Free World War 2 Essay Examples & Topics

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.

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:

  • Impact of World War 2 on the world’s economy.
  • What were the reasons for World War 2?
  • What are the results of WW2?
  • The military training process in the Second World War.
  • Versailles Treaty and the way it affected Germany.
  • What role did WW2 play in aircraft development?
  • The role of African American soldiers in WW2.
  • The ways rationing affected people’s lives during WW2.
  • WW2 sides and leaders, and their impact on world history.
  • The role of propaganda posters during WW2.
  • The way WW2 affected civil liberties.
  • How the creation of atomic bombs affected WW2.
  • The reason why WW2 caused Cold War.
  • What are the consequences of World War 2 for the USA?
  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights after WW2.
  • The reasons the USA entered WW2.
  • Causes and events that led to WW2.
  • What are the WW2 innovations that changed our lives?
  • What role did Penicillin play during WW2?
  • The WW2 impact on international alliances.
  • What was the women’s role in World War 2?
  • Activities for teaching younger students about WW2.
  • How WW2 influenced art and culture.
  • Could WW2 have been avoided?
  • The ways WW2 impacted the railroads.

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

164 Best Essay Examples on World War II

Miscommunication problems: the us and japan in world war ii.

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World War 2 Consequences

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The World War 2 Positive and Negative Repercussions

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Could the US Prevent the Start of World War II?

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Causes of World War II

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Science and Technology as Powerful Tools of Warfare and Destruction

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The Causes and Consequences of World War Two

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“The Naked and the Dead” by Norman Mailer

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Pearl Harbor: A Look at the Historical Accuracy

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World War II and Humanism

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Seven Principles of Mission Command After the Pearl Harbor Attack

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What role did india play in the second world war.

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The Battle of Tarawa

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World War II: A Very Short Introduction

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Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing

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Australia’s Soldiers and Wars in Middle East and Europe

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German Strategy During the Beginning of WWII

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The Office of Strategic Services Operational Groups in World War II

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Warfare: Ethical and Moral Issues

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Arguments Against the Use of Nuclear Weapons in World War II

The european theatre of operations in wwii.

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Pre-World War II South Africa: Centuries-Old Exploitation

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USA’s Ever-Increasing Involvement in Vietnam Between the 1950s and 1970s

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Wikipedia: Posts About World War II

Hiroshima and nagasaki: the long-term health effects.

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Chapter Summary: The Rise of the State System, 1914-1950

Matures: 1920-1940 analysis, winston churchill, a leader during the world war ii, the holocaust and schindler’s list: transforming the human perception of violence, the cold war: gains and losses, the iron curtain speech by winston churchill.

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The Liberation of the Nazi Concentration Camps

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“Thank God for Atom the Bomb” by Paul Fussell: Arguments for Nuclear Bombing

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The World War II: Impact and Consequences

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Female Russian Snipers: From Second World War to Present Day

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World War II and Germany’s Invasion Plans

Investigation of war causes between the usa and japan.

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Women’s Role in World War II

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Donovan Webster’s Book Aftermath

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World War II Propaganda Posters in America

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Anti-Japanese Propaganda During World War II

E. b. sledge’s views on dropping the a-bomb, issue of world war ii regarding comfort women.

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Hiroshima and Its Importance in US History

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Was the US Justified in Dropping the Atomic Bomb?

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Rights of Prisoners of War in the Geneva Convention

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The Neylam Plan Article. Critique of the Article.

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The Holocaust: Historical Analysis

Air power in the pacific air war of 1941-1945.

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Shifting Images of Chinese Americans During World War II

From world war to cold war, “judgment without trial” by tetsuden kashima, the second world war and its legacy, chapters 18-19 of o’reilly’s “killing the rising sun”.

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The Impact of the Attack on Pearl Harbor

Atomic bomb as a necessary evil to end wwii.

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Canada as British Ally in the Second World War

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The Postwar Struggle for Integration: City and Suburbs

Deindustrialization after the world war ii, the cold war: a new history.

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The United States and the Second World War

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Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Historic Attitudes

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Pearl Harbor Attack: Paranoia and Conspiracy

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Document Analysis: Japan’s Comfort Women

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The Spirit of the Marshall Plan

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The Berlin Airlift. American Experience Documentary

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Japanese Bombing of Darwin Harbor and Australian Security

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The Life of a Freedom Fighter in Post WWII Palestine

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World War 2 Essay Topics: 50+ Ideas and Examples for Your Paper

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by  Antony W

December 5, 2023

world war 2 essay topics

Perhaps the most difficult part about writing an essay on World War 2 is to find a title. Brainstorming ideas and doing preliminary research to determine if a topic is good can take a lot of time. To make the ideation process easier for you, we’ve put together a list of 50+ topics that you might love.

