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What “WW2.5” Usually Refers To

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“WW2.5” is not an official historical term, but it’s used informally in a few ways. Depending on context, it usually means a conflict or period seen as a bridge between World War II and World War III.

Here are the common meanings:

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1. The period between WWII and the Cold War (1945–1947)

Sometimes called the “intermediate war,” this includes:

• Early tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union

• Conflicts in Eastern Europe as the USSR took control

• Civil wars and independence movements triggered by the end of WWII

This idea suggests that WWII didn’t fully “end” until the Cold War solidified.

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2. Conflicts immediately following WWII

Some historians or fans of military history call these “WW2.5” because they involved large forces, former Axis and Allied powers, or unresolved WWII tensions. Examples include:

• The Greek Civil War (1946–1949)

• The Chinese Civil War (renewed after 1945)

• Early Korean peninsula clashes before the Korean War

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3. Fiction and alternate history

In movies, games, and novels, “WW2.5” can mean a hypothetical continuation of WWII for example, the Allies vs. the Soviet Union right after 1945.