-
Germany invades Poland
Germany invades Poland, initiating World War II in Europe. -
Period: to
WW2
-
Great Britain and France declare war on Germany
Honoring their guarantee of Poland’s borders, Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. -
The Eastern side of Poland was invaded by USSR
The Eastern side of Poland was invaded by USSR. This was caused by Germany’s disregard of the pact made with the Soviets over Poland as well as the Soviet alliance with Britain and France. -
Warsaw surrenders
Warsaw surrenders on September 27. The Polish government flees into exile via Romania. Germany and the Soviet Union divide Poland between them. -
The Soviet Union invades Finland
The Soviet Union invades Finland, initiating the so-called Winter War. The Finns sue for an armistice and have to cede the northern shores of Lake Lagoda and the small Finnish coastline on the Arctic Sea to the Soviet Union. -
Germany invades Denmark and Norway
Germany invades Denmark and Norway. Denmark surrenders on the day of the attack; Norway holds out until June 9. -
Period: to
The Battles of Belgium
The Battles of Belgium, France, Netherlands took place during these two months as Hitler tried to expand his influence. One of his goals was to take over France -
Period: to
Germany attacks western Europe
Germany attacks western Europe—France and the neutral Low Countries. Luxembourg is occupied on May 10; the Netherlands surrenders on May 14; and Belgium surrenders on May 28. On June 22, France signs an armistice agreement by which the Germans occupy the northern half of the country and the entire Atlantic coastline. In southern France, a collaborationist regime with its capital in Vichy is established. -
Mussolini invaded France in Early June.
Mussolini invaded France in Early June. He did this partly because of his alliance with Germany and partly because he was hoping for some territory for Italy. This began Italian involvement in the War. -
Period: to
The Soviet Union occupies the Baltic States
The Soviet Union occupies the Baltic States on June 14–18, engineering Communist coup d’états in each of them on July 14–15, and then annexing them as Soviet Republics on August 3–6. -
The French surrender to the Axis powers.
The French surrender to the Axis powers. The north was controlled by Germany while Vichy France remained out of German power and governed by Petain. -
The Soviet Union forces Romania to cede the eastern province of Bessarabia and the northern half of Bukovina to the Soviet Ukraine.
The Soviet Union forces Romania to cede the eastern province of Bessarabia and the northern half of Bukovina to the Soviet Ukraine. -
Period: to
Battle of Britain
The air war known as the Battle of Britain ends in defeat for Nazi Germany. This loss caused Hitler to give up plans to invade Britain by sea. -
Second Vienna Awar
Second Vienna Award: Germany and Italy arbitrate a decision on the division of the disputed province of Transylvania between Romania and Hungary. The loss of northern Transylvania forces Romanian King Carol to abdicate in favor of his son, Michael, and brings to power a dictatorship under General Ion Antonescu. -
The Italians invade British-controlled Egyp
The Italians invade British-controlled Egypt from Italian-controlled Libya. -
Tripartite Pact
Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact. -
Italy invades Greece from Albania on October 28.
Italy invades Greece from Albania on October 28. -
Period: to
New Axis Party
Slovakia (November 23), Hungary (November 20), and Romania (November 22) join the Axis. -
Bulgaria joins the Axis.
Bulgaria joins the Axis. -
Period: to
Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Bulgaria invade and dismember Yugoslavia
Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Bulgaria invade and dismember Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia surrenders on April 17. Germany and Bulgaria invade Greece in support of the Italians. Resistance in Greece ceases in early June 1941. -
The leaders of the terrorist Ustasa movement proclaim the so-called Independent State of Croatia
The leaders of the terrorist Ustasa movement proclaim the so-called Independent State of Croatia. Recognized immediately by Germany and Italy, the new state includes the province of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatia joins the Axis powers formally on June 15, 1941. -
Period: to
Axis powers invade Soviet Union
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners (except Bulgaria) invade the Soviet Union. Finland, seeking redress for the territorial losses in the armistice concluding the Winter War, joins the Axis just before the invasion. The Germans quickly overrun the Baltic States and, joined by the Finns, lay siege to Leningrad (St. Petersburg) by September. In the center, the Germans capture Smolensk in early August and drive on Moscow by October. In the south, German and Romanian troops capture Kiev (Kyiv) in Sep -
Period: to
Atlantic Charter
This document that was set up by Chamberlain and Roosevelt. It was agreed upon by the Allied powers as the goals for the world once the war ended. -
A Soviet counter-offensive
A Soviet counter-offensive drives the Germans from the Moscow suburbs in chaotic retreat. -
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor.
