no permission needed.