When did the term World War I and World War II enter the lexicon?

Question

Obviously WW1 was referred to as The Great War, but when did everyone begin to refer to these wars relative to each other? Did WW2 have a name like the Great War?

Answer 1

Tough one to call - - - all that I can say is that until America was prodded into action by the Japanese it was not a World War but 'The European War,' even when it spilled into Africa. The Japanese tussle with China was the First and then the Second Sino-Japnese War. The Russians often get miffed because in their view WW2 was The Great Patriotic War..

Also Jokesters during world war two did mock certain American Presidents and referred to WW 1 as 'The War to End All Wars,' - - - that said the two most common 'other names' for WW2 are The European War of 1939 to '45, admittedly clumsy, and The Great Patriotic War which I like because Americans were quite Patriotic in their Zeal, though that might PO the Russians...

Wracking Brain, FDR continued to refer to WW1 as The Great War well into 1944....

Peace...................
PS Ck BBC transcripts // during the war they liked the phrase 'The European Conflict,' and 'The Continental War,' whch is being Euro-Centric but none-the-less//\\

Answer 2

"The Great Patriotic War" refers specifically to the war on the eastern front between Germany and U.S.S.R.

It is referred as such by the Soviets almost exclusively.