<P> The start of the war in Europe is generally held to be 1 September 1939 , beginning with the German invasion of Poland ; Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later . The dates for the beginning of war in the Pacific include the start of the Second Sino - Japanese War on 7 July 1937 , or even the Japanese invasion of Manchuria on 19 September 1931 . </P>
<P> The start of the war in Europe is generally held to be 1 September 1939 , beginning with the German invasion of Poland ; Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later . The dates for the beginning of war in the Pacific include the start of the Second Sino - Japanese War on 7 July 1937 , or even the Japanese invasion of Manchuria on 19 September 1931 . </P>
what was the official beginning of world war ii in europe
what was the official beginning of world war ii in europe
1 September 1939
1 September 1939