World War II Timeline

World War II 55

1939 – 1945 Manhattan Project Atomic bomb developed The secret US-led Manhattan Project developed the world's first nuclear weapons, tested at Trinity in New Mexico in July 1945.
1939 Germany invades Poland World War II begins — September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland at dawn on September 1, 1939, using Blitzkrieg tactics. Britain and France issued ultimatums and declared war on Germany two days later, beginning World War II.
1939 Britain and France declare war Ultimatum to Germany expires Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, after Hitler ignored their ultimatum to withdraw from Poland. Neville Chamberlain announced the declaration in a radio broadcast.
1939 Soviet Union invades Poland USSR attacks from the east The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east on September 17, 1939, under the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany. Poland was divided between the two powers.
1939 Soviet Union invades Finland Winter War begins The Soviet Union invaded Finland on November 30, 1939, beginning the Winter War. Finland resisted fiercely for over three months before ceding 11% of its territory in March 1940.
1940 Germany invades Denmark and Norway Scandinavia falls in days Germany launched Operation Weserübung on April 9, 1940, simultaneously invading Denmark and Norway. Denmark surrendered within hours; Norway resisted until June.
1940 Churchill becomes Prime Minister Replaces Chamberlain on same day Germany invades Winston Churchill became British Prime Minister on May 10, 1940 — the same day Germany launched its western offensive. His first speech promised "blood, toil, tears and sweat".
1940 Germany invades France and Low Countries Blitzkrieg breaks Allied lines Germany launched its western offensive on May 10, 1940, invading Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France simultaneously. The Maginot Line was bypassed through the Ardennes forest.
1940 Dunkirk evacuation 338,000 Allied troops rescued from beaches Operation Dynamo evacuated 338,226 Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk between May 26 and June 4, 1940, using a fleet of naval vessels and civilian boats in a miraculous rescue operation.
1940 Italy enters the war Mussolini declares war on Britain and France Italy declared war on Britain and France on June 10, 1940, as German forces approached Paris. Mussolini wanted to share in the expected victory and gain territorial concessions.
1940 France surrenders Armistice signed in Compiègne forest France signed an armistice with Germany on June 22, 1940, in the same railway carriage where Germany had surrendered in 1918. Northern France was occupied; a collaborationist government ruled the south from Vichy.
1940 Battle of Britain RAF defeats Luftwaffe in first major air battle The Battle of Britain was fought from July to October 1940 as the Luftwaffe attempted to destroy the RAF and gain air superiority for a planned invasion of Britain. The RAF prevailed, forcing Hitler to postpone Operation Sea Lion.
1940 – 1941 The Blitz London bombed for 57 consecutive nights Germany began the Blitz on September 7, 1940, bombing London and other British cities. London was bombed for 57 consecutive nights. Over 43,000 civilians were killed but British morale held firm.
1941 Germany invades Soviet Union Operation Barbarossa — largest land invasion in history Germany launched Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941, invading the Soviet Union with 3.8 million troops — the largest military operation in history. Hitler expected a quick victory but the campaign became a prolonged war of attrition.
1941 – 1944 Siege of Leningrad begins 872-day siege — 1 million civilians die The German siege of Leningrad began on September 8, 1941, and lasted 872 days until January 27, 1944. Approximately one million Soviet civilians died from starvation, disease and bombardment.
1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor Japan brings USA into the war Japan launched a surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941, killing 2,403 Americans and destroying 19 ships. President Roosevelt called it "a date which will live in infamy".
1941 USA declares war on Japan Congress votes the day after Pearl Harbor The United States declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941, the day after the Pearl Harbor attack. Germany and Italy declared war on the US three days later, bringing America fully into the conflict.
1941 Germany declares war on USA Hitler brings America into the European war Germany and Italy declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941, four days after Pearl Harbor. Hitler's decision is considered one of his greatest strategic blunders.
1942 Wannsee Conference Nazi officials plan the Holocaust Senior Nazi officials met at the Wannsee villa in Berlin on January 20, 1942, to coordinate the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question" — the systematic murder of all European Jews.
