World War Two, also known as the second world war, lasted from 1939 – 1945. While the war affected most of the world and resulted in approximately 75 million deaths – including 11 million who were systematically killed in the Holocaust – the war was fought predominately between the Allies and Axis countries. The Allies opposed Germany and included France, China, Soviet Union, United States, and Britain and her territories. The Axis included Germany, Japan and Italy.