Invasion of Poland
World War II began on September 1, 1939, when Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. This invasion prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany on September 3, 1939.
1939
1940
Fall of France
In May 1940, Germany launched a blitzkrieg against France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. By June 1940, France had fallen, and the German forces occupied Paris.
1940
Battle of Britain
From July to October 1940, the Battle of Britain took place. The Royal Air Force defended the United Kingdom against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force, the Luftwaffe.
1941
Operation Barbarossa
On June 22, 1941, Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, marking one of the largest military operations in history.
1941
Pearl Harbor Attack
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, leading to the United States declaring war on Japan and entering World War II.
1942
Battle of Midway
In June 1942, the Battle of Midway occurred, where the United States Navy decisively defeated an attacking fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, marking a turning point in the Pacific Theater.
1942
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad, lasting from August 1942 to February 1943, was one of the deadliest battles in World War II. The Soviet Union successfully defended the city of Stalingrad from German forces.
1943
Invasion of Italy
In July 1943, the Allies invaded Sicily, leading to the downfall of Mussolini and the eventual surrender of Italy in September 1943.
1944
D-Day Invasion
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. This operation marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany as Allied forces began to liberate Western Europe.
1944
Battle of the Bulge
From December 1944 to January 1945, the Battle of the Bulge was Germany's last major offensive on the Western Front. The Allies eventually repelled the German forces, leading to heavy losses for Germany.
1945
Yalta Conference
In February 1945, the Yalta Conference was held, where leaders of the Allied powers—Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin—discussed the post-war reorganization of Europe.
1945
Fall of Berlin
In April 1945, Soviet forces captured Berlin, leading to the surrender of Nazi Germany on May 7, 1945, and marking the end of World War II in Europe.
1945
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In August 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, and the end of World War II.
1945
United Nations Established
In October 1945, the United Nations was established to promote international cooperation and prevent future conflicts, emerging from the aftermath of World War II.
1946
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials, held from 1945 to 1946, were a series of military tribunals where prominent leaders of Nazi Germany were prosecuted for war crimes committed during World War II.