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. This dashes American desires for Neutrality and leads to the US entering WWII. The Japanese also destroyed American planes in the Phillipines. -
US declares war on empire of Japan
The United States declares war on Japan, entering World War II. Japanese troops land in the Philippines, French Indochina, and British Singapore. By April 1942, the Philippines, Indochina, and Singapore are under Japanese occupation. -
Period: to
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States.
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States. -
Period: to
The British bomb Köln
The British bomb Köln, bringing the war home to Germany for the first time. Over the next three years Anglo-American bombing reduces urban Germany to rubble. -
Period: to
British and US navies halt the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway.
British and US navies halt the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway. -
Period: to
Germany and her Axis partners launch a new offensive in the Soviet Union
Germany and her Axis partners launch a new offensive in the Soviet Union. German troops fight their way into Stalingrad on the Volga River by mid-September and penetrate deep into the Caucasus after securing the Crimean Peninsula. -
Period: to
US troops halt the Japanese island-hopping advance towards Australia at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.
US troops halt the Japanese island-hopping advance towards Australia at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. -
Period: to
British troops defeat the Germans and Italians at El Alamein
British troops defeat the Germans and Italians at El Alamein in Egypt, sending the Axis forces in chaotic retreat across Libya to the eastern border of Tunisia. -
US and British troops land at several points on the beaches of Algeria and Morocco in French North Africa.
US and British troops land at several points on the beaches of Algeria and Morocco in French North Africa. The failure of the Vichy French troops to defend against the invasion enables the Allies to move swiftly to the western border of Tunisia, and triggers the German occupation of southern France on November 11. -
Period: to
Soviet troops counterattack
Soviet troops counterattack, breaking through the Hungarian and Romanian lines northwest and southwest of Stalingrad and trapping the German Sixth Army in the city. Forbidden by Hitler to retreat or try to break out of the Soviet ring, the survivors of the Sixth Army surrender on January 30 and February 2, 1943. -
Axis forces in Tunisia surrender to the Allies, ending the North African campaign.
Axis forces in Tunisia surrender to the Allies, ending the North African campaign. -
The Germans launch a massive tank offensive near Kursk
The Germans launch a massive tank offensive near Kursk in the Soviet Union. The Soviets blunt the attack within a week and begin an offensive initiative of their own. -
US and British troops land on Sicily. By mid-August, the Allies control Sicily.
US and British troops land on Sicily. By mid-August, the Allies control Sicily. -
The Fascist Grand Council deposes Benito Mussolini
The Fascist Grand Council deposes Benito Mussolini, enabling Italian marshall Pietro Badoglio to form a new government. -
The Badoglio government surrenders unconditionally to the Allies.
The Badoglio government surrenders unconditionally to the Allies. The Germans immediately seize control of Rome and northern Italy, establishing a puppet Fascist regime under Mussolini, who is freed from imprisonment by German commandos on September 12. -
Allied troops land on the beaches of Salerno near Naples.
Allied troops land on the beaches of Salerno near Naples. -
Soviet troops liberate Kiev.
Soviet troops liberate Kiev. -
Allied troops land successfully near Anzio, just south of Rome.
Allied troops land successfully near Anzio, just south of Rome. -
Germans occupy Hungary
Fearing Hungary’s intention to desert the Axis partnership, the Germans occupy Hungary and compel the regent, Admiral Miklos Horthy, to appoint a pro-German minister president. -
Allied troops liberate Rome.
