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Quiz about World War ll History
Quiz about World War ll History

World War ll History Trivia Quiz


These questions pertain to World War II naval battles and or specific people or vessels, also to various related land or air campaigns.

A multiple-choice quiz by gamesrfun2222. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
51,487
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
25
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
16 / 25
Plays
10192
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (11/25), Guest 107 (18/25), Guest 1 (25/25).
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Question 1 of 25
1. What was the name of the admiral who commanded the Bismarck in battle and went down with the ship? Hint


Question 2 of 25
2. What is the name of the German U-Boat commander who succeeded in penetrating the British base of Scapa Flow? Hint


Question 3 of 25
3. What was the name of the only German aircraft carrier that was laid down, launched and commissioned but never saw active service? Hint


Question 4 of 25
4. What is the name of the TOP flying ace of the Second World War? Hint


Question 5 of 25
5. What was the name of the heavy cruiser sunk just two weeks before the end of WWII? (Hint. Its name is mentioned by Robert Shaw in the movie 'JAWS'). Hint


Question 6 of 25
6. What was the name of the bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima? Hint


Question 7 of 25
7. What was the name of the commander of the British 8th Army in Africa and Europe? Hint


Question 8 of 25
8. What was the name of the MOST decorated American soldier of the Second World War? Hint


Question 9 of 25
9. What was the name of the 1st 'post Dreadnought' battleship commisioned in the U.S.Navy? Hint


Question 10 of 25
10. What was the name of the US Navy's first aircraft carrier? Hint


Question 11 of 25
11. What was the name of the admiral who was in overall command of the Imperial Japanese Navy? Hint


Question 12 of 25
12. What World War II movie portrays the D-day invasion from start to finish with an all star cast? Hint


Question 13 of 25
13. Which British battlecruiser was sunk while in action with the British battleship HMS Prince of Wales? Hint


Question 14 of 25
14. To whom did Adolf Hitler dictate 'Mein Kampf' while in prison ? Hint


Question 15 of 25
15. Where and when was Adolf Hitler born? Hint


Question 16 of 25
16. What was the code name for the Allied invasion of North Africa? Hint


Question 17 of 25
17. What was 'Operation Millennium'? Hint


Question 18 of 25
18. On what date did the Allied invasion of France occur? Hint


Question 19 of 25
19. What was the name of the British ocean liner sunk by a German U-boat on 3 September 1939? Hint


Question 20 of 25
20. What claim to infamy is acredited to Alois Schicklgruber? Hint


Question 21 of 25
21. How many beaches were earmarked for the invading Allied troops on D-Day? Hint


Question 22 of 25
22. What was the name of the FIRST jet propelled fighter to fight in WWII? Hint


Question 23 of 25
23. Who was the overall commander of all Allied forces in Europe at the end of WWII? Hint


Question 24 of 25
24. What was 'Operation Barbarossa'? Hint


Question 25 of 25
25. What are the generally accepted dates for the start and finish of fighting in WWII? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 174: 11/25
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Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What was the name of the admiral who commanded the Bismarck in battle and went down with the ship?

Answer: Guenther Lutjens

Admiral Lutjens was 52 when he went to his death on the Bismarck.He along with over 2,000 officers and men, as well as prize crews and the admirals staff aboard.
2. What is the name of the German U-Boat commander who succeeded in penetrating the British base of Scapa Flow?

Answer: Guenther Prien

On 13th October 1939, Prien sank the battleship Royal Oak at anchor in Scapa Flow getting through a gap in the defences. Ironically the spot he used was scheduled to have another block ship sunk in the same passage the next day. The Royal Oak, built in 1914-16, was 600 ft long, had eight 15" main guns in 4 turrets.

Its top speed was 20 knots and took part in the battle of Jutland. It was hit by 1 torpedo that did slight dammage then 3 more from a second salvo which caused it to sink in 11 minutes taking over 800 of her crew to their deaths.
3. What was the name of the only German aircraft carrier that was laid down, launched and commissioned but never saw active service?

Answer: Graf Zeppelin

The Graf Zeppelin was laid down but never saw active service as Hitler scrapped the program to divert the steel to building other armaments.
As the end of World War II neared, Graf Zeppelin was scuttled in shallow water at Stettin (now in Poland and known as Szczecin) on 25 April 1945. Her fate after Germany's surrender is unclear.
4. What is the name of the TOP flying ace of the Second World War?

Answer: Erich Hartmann

Hartmann downed 352 planes during WWII - the highest number of any nation in the world. Many of these victories were during the Russian campaign.
5. What was the name of the heavy cruiser sunk just two weeks before the end of WWII? (Hint. Its name is mentioned by Robert Shaw in the movie 'JAWS').

Answer: USS Indianapolis

USS Indianapolis was sunk on its return trip from delivering components of the atomic bombs. Because it was on its secret mission no-one knew it was missing for a few days after she went down. Many who survived the sinking lost their lives to the great numbers of sharks in the area.
6. What was the name of the bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?

Answer: Enola Gay

Paul Warfield Tibbets piloted Enola Gay and dropped the first atomic Bomb on August 6th, 1945 on Hiroshima, Japan killing 60,000 to 70,000. A second atomic bomb dropped 3 days later dropped on Nagasaki killed about 40,000 and persuaded Japan to surrender unconditionally.
7. What was the name of the commander of the British 8th Army in Africa and Europe?

Answer: Bernard Montgomery

Montgomery was named the head of the British 8th Army and given the task of ridding Africa of the Germans.
8. What was the name of the MOST decorated American soldier of the Second World War?

