1940s Trivia

100 Best 1940s Trivia Questions & Answers

Mike Oberman

Updated: February 13th, 2025

Step back in time with our comprehensive trivia on the 1940s. Test your knowledge on pivotal World War II events, iconic films, major technological breakthroughs, fashion trends, and landmark sports events of the decade.

World War II Events

Question: What surprise attack, as unexpected as a Marvel plot twist, sent the U.S. plunging into World War II?

Answer: Pearl Harbor

Question: What grim chapter of history, marked by systematic mass murder, is encapsulated in the term "Holocaust" (a term that still gives us chills)?

Answer: Genocide

Question: Which notorious trio of nations—imagine the ultimate bad guy squad in a blockbuster—joined forces as the Axis Powers during World War II?

Answer: Germany, Italy, Japan

Question: What top-secret project was the U.S. cooking up in a covert lab, aiming to whip up the ultimate nuclear weapon (think of it as a science experiment with world-altering stakes)?

Answer: Nuclear weapon

Question: Which two Japanese cities were tragically hit by atomic bombs during World War II, marking a turning point in history as shocking as any unexpected season finale?

Answer: Hiroshima, Nagasaki

Question: Which epic, hard-fought battle unfolded in a city whose name sounds straight out of a high-stakes spy thriller?

Answer: Battle of Stalingrad

Question: Who was the legendary British leader—cigar in hand and speeches for days—who steered the UK through most of World War II like a real-life action hero?

Answer: Winston Churchill

Question: What historic date, known as D-Day, witnessed an Allied beach invasion so meticulously coordinated it could rival the ultimate heist in your favorite movie?

Answer: June 6, 1944

Question: Which major conference, where world leaders gathered like a VIP panel on a hit Netflix docuseries, helped reshape post-World War II Europe?

Answer: Yalta Conference

Question: Who stepped into the presidential spotlight after FDR, delivering a plot twist in American history that set the stage for a new era?

Answer: Harry S. Truman

1940s Film & Entertainment

Question: Which enchanting 1940 Disney film brings a wooden puppet to life, proving that even wood can dream big?

Answer: Pinocchio

Question: Who is the heartwarming leading man in the classic "It's a Wonderful Life," whose charm still melts our hearts like a timeless holiday movie?

Answer: James Stewart

Question: Which dashing actor snagged the Best Actor Oscar in 1940, leaving Hollywood dazzled like a surprise plot twist in your favorite film?

Answer: James Stewart

Question: Which animated masterpiece trotted its way to become the highest-grossing film of the 1940s, charming audiences with every graceful leap?

Answer: Bambi

Question: Which visionary director crafted the cinematic enigma "Citizen Kane," sparking debates as mysterious as a secret hidden in plain sight?

Answer: Orson Welles

Question: Who was the dazzling leading lady in "Gone with the Wind," turning Southern charm into a Hollywood legend?

Answer: Vivien Leigh

Question: Who brought the cool, hard-boiled detective Sam Spade to life in "The Maltese Falcon," making film noir feel like a stylish mystery novel?

Answer: Humphrey Bogart

Question: What was the debut cartoon that introduced us to Bugs Bunny's cheeky antics, hopping right into pop culture history?

Answer: “A Wild Hare”

Question: Which comedy maestro directed "The Great Dictator," blending satire and slapstick like a true cinematic rebel?

Answer: Charlie Chaplin

Question: Which chilling Alfred Hitchcock film from 1940 still sends shivers down our spines like a ghost story at midnight?

Answer: Rebecca

1940s Technology and Inventions

Question: What explosive breakthrough of the 1940s unleashed a power so immense it reshaped global politics, much like a blockbuster finale?

Answer: Atomic bomb

Question: Which rugged vehicle manufacturer from the 1940s rolled out the iconic "Jeep," turning muddy trails into epic adventures worthy of an action movie?

Answer: Willys-Overland

Question: Which high-flying medical marvel, invented by Canadian scientists in 1941, armed pilots with a superhero-like suit to defy gravity?

