World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers, from 1939 until 1945. It was the largest armed conflict the world has ever seen, and remains one of the most significant events in all of human history. World War II involved military forces from over seventy nations; air, land and sea battles spanning much of the globe; and resulted in the death of over sixty million people. The war was brought to an end in 1945 with the Allies victorious.