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I really enjoy History, especially the WWII era, and I am thinking about building a WWII themed IG army and I am looking for advice. I want to build a competitive list because I do plan on playing the army a lot and being a newer player (not collector) I am looking for all advice on what units I should run in my army. So any and all advice will be greatly appreciated and I thank you all in advance.

Honestly, there is a new IG codex coming up pretty soon, so any advice you get now might be completely irrelevant in 4 months.

You should consider either waiting or going slow in your model acquisition.

Edit: If you still feel you must, you probably couldn't go wrong by starting a platoon or two of infantry. Should take you awhile to build and paint them, and probably will be a safe bet.

While the above about the new codex is true, I imagine there will be few changes to the main playstyles.

If you're looking for a pretty comprehensive 'beginner's guide', check the link in the second line in my sig, it goes over every unit and weapon, and a few playstyles and example lists.

No matter how the rules change in four months, infantry will still be a part of the IG. HQ squad, Platoon Command Squad, and Infantry Squads have been a part of the IG since the Black Codex in 2nd edition (sometimes under different names, but still...). You can't go wrong buying a few infantry models...

If you want a WWII theme, though, the Ice Warriors of Valhalla are a Soviet-flavored IG army (they are all in metal only, though... so they will be a more expensive army than a plastic IG army).

What the guys said above, I would also add if you want a vehicle or two a squadron of the Leman Russ variants are also probably safe.

Another model that have been in since Rogue Trader days are the Rough Rider cavalry models. I seriously doubt that they will be dropped from the Codex. However, some folks will argue to its inclusion into a competitive army list.

I also doubt that Ogryns and Ratlings will be dropped from the New 6th ed. Codex. They too, have been around since Rogue Trader days. But as to their inclusion onto a competitive list, results may vary.

Which WWII army and which period are you trying to emulate?

I assume only the primary powers

Germany is easy enough to simulate, mechvets for panzergrenadiers, Leman Russes for Panzer IIIs/Panthers, Valkyries for Stukas, Vendettas for Me 109s. Late war Volkssturm troopers could be simulated via Conscripts. Amusingly, the V-2 could be shown well by the deathstrike,

The Soviet Union would be largely platoon-based with a smattering of commisars for early-mid war, late war you could mix in some more advanced troops like those above. Perhaps even the manticore representing a Katyusha.

America would be largely similar to Germany, excepting the Volkssturm and V-2.

Britain: See Above

Imperial Japan is very difficult to simulate on land, as in general it was rather ill-equipped, armed with mortars and relying much on air and naval support. A straken-based platoon could work for a flavorful banzai charge, though more realistic would probably be static and dug-in troops in cover with a smattering of heavy weapons and a covering force of flyers.