World War II is a broad subject. So you want to make sure you first read the assignment brief and narrow down your focus on a specific area that you can cover within the scope of the assignment.

Of course, a list of 50+ prewritten topics means you have an unlimited option when it comes to topic selection. Yet, given that you can cover only one topic at a time, it’s best to single out what topic would be best for you to explore and then develop it based on the assignment brief.  

Key Takeaways

  • While World War II is a broad area with hundreds of History essay topics , your focus should be on a specific topic that you can explore within the scope of the assignment.
  • Choose a topic that you find fascinating, especially if falls within a theme that you’ve always wanted to explore.
  • Refer to the assignment prompt if you’re in doubt about your topic, or seek guidance from your teacher for further clarity.

50+ Best World War 2 Essay Topics: 50+ Ideas for Your Paper

The following is a list of some of the best World War II topics for your next essay assignment:

Economy and Workforce Topics

The United States was already struggling to recover from the Great Depression, which means that World War II did have a severe effect on the economy and workforce of the states. Here are some topic ideas to consider.

  • You can write an essay on how food packaging evolved during the war and the changes that occurred in advertisements.
  • What were the newly created job roles, and who filled these new positions during the war
  • Explain how the society reacted to the war’s propaganda, as well as the underlying reasons for these responses.
  • How did Word War II alter the production of toys during the period that it lasted?
  • What were the new products introduced that became part of popular culture during and after the war?

Culture and People Topics

Your essay can focus on the drastic changes to life after the United States of America got into World War II. From racism and civil rights to basic needs and resistance movements, here are some example topics to consider:

  • What changes occurred in the rights of African-Americans during wartime?
  • Did horses, dogs, birds, or other animals hold specific significance or functions in World War II?
  • Was there a rise or decline in domestic violence cases during this period?
  • Explain how the children of soldiers cope with the impact of the World War II.
  • What changes did civilian fashion undergo during World War II and what were the impacts of the alterations?
  • What do letters reveal about relationships, families, and gender roles during the World War II period?
  • How was penicillin used, and was there any medical progress during and after the war?

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Technology and Transportation Topics

World War II contributed quite significantly to the development of transportation and technology . This change the way news spread, how people entertained themselves, and the way human beings communicated. Here are some topic ideas that fit into this area:

  • What advancements in transportation infrastructure emerged from wartime or postwar policies, specifically in bridges and roads?
  • Explain how radio or other communication methods influence significant events.
  • Write about the needs that drove the creation of folding motorcycles and why military motorcycles in use wide use by the government?
  • State the technologies that originated from the war and explain their implementation after the World War II.
  • Which TV shows drew inspiration from the war, and how accurate were they?
  • Can we attribute the progress in jet engine technology to the World War II?
  • How crucial was rocket technology during this period?
  • Why and how did remarkable shipbuilding accomplishments occur during the war?

World War II Argumentative Essay Topics

An argumentative essa y topic on the Second World War requires you to take a side and use evidence, statistics, and reasons to defend that position. You’ll have to look at both sides of the arguments, but then use the strongest pieces of evidence to explain why you believe your take on the topic (or issue) is more believable than the other is.  Here are some examples:

  • Did the World War II even alter the global balance of power?
  • Evaluate the roles played by nationalism, imperialism, and totalitarianism in causing WWII.
  • Are there controversies surrounding the use of atomic bombs during the World War II?
  • Look at the factors that facilitated the Holocaust on a massive scale during the Second World War.
  • Did women have a strong contribution to the World War II and was their fight for equality during the time reasonable?
  • Did propaganda affect public perception during the World War II?
  • The World War II did not play a big contribution to the technological and scientific progress at the time.
  • Was the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II a violation of their civil rights?

World War II History Topics

  • How did the Treaty of Versailles contribute to and influence the outbreak of World War II?
  • Explain the factors that led to the ascension of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
  • Assess the importance of the Battle of Britain in halting German advancement.
  • What role did Winston Churchill play in guiding Britain through World War II?
  • Examine the tactics and significant battles in the Pacific during World War 2.
  • Analyze how resistance movements in occupied Europe contributed to the Allies’ success.

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About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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