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toojax! [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]
Great discussion topic!
It all depends on perspective I guess. The first of the conflicts did start with the China-Japan "7.7 incident", and different nations all have their own dates of entry into the war, and even their own names for the conflict, (eg: "The Great Patriotic War" for the Russians). I think I'm confortable with Sept 1, '39 as the start date, because that's truly when multiple nations were embrolied in the conflict, rather that just two (China Japan), or a even bunch with a low intesity commitment, as in the Spanish Civil War. When Poland was invaded, suddenly Germany, Poland, Russia, the UK, France, Italy, etc, etc were involved, thus making it a "world" war. Just my opinion anyway.
I had to look up your 1990 date to see which loose end from WWII was tied up then, and it's the formal decree of the allies to withdraw from Berlin. In my opinion, it's when open hostilities end, and again, I'm cool with the widely accepted VJ Day.
In any case, the dates for the start and end of the Second World War are a matter opinion, so your dates are as good as any.
Peppy >>> to date, has no opinions on dates
[ 10. January 2007, 03:54 AM: Message edited by: Peppy ]