World War II - what's in a name?

Apropos of nothing, I wonder if anyone can tell me when the phrases "Second World War" and/or "World War II" came into common use? And at what point "World War I" overtook "Great War" as the more widespread name for the earlier conflict? Are the terms ascribed to anyone in particular? I feel I ought to know this!

The OED isn't a lot of use here, but its first two entries do suggest that the name may predate the war itself - which, considering how much of my youth was spent speculating about World War III, is perhaps not so surprising.

1919 Manch. Guardian 18 Feb. 10/2 (heading) World War No 2. 1939 Time 11 Sept. 38/1 Some of the diplomatic juggling which last week ended in World War II was old-fashioned international jockeying for power. Ibid. 18 Sept. 10/2 Exports of arms, munitions and related materials in World War I amounted..to only 25% of total exports to the Allies.

Oh, Cuckoo Clocks!

So, the Swiss have voted in a referendum to ban the building of minarets. We all know, of course, that Switzerland was on the brink of becoming an Islamic republic, and that all those Alpine chalets would have made the perfect refuge for Osama bin Laden, should he ever have needed to leave Pakistan - so, obviously, Europe will sleep sounder tonight. Doubters will no doubt be reassured by the words of the justice minister, that this is "not a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture". So that's all right, then. No one could possibly see this campaign poster as a naked appeal to fear and prejudice, right?



Those wanting evidence of another side to human nature could do worse than look at this remarkable story of a British POW who smuggled himself into Auschwitz .

Oh, Cuckoo Clocks!

So, the Swiss have voted in a referendum to ban the building of minarets. We all know, of course, that Switzerland was on the brink of becoming an Islamic republic, and that all those Alpine chalets would have made the perfect refuge for Osama bin Laden, should he ever have needed to leave Pakistan - so, obviously, Europe will sleep sounder tonight. Doubters will no doubt be reassured by the words of the justice minister, that this is "not a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture". So that's all right, then. No one could possibly see this campaign poster as a naked appeal to fear and prejudice, right?



Those wanting evidence of another side to human nature could do worse than look at this remarkable story of a British POW who smuggled himself into Auschwitz .