World War Two, also known as the Second World War, was a major global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. Some synonyms for World War Two include the Second Great War, the Global War, the War of the Nations, and the Great Patriotic War (in Russia). In the United States, it is also sometimes referred to as the Good War. Other terms used to describe the war include the Axis War, referring to the alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan, and the Allied War, which denotes the coalition of countries fighting against the Axis powers. Regardless of the name, World War Two had a profound impact on global history and is still studied extensively today.