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September 1, 1939: Germany Invades Poland

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September 1, 1939: Germany Invades Poland

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World War II officially began when Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. This aggressive action prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany two days later. The invasion demonstrated Germany's new military strategy called 'blitzkrieg' or 'lightning war,' which used fast-moving tanks and aircraft to quickly overwhelm enemies.

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September 3, 1939: Britain and France Declare War

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September 3, 1939: Britain and France Declare War

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Following Germany's invasion of Poland, Britain and France honored their promise to protect Poland by declaring war on Germany. This marked the beginning of what would become the largest and most devastating war in human history, involving countries from around the world.

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After a swift military campaign, Nazi Germany conquered France in just six weeks. The French government was forced to sign an armistice, and Germany occupied northern France while establishing a puppet government in southern France known as Vichy France. This left Britain standing alone against Nazi Germany.

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July-October 1940: The Battle of Britain

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July-October 1940: The Battle of Britain

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Germany launched a massive air campaign against Britain, attempting to gain control of British airspace before a planned invasion. British pilots, flying Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes, successfully defended their homeland. Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously said of the pilots: 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few.'

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Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing over 2,400 Americans and damaging or destroying 18 U.S. warships. This attack brought the United States fully into World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it 'a date which will live in infamy.'

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June 22, 1941: Germany Invades the Soviet Union

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June 22, 1941: Germany Invades the Soviet Union

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Hitler broke his peace agreement with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and launched Operation Barbarossa, the largest military invasion in history. Over 3 million German and Axis troops invaded the Soviet Union along an 1,800-mile front. This opened up a massive second front in Europe.

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August 1942-February 1943: Battle of Stalingrad

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August 1942-February 1943: Battle of Stalingrad

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This brutal battle between German and Soviet forces became a major turning point in the war. After months of intense fighting in the ruined city, the Soviet Army surrounded and defeated the German 6th Army. This victory marked the beginning of Germany's retreat on the Eastern Front.

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Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the largest seaborne invasion in