1942 Battle of Midway Turning point in the Pacific War The Battle of Midway, fought June 4-7, 1942, was a decisive US victory in which four Japanese aircraft carriers were sunk. It ended Japanese naval supremacy in the Pacific and is considered the turning point of the Pacific War.
1942 Dieppe Raid 3,600 Allied casualties in nine hours The Allied raid on Dieppe on August 19, 1942, ended in disaster with 3,623 of 6,086 men killed, wounded or captured in nine hours. The lessons learned shaped the planning of the Normandy landings two years later.
1942 – 1943 Battle of Stalingrad Turning point on the Eastern Front The Battle of Stalingrad (August 1942 - February 1943) was the largest and bloodiest battle in history, with nearly 2 million casualties. The German 6th Army was encircled and destroyed, marking the turning point of the war in the East.
1942 Second Battle of El Alamein Montgomery defeats Rommel in North Africa The Second Battle of El Alamein, fought October 23 to November 11, 1942, was a decisive British victory over Rommel's Afrika Korps. Churchill said: "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is the end of the beginning."
1943 Casablanca Conference Churchill and Roosevelt demand unconditional surrender Churchill and Roosevelt met in Casablanca, Morocco from January 14-24, 1943. They agreed on the Allied strategy and announced they would accept nothing less than the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers.
1943 German 6th Army surrenders at Stalingrad 91,000 survivors captured Field Marshal Paulus surrendered the remnants of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad on February 2, 1943. Of 300,000 men who entered the Stalingrad pocket, only 91,000 survived to surrender; fewer than 6,000 ever returned to Germany.
1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Jews resist Nazi deportations Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto rose up against Nazi deportations on April 19, 1943. The uprising lasted nearly a month before being crushed. It was the largest Jewish armed resistance of the Holocaust.
1943 Battle of Kursk Largest tank battle in history The Battle of Kursk in July 1943 was the largest tank battle in history, with nearly 6,000 tanks engaged. The Soviet victory ended Germany's ability to launch major offensive operations on the Eastern Front.
1943 Allies invade Sicily Operation Husky — first Allied landing in Europe Allied forces under Eisenhower landed in Sicily on July 10, 1943, in the largest amphibious operation in history at that time. Sicily fell in 38 days and Mussolini was deposed.
1943 Mussolini overthrown Italian dictator arrested Italian King Victor Emmanuel III dismissed and arrested Benito Mussolini on July 25, 1943, following a vote of no confidence by the Fascist Grand Council. Italy surrendered to the Allies six weeks later.
1943 Italy surrenders Armistice signed with the Allies Italy signed an armistice with the Allies on September 8, 1943, withdrawing from the war. Germany immediately occupied northern and central Italy and rescued Mussolini in a daring raid.
1943 Tehran Conference Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill meet for first time Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill met in Tehran from November 28 to December 1, 1943 — the first meeting of the "Big Three". They agreed on the opening of a second front in Western Europe in 1944.
1944 Anzio landings Allies land behind German lines in Italy Allied forces landed at Anzio, Italy on January 22, 1944, behind German lines in an attempt to outflank the Gustav Line. The beachhead became a costly stalemate for four months.
1944 Germany occupies Hungary Jews of Hungary deported to Auschwitz Germany occupied Hungary on March 19, 1944. Within weeks, 437,000 Hungarian Jews were deported to Auschwitz in the largest and most rapid deportation of the Holocaust.
1944 Allies liberate Rome First Axis capital to fall Allied forces entered Rome on June 4, 1944, making it the first Axis capital to be liberated. The news was overshadowed two days later by the Normandy landings.
1944 D-Day Normandy landings On June 6, 1944, over 156,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy — the largest seaborne invasion in history.
1944 First V-1 flying bomb hits London Nazi terror weapon targets civilians Germany launched its first V-1 flying bomb attack on London on June 13, 1944, a week after D-Day. Over 9,500 V-1s were launched at Britain, killing 6,184 people.
1944 July 20 plot — Hitler assassination attempt Stauffenberg's bomb fails to kill Hitler Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg placed a bomb at Hitler's Wolf's Lair headquarters on July 20, 1944. Hitler survived with minor injuries. Over 4,900 people were executed in the subsequent crackdown.
