Other Names for WW2

Did World War II have any other names early on? I've heard of the Great Patriotic War and the Winter/Continuation War, but what did the French, British and Germans call it at first?

Was it always just World War II?

(It was a shock to me when I discovered this very basic flaw in my knowledge.)
 
On a personal note I always call it the 'Second Great War', or the cynical side of me always just calls it 'The War' that spanned from 1914 - 1945.
 

Bearcat

Banned
Did World War II have any other names early on? I've heard of the Great Patriotic War and the Winter/Continuation War, but what did the French, British and Germans call it at first?

Was it always just World War II?

(It was a shock to me when I discovered this very basic flaw in my knowledge.)

"World War II", I believe, first appeared in print on August 14, 1939, before the war started, in Time magazine, speculating on a second great war. It seems to have caught on very quickly in the west.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/0,9263,7601390814,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,761839,00.html
 
Did World War II have any other names early on? I've heard of the Great Patriotic War and the Winter/Continuation War, but what did the French, British and Germans call it at first?

Was it always just World War II?

(It was a shock to me when I discovered this very basic flaw in my knowledge.)
My Dad has an Encyclopedia Britannica that had a picture of ships steaming with the caption (that held the words) "European War 1939-"... I don't remember what the article was, but I will remember that name 'til the day I die!
 
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