Word "fascism" originates from Italian fascio meaning "group, association". In 1919 Benito Mussolini formed the anti-communist political movement called partito nazionale fascista.

Initially, Nazis called themselves Nasos (the abbreviation for National Socialist German Workers’ Party). Later journalist and writer Konrad Heiden used the word "nazi" as a derogatory term: "nazi" is derived from Bavarian word that means "simple-minded."

To confuse Japanese U.S. Marine Corps employed over 300 Navajo-speaking American Indians as radio code talkers for their radio transmissions in the Pacific.

Winston Churchill’s famous "We shall fight on the beaches" speech of 1940 was read on the air by actor Norman Shelley because PM was busy with the Dunkirk evacuation. Actor’s imitation was good enough to fool Churchill’s closest friends.

In total, over 50 million civilian and military died in WWII, but civilian deaths were more than double those of military staff.

Japanese kamikazes sank 34 U.S. ships at a cost of 1,228 pilots for Japan.

Major Cyril Barclay of the British Expeditionary Forces purchased several Michelin road maps to move his troops to Dunkirk for evacuation. Later he was refused compensation for his expenses since the Army had no provisions for the retail purchase of maps.

One- and two-pfennig copper coins were virtually melted out of existence by March 1942 because of need for bronze and copper in German airplane engine production.

Less than 10 percent of people considered war criminals for their part in the Nazi extermination camps have ever been brought to justice.

Adolf Hitler became a millionaire as a result of the royalties he earned from his book Mein Kampf.

Sources include The World War II Quiz and Fact Book by Timothy B. Benford.