1944 Warsaw Uprising Polish Home Army fights for 63 days The Polish Home Army rose up against German occupation in Warsaw on August 1, 1944, fighting for 63 days. Stalin halted the Soviet advance to allow the Germans to crush the uprising. 200,000 Polish civilians were killed.
1944 Paris liberated De Gaulle leads triumphant march down Champs-Élysées Paris was liberated on August 25, 1944, after four years of German occupation. General de Gaulle led a triumphant march down the Champs-Élysées the following day as jubilant crowds lined the streets.
1944 Operation Market Garden A bridge too far — Arnhem falls Operation Market Garden, September 17-25, 1944, was the largest airborne operation in history, aimed at seizing bridges in the Netherlands and crossing the Rhine. The operation failed at Arnhem, delaying the end of the war.
1944 Battle of the Bulge Germany's last major offensive in the West Germany launched its final major offensive on the Western Front on December 16, 1944, catching the Allies by surprise in the Ardennes forest. The US 101st Airborne held Bastogne. The German offensive was repulsed by January.
1945 Auschwitz liberated Soviets discover the death camp Soviet forces liberated the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp complex on January 27, 1945, finding 7,000 surviving prisoners. Over 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, had been murdered there.
1945 Yalta Conference Big Three plan post-war world Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met at Yalta in Crimea from February 4-11, 1945, to plan the post-war reorganisation of Europe. They agreed on the occupation of Germany and free elections in liberated countries.
1945 Battle of Iwo Jima Marines raise flag on Mount Suribachi US Marines stormed Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, in one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War. The iconic photograph of Marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi became the most reproduced image in history.
1945 Allies cross the Rhine Remagen bridge captured intact US troops captured the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen on March 7, 1945, crossing the Rhine before the Germans could destroy it. Within 24 hours 8,000 troops had crossed into Germany.
1945 Battle of Okinawa Bloodiest battle of the Pacific War The Battle of Okinawa, April 1 to June 22, 1945, was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific. Over 12,000 Americans and 110,000 Japanese soldiers died, along with up to 150,000 Okinawan civilians.
1945 Roosevelt dies US President dies with victory in sight President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a cerebral haemorrhage on April 12, 1945, at Warm Springs, Georgia, just weeks before Germany's surrender. Harry Truman was sworn in as the 33rd President.
1945 Battle of Berlin Soviet forces storm the German capital Soviet forces launched the final assault on Berlin on April 16, 1945. Over 1.5 million Soviet troops fought through the city in brutal street-by-street combat until Germany's surrender on May 2.
1945 Mussolini executed Italian dictator killed by partisans Benito Mussolini was captured and executed by Italian partisans on April 28, 1945, while attempting to flee to Switzerland. His body was displayed publicly in Milan.
1945 Hitler commits suicide In his Berlin bunker as Soviets close in Adolf Hitler shot himself in his Führerbunker in Berlin on April 30, 1945, as Soviet forces fought less than 500 metres away. Eva Braun, whom he had married the previous day, took cyanide simultaneously.
1945 VE Day — Victory in Europe Germany surrenders unconditionally Germany signed its unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945 — Victory in Europe Day. Massive celebrations erupted across Allied nations. The war in Europe was over after nearly six years and an estimated 70-85 million deaths.
1945 Hiroshima Atomic bomb dropped On August 6, 1945, the US dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing 80,000 instantly. By year's end, 140,000 had died.
1945 Nagasaki atomic bomb Second bomb dropped on Japan The United States dropped a plutonium bomb nicknamed "Fat Man" on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, three days after Hiroshima. Between 40,000 and 80,000 people were killed instantly.
1945 VJ Day — Japan surrenders Emperor Hirohito announces defeat Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's unconditional surrender in a radio broadcast on August 15, 1945 — the first time most Japanese had heard his voice. The formal surrender was signed on September 2 aboard USS Missouri.
1945 Japan signs formal surrender World War II officially ends Japan signed the formal instrument of surrender on September 2, 1945 aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, officially ending World War II. General MacArthur presided over the ceremony.