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Second World War [A] Trivia Quiz

World War II questions for all you war buffs.

A multiple-choice quiz by bowsoljah. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
bowsoljah

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
59,041

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
4182

Last 3 plays: Guest 195 (13/15), Guest 1 (15/15), Guest 1 (9/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. What was the standard U.S. Infantry weapon? Hint

M1Garand

M16

BAR

shotgun

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. In 1941 during Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union introduced this tank that was more than a match for German armor. What is it called?

Answer: (One letter and two digits)

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Question 3 of 15

3. Besides HMS Prince of Wales, what other ship was sunk by Japanese aircraft that same day? Hint

HMS Ark Royal

HMS Duke of York

HMS Repulse

USS Indianapolis

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Question 4 of 15

4. Who was the commander of the US Navy during WW2? Hint

Admiral Nimitz

Admiral King

Admiral Halsey

Admiral Spruance

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Question 5 of 15

5. The Red Cross helped countless people during the war. On their service ribbon that the volunteers wear, what color stripe is for 500 hours of volunteer work? Hint

Silver

White

Gold

They don't have a stripe

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Question 6 of 15

6. How many ships were moored at Pearl Harbor Naval Base on Sunday December 7th, 1941? Hint

189

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Question 7 of 15

7. What was the 442nd Regimental Combat Team? Hint

Japanese-American soldiers

Norwegian demolition divers

Italian special forces

British desert raiders

8. Speaking of decorations, Audie Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, and Croix de Guerre amongst other awards. How many Purple Hearts did he receive? Hint

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Question 9 of 15

9. What was a 'Sonderkommando' in the Holocaust? Hint

SS Special Forces used for daring raids

SS and SD men who killed Jews behind Germans lines in the Soviet Union

Crack Croat and Bosniak SS units

A group of prisoners who had to help with the extermination process

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Question 10 of 15

10. Lake Ladoga was the supply lifeline of what beseiged Russian city? Hint

Leningrad

Sevastopol

Stalingrad

Moscow

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Question 11 of 15

11. What German battleship fought against the Allied warships HMS Exeter, HMS Ajax, and HMS Achilles in the Battle off the River Plate and finally scuttled itself? Hint

Bismarck

Prinz Eugen

Scharnhorst

Graf Spee

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Question 12 of 15

12. What class of battleship was the USS Iowa? Hint

Missouri class

Iowa class

North Carolina class

Outside any class

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Question 13 of 15

13. This General carried an ivory-handled pistol, sometimes he would bring his bull terrier 'Willie' along with him, he believed he was reincarnated and he once slapped a soldier in the hospital. Who is he ?

Answer: (surname only)

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Question 14 of 15

14. What was the size of the main-battery on the Japanese battleship Yamato? Hint

12-inch

16-inch

18-inch

14-inch

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Question 15 of 15

15. What was the name of the first submarine captured by the US Navy? Hint

I-178

U-571

U-505

I-86

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 20 2024 : Guest 195: 13/15
Apr 18 2024 : Guest 1: 15/15
Apr 15 2024 : Guest 1: 9/15
Apr 15 2024 : Guest 31: 8/15
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Apr 12 2024 : Guest 1: 15/15
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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the standard U.S. Infantry weapon?

Answer: M1Garand

This .30 caliber infantry rifle was made at the Springfield Armory by a Mr. John C. Garand. The M1 Garand allowed the U.S. to be the only country entering WWII with a semi-automatic rifle as standard issue.The BAR was abbreviation for the WWII weapon called the Browning Automatic Rifle.

The M16 was not created until the Vietnam War. If you wanted a shotgun you would have most likely have had to go out and buy one yourself at the friendly neighborhood gunshop.

2. In 1941 during Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union introduced this tank that was more than a match for German armor. What is it called?

Answer: T-34

The T-34 was a Soviet made tank that was considered to be the best tank of any tank in WWII.

3. Besides HMS Prince of Wales, what other ship was sunk by Japanese aircraft that same day?

Answer: HMS Repulse

The two were attacked by the Japanese in the South China Sea while trying to defend Malaysia on December 10, 1941.

4. Who was the commander of the US Navy during WW2?

Answer: Admiral King

Admiral Ernest Joseph King was 'the most even tempered man in the Navy' was what one of his daughters said: 'He is always in a rage'. Admiral Nimitz was CINCPACFLT Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet. Admirals Halsey and Spruance were Task Force commanders.

5. The Red Cross helped countless people during the war. On their service ribbon that the volunteers wear, what color stripe is for 500 hours of volunteer work?

Answer: Silver

Gold is for 1000 hours.

6. How many ships were moored at Pearl Harbor Naval Base on Sunday December 7th, 1941?

Answer: 96

There were 8 battleships, 2 heavy cruisers, 6 light cruisers, 30 destroyers, 4 submarines, and assorted auxillary ships.

7. What was the 442nd Regimental Combat Team?

Answer: Japanese-American soldiers

One of the most highly decorated American units in WW2.

8. Speaking of decorations, Audie Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, and Croix de Guerre amongst other awards. How many Purple Hearts did he receive?

Answer: 3

Purple Heart with two oak-leaf clusters. This was given to those who suffered a combat related injury.

9. What was a 'Sonderkommando' in the Holocaust?

Answer: A group of prisoners who had to help with the extermination process

A "Sonderkommando" had to help in particular with disposing of the victims' corpses.

10. Lake Ladoga was the supply lifeline of what beseiged Russian city?

Answer: Leningrad

The battle of Leningrad started July 10th, 1941 and lasted for over three years. On August 8th,1941 the Germans took the rail lines leading into the city thus cutting communications with the city of Leningrad. Only by airdrops and crossing Lake Ladoga were the Russians able to keep the city supplied.

11. What German battleship fought against the Allied warships HMS Exeter, HMS Ajax, and HMS Achilles in the Battle off the River Plate and finally scuttled itself?

Answer: Graf Spee

Fought off the South American continent around Montevideo, Uruguay. Although it was three ships against one, that one being the German pocket battleship Graf Spee. She had much more powerful and larger artillery than the British ships did.After battling it out with the British warships the Graf Spee sailed into port in Montevideo. The next day her captain purposefully blew up the ship.

12. What class of battleship was the USS Iowa?

Answer: Iowa class

The Iowa class battleships were the Wisconsin, New Jersey, Missouri, and Iowa.

Answer: Patton

He also flew airplanes and once sailed his boat from the West Coast of the U.S. all the way to Hawaii.

14. What was the size of the main-battery on the Japanese battleship Yamato?

Answer: 18-inch

18.1 inch largest size naval cannon of any warship in the world.

15. What was the name of the first submarine captured by the US Navy?

Answer: U-505

The German U-boat U-505 was captured by boarding parties from the USS Guadalcanal on June 4th, 1944. Operating in the Alantic, 150 miles west of French West Africa. It now resides and is on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

Source: Author bowsoljah

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