Answer: G-suit

Question: What colossal, room-sized machine known as the ENIAC jump-started the digital revolution, paving the way for the computers of today?

Answer: Computer

Question: Which ingenious kitchen gadget, born from Percy Spencer's snack-time serendipity in 1945, transformed leftover reheating into a modern miracle?

Answer: Microwave oven

Question: Which futuristic communication device, first designed in 1947, hinted at a world of on-the-go chatter that sounds like it's straight out of a sci-fi flick?

Answer: Mobile phone

Question: What mesmerizing invention, unveiled at the 1939 World's Fair, soon turned every living room into a personal theater of wonder?

Answer: Television

Question: Who was the brilliant mind behind the first commercial photocopier, making duplicate documents as easy as a magic trick?

Answer: Chester Carlson

Question: What retro data storage medium from 1947, with its magnetic charm, set the stage for recording everything from hit tunes to computer data?

Answer: Magnetic tape

Question: Which trio of tech wizards, much like the original Avengers of electronics, teamed up in 1947 to invent the transistor and revolutionize gadgetry?

Answer: Bardeen, Brattain, Shockley

1940s Fashion

Question: Which chic ensemble ruled the roost for women in the 1940s, pairing elegant silhouettes with timeless appeal?

Answer: Pencil skirts, blouses

Question: Which sharp-dressed men's outfit became a stylish necessity during wartime rationing, turning every street into a runway?

Answer: Zoot suits

Question: Which luxurious fabric had to go on a temporary vacation from fashion as it was rationed during World War II?

Answer: Silk

Question: Which versatile accessory, tying practicality and flair together, was a must-have for women in the 1940s?

Answer: Headscarves

Question: What stylish hat crowned men with an air of mystery and classic cool throughout the 1940s?

Answer: Fedora

Question: Which daring piece of swimwear made its debut in the 1940s, sending waves through the world of beach fashion?

Answer: Bikini

Question: Which revolutionary look, championed by Christian Dior, redefined post-war femininity with grace and glamour?

Answer: New Look

Question: Which elegant, floor-length dress style was perfect for both afternoon tea and a moonlit dance in the 1940s?

Answer: Tea dress

Question: Which bold footwear trend gave women a little extra lift, stepping confidently into the 1940s spotlight?

Answer: Platform shoes

Question: Which innovative trend, merging practicality with chic design, was launched by Edward Molyneux in 1942?

Answer: Utility clothing

1940s Sport Events

Question: Which global sporting spectacle had to hit the pause button in 1940 and 1944 because the world was too busy with war dramas, leaving athletes on an unexpected intermission?

Answer: Olympics

Question: Which team knocked it out of the park in 1940, clinching the World Series and making Cincinnati the talk of baseball town?

Answer: Cincinnati Reds

Question: Who reigned supreme in the boxing ring at the start of the 1940s, throwing punches with the power of a superhero in a vintage flick?

Answer: Joe Louis

Question: Which underdog nation triumphed in the 1950 FIFA World Cup, staging a comeback on the soccer field after the wartime break?

Answer: Uruguay

Question: Which equine superstar galloped into history by winning the Triple Crown in 1943, becoming a legend on the racetrack?

Answer: Count Fleet

Question: Who claimed the Wimbledon men's singles title in 1940 when the tournament decided to take a wartime vacation?

Answer: No event

Question: Which basketball team scored big by capturing the very first NBA championship in 1947, dribbling their way into history?

Answer: Philadelphia Warriors

Question: Which team tackled the competition and roared to victory in the 1940 NFL Championship, echoing the spirit of its namesake from the windy city?

Answer: Chicago Bears

Question: Which golf maestro swung his way to victory by winning the U.S. Open in 1940, proving he was a true fairway legend?

Answer: Lawson Little

Question: Who stepped up to the plate in 1940 to earn Baseball's Most Valuable Player honor, showing off a season of unforgettable hits and heart?

Answer: Hank Greenberg