Answer: Lt. Audie Leon Murphy

Film star Audie Murphy was awarded 28 medals during WWII, including the Medal of Honor.
9. What was the name of the 1st 'post Dreadnought' battleship commisioned in the U.S.Navy?

Answer: USS Michigan

Built by New York SB, Camden, NJ. Laid down 17 December 1906, launched 26 May 1908, commissioned 4 January 1910.Served in the Atlantic throughout her career. Participated in operations at Vera Cruz, Mexico, 1914. During WWI operated as a convoy escort, as a part-time recruit training ship, and as a gunnery training ship late in the war. Cage foremast collapsed 15 January 1918; 6 killed. Operated as a troop transport postwar, then as a training ship 1919-1921. Was in reduced commission (commissioned reserve) for brief periods during 1919-1920 and 1920-1921; was inactive after August 1921, but remained in commission. Designation BB 27 assigned 17 July 1920.

Decommissioned 11 February 1922, stricken for disposal 10 November 1923, and scrapped at Philadelphia Navy Yard under the Washington Treaty; scrapping completed 1924.
10. What was the name of the US Navy's first aircraft carrier?

Answer: USS Langley

Langley was sunk by Japanese planes in 1942. Too severely damaged by the planes she was susequently sunk by her escort.
11. What was the name of the admiral who was in overall command of the Imperial Japanese Navy?

Answer: Isoruku Yamamoto

Isoruku Yamamoto was the best naval mind in the Japanese Empire.The architect of the attack on Pearl Harbour. Brilliant and aggressive,he commanded and received respect and obedience from his juniors.He was killed when his plane was shot down by p-38 Lightnings on Apr.14.1943.
12. What World War II movie portrays the D-day invasion from start to finish with an all star cast?

Answer: The Longest Day

'The Longest Day' was a spectacular movie with such stars as John Wayne, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, Red Buttons, Henry Fonda, Peter Lawford, Robert Mitchum, Edmond O'Brian, Robert Wagner, Rod Steiger and Paul Anka.
13. Which British battlecruiser was sunk while in action with the British battleship HMS Prince of Wales?

Answer: HMS Repulse

The HMS Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser HMS Repulse were sunk by a Japanese air attack on December 10, 1941.
14. To whom did Adolf Hitler dictate 'Mein Kampf' while in prison ?

Answer: Rudolf Hess

Hess was one of Hitler's earliest and most fervent followers. On April 21, 1933 he was made Deputy Fuehrer. He later lost ground in the Nazi hierchary to Martin Bormann and tried regain Hitlers approval by flying to Britain on a peace mission. He hoped to persuade the British that Hitler wanted only more 'Lebensraum' ('living space') in Eastern Europe and they had no need to continue this war.

He failed and remained in custody the rest of the war. Sentenced to life in prison at Nuremberg, he committed suicide in 1987 at age 92.
15. Where and when was Adolf Hitler born?

Answer: Braunau am Inn, Austria, April 20,1889

Adolf Hitler's father Alois was married twice and had many affairs before marrying Clara Plözl, Adolf's mother.
16. What was the code name for the Allied invasion of North Africa?

Answer: Operation Torch

The beginning of the end for Rommel and his Afrika-Korps.
17. What was 'Operation Millennium'?

Answer: The first 1,000 bomber raid

On May 30-31, 1942 the RAF sent 1,080 bombers to the city of Cologne and dropped 1,455 tons on bombs that destroyed 18,440 buildings including over 13,000 homes and 250 factories.
18. On what date did the Allied invasion of France occur?

Answer: June 6, 1944

Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy was originally set to go June 4, 1944 but bad weather delayed it by two days.
19. What was the name of the British ocean liner sunk by a German U-boat on 3 September 1939?

Answer: SS Athenia

On September 3, 1939 Lemp, commanding U-30, sank the Athenia. Apparently, he mistook it for an armed merchant cruiser. Over 300 of the 1,000 people on board were Americans heading home. At the time, Germany denied having sunk the ship.
20. What claim to infamy is acredited to Alois Schicklgruber?

Answer: He was Adolf Hitler's father

Alois Schicklgruber is the original name of Alois Hitler, Adolf Hitler's father. He was the illegitimate son of Maria Anna Schicklgruber. His uncle, Johann Georg Hiedler, persuaded Alois to change it to Hiedler to carry on the family name. At the time it was recorded however, it was written 'Hitler' instead.

In the dialect of Upper Austria, "Hitler" and "Hiedler" sound identical, and most of the procedure for the change in name was conducted orally. (Just imagine imagine the Nazis chanting 'Heil Schicklgruber!).
21. How many beaches were earmarked for the invading Allied troops on D-Day?

Answer: five

Sword, Juno, Omaha, Gold and Utah were the codenames for the Normandy beaches.
22. What was the name of the FIRST jet propelled fighter to fight in WWII?

Answer: Me-262

The Messerschmidt 262 did see battle in WWII and was faster than anything the Allies had, but never was produced in numbers big enough to change the course of the war. Moreover, by the time it was used Germany was desperately short of fuel.
23. Who was the overall commander of all Allied forces in Europe at the end of WWII?

Answer: General Eisenhower

Eisenhower was nominated the Supreme commander of all Allied forces in Europe. He later went on to become President of The United States.
24. What was 'Operation Barbarossa'?

Answer: The invasion of the USSR

'Barbarossa' was Hitler's codename for the invasion of the Soviet Union. The Germans attacked on 21 June 1941.
25. What are the generally accepted dates for the start and finish of fighting in WWII?

Answer: September 1, 1939-September 2, 1945

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 and the Japanese signed the surrender treaty on September 2, 1945.
Source: Author gamesrfun2222

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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