World War III (abreviated WWIII or WW3) was a global war that took place between April 3, 2069 and July 17, 2077. Many of the world's nations, including all great powers, participated in the war and eventually split into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Eastern powers. The conflict began when the government of the North American Union ordered an invasion and regime change in Cuba, which was supported by Russia and China. This was due to the Cuban government's violent crackdown on anti-government protests. It caused more casualties than any other conflict in history. The war ended in an armistice on July 17, 2077.