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World War II

(Encyclopedia)World War II, 1939–45, worldwide conflict involving every major power in the world. The two sides were generally known as the Allies and the Axis. Although hostilities came to an end in Sept...

prisoner of war

(Encyclopedia)prisoner of war, in international law, person captured by a belligerent while fighting in the military. International law includes rules on the treatment of prisoners of war but extends protection onl...

war, laws of

(Encyclopedia)war, laws of, in international law, rules and principles regulating an armed conflict between nations. These laws are designed to minimize the destruction of life and property, to proscribe cruel trea...

South African War

(Encyclopedia)South African War or Boer War, 1899–1902, war of the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State against Great Britain. The Boers accepted British sovereignty in exchange for a ...

Secession, War of

(Encyclopedia)Secession, War of: see Civil War. ...

Seven Weeks War

(Encyclopedia)Seven Weeks War: see Austro-Prussian War. ...

civil war, English

(Encyclopedia)civil war, English: see English civil war. ...

Russo-Finnish War

(Encyclopedia)Russo-Finnish War, 1939–40: see Finnish-Russian War. ...

Franco-German War

(Encyclopedia)Franco-German War, 1870–71: see Franco-Prussian War. ...

War Production Board

(Encyclopedia)War Production Board (WPB), former U.S. government agency, established (Jan., 1942) by executive order to direct war production and the procurement of materials in World War II. The chairman (Donald M...