For lots of people, World War II started in 1931, when Japan invaded Manchuria. No doubt in 1939 the Chinese wondered what the fuss was about.

Is it just me, or is "Sink the Bismarck" a very weird song? First of all, it's a highly American song about a British military engagement, before the U.S. joined the war. Second, the way I learned it was that, though the Royal Navy eventually did sink the Bismarck, the battle was an embarrassment to them because the German sub held out so long against the odds.