Allied troops liberate Rome. Within six weeks, Anglo-American bombers could hit targets in eastern Germany for the first time. -
D-Day
“D-Day” British and US troops successfully land on the Normandy beaches of France, opening a “Second Front” against the Germans. The allied forces were led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower. -
The Soviets launch a massive offensive in eastern Byelorussia
The Soviets launch a massive offensive in eastern Byelorussia, destroying the German Army Group Center and driving westward to the Vistula River across from Warsaw in central Poland by August 1. -
Anglo-American forces break out of the Normandy beachhead
Anglo-American forces break out of the Normandy beachhead and advance eastward towards Paris. By Late August the Allies free Paris from German control. -
Period: to
The non-communist underground Home Army rises up against the Germans
The non-communist underground Home Army rises up against the Germans in an effort to liberate Warsaw before the arrival of Soviet troops. The Soviet advance halts on the east bank of the Vistula. On October 5, the Germans accept the surrender of the remnants of the Home Army forces fighting in Warsaw. -
Allied forces land in southern France
Allied forces land in southern France near Nice and advance rapidly towards the Rhine River to the northeast. -
Period: to
Allied troops reach Paris
Allied troops reach Paris. On August 25, Free French forces, supported by Allied troops, enter the French capital. By September, the Allies reach the German border; by December, virtually all of France, most of Belgium, and part of the southern Netherlands are liberated. -
Romanian opposition to overthrow the Antonescu regime
The appearance of Soviet troops on the Prut River induces the Romanian opposition to overthrow the Antonescu regime. The new government concludes an armistice and immediately switches sides in the war. The Romanian turnaround compels Bulgaria to surrender on September 8, and the Germans to evacuate Greece, Albania, and southern Yugoslavia in October. -
Finland concludes an armistice with the Soviet Union,
Finland concludes an armistice with the Soviet Union, leaving the Axis partnership. -
Period: to
Fourth Moscow Conference
Churchill and Stalin met to discuss postwar diving of territories (GB takes Greece, USSR takes Romania and Bulgaria. They Also planned joint control of Hungary). Roosevelt was against this division because it went against his goals of open door trade policies. -
The Hungarian fascist Arrow Cross movement carries out a coup d’état with
The Hungarian fascist Arrow Cross movement carries out a coup d’état with German support to prevent the Hungarian government from pursuing negotiations for surrender to the Soviets. -
US troops land in the Philippines.
US troops land in the Philippines. -
Period: to
The Soviets launch a new offensive
The Soviets launch a new offensive, liberating Warsaw and Krakow in January, capturing Budapest after a two-month siege on February 13, driving the Germans and their Hungarian collaborators out of Hungary in early April, forcing the surrender of Slovakia with the capture of Bratislava on April 4, and capturing Vienna on April 13. -
Period: to
Battle of the Bulge
The Germans launch a final offensive in the west, known as the Battle of the Bulge, in an attempt to re-conquer Belgium and split the Allied forces along the German border. By January 1, 1945, the Germans are in retreat. -
Period: to
Yalta Conference
Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin gather at Yalta. The goal was to set up peace keeping plans for after the war. Roosevelt proposes the idea of the UN to replace the league of Nations. He also supported Stalin’s control of Korea, Sakhalin and Kurile Island, and Manchuria. -
US troops cross the Rhine River at Remagen.
US troops cross the Rhine River at Remagen. -
Germany surrenders to the Soviets.
Germany surrenders to the Soviets. -
Period: to
Zagreb and topple the Ustasa regime
Partisan units, led by Yugoslav Communist leader Josip Tito, capture Zagreb and topple the Ustasa regime. The top Ustasa leaders flee to Italy and Austria. -
The Soviets launch their final offensive, encircling Berlin.
The Soviets launch their final offensive, encircling Berlin. -
Hitler commits suicide
Hitler commits suicide along with his wife Eva Braun. At this point he realized his control of Germany was over. -
Period: to
Allied troops conquer Okinawa,
Allied troops conquer Okinawa, the last island stop before the Japanese islands. -
Germany surrenders to the western Allies.
Germany surrenders to the western Allies. -
Period: to
Potsdam Conference
Truman has replaced Roosevelt. The goal was to divide territories and control between the Allied powers. Truman met with other allied leaders at a conference which gave the USSR control of East Poland, and Germany a small strip of Poland. They also established a 4 -way supervision of Germany with allied powers (GB, US, Fr. and USSR) occupation a section each. -
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The bomb immediately killed close to 80,000 people. -
The Soviet Union declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria.
The Soviet Union declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria. -
The United States drops a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
The United States drops a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The Hiroshima bombing did not bring the desired result - Japanese surrender - so the US dropped a second bomb to cause Japanese surrender. -
VJ - Day
The Japanese surrender despite some military official’s desire to keep fighting, after 140,00 civilian causualties at Nagasaki. -
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.