I would second the remark earlier that if you're new to shooting, you'd be doing yourself a HUGE favor to begin with a .22LR. I know they're not as visually exciting, and I know that they arent WWII standards, but there is nothing better to learn on. And if you're dead set on a WWII rifle, look for a .22LR training rifle from that period. Gunshows are your friend.
You can buy a box of 500+ .22LR rounds for next to nothing. You can buy a semi-automatic, magazine fed rifle for $100 or so at even your local wal-mart. In short, its an extremely efficient way to pick up a little bit of experience. It would suck to get a large caliber rifle that isnt fun to shoot because of the recoil and inaccuracy that comes with not having good technique. Good technique is the result of a lot of practice, and a .22 will let you do that without breaking you or the bank. You will learn proper shooting safety, technique, and cleaning/maintenance practices before you move on to bigger and better things. Additionally, if you do not have ready access to an outdoor firing range or do not live in a rural environment, you may find that an indoor range is the only place you can shoot - and many of them do not allow rifles larger than .22LR for safety reasons.
If you're absolutely certain that you dont want anything less than a full sized, large caliber military rifle, thats understandable. Just be aware of what you are looking for when hunting for a used rifle - a WWII era rifle will most certainly have seen a large deal of hard usage, and your rifle is not worth much more than its weight in metal if it is in poor condition. Hit google and research basic rifle care. When you decide what rifle you're hunting for, do some research on that, too. Learn how to remove the bolt from the rifle. When you go to the store, ask if you can take out the bolt and check the barrel. If they tell you no, turn around and leave immediately because they are likely trying to take you for a ride. If they say yes, check the rifle to make sure its clear, remove the bolt, and point the rifle at a light ON THE CEILING. Look through the chamber, where the bolt used to be. Look up the barrel (still pointing in to the light) and check for pitting. Your google searching should let you know what you're looking for. Give the rifle a good once over, making sure the safety and bolt function correctly. Note the stock - are there little squares or knots of wood that have obviously been inserted to fix cracks, and were then sanded level? Ask a lot of questions, and make it clear that you want a good, functional, shooter - the more educated you are, the better the store owner is going to treat you. If he thinks you know a rip off when you see it, he'll see to it that he doesnt rip you off. Like I said, know what you're looking for, and go in with a purpose. The more information you gather before you walk in the door, the more likely you are to make a good choice on your rifle. When dealing with a piece of equipment that is as powerful and dangerous as a firearm, you owe it to yourself and those around you to be educated and safe.
I always suggest that you patronize your local gun store, even if that costs a few more dollars. If this rifle is the beginning of a long love affair with shooting, as I suppose it will be, you will benefit by buying from the same guys - they find ways of showing appreciation for repeat customers. They will probably also find ways to encourage your interest in shooting sports if they know you're buying for the first time. If you ever have a problem, you are a phone call and a car ride from making it right. Buy local if you can.
As was mentioned by another poster, if you buy over the internet, you will need to have the rifle shipped to a local FFL (federal firearms licensed dealer) so they can ensure you're legally qualified to buy a firearm. Your local gun shop will be FFL certified, so this is where you'll want it shipped if they allow you to. This costs money, and different shops will charge you different rates - basically, they can ask whatever they want, although you'd probably find $30 to be about average. If someday you become a big collector, you might find it best to get your own FFL - but that is a long drive down a road you're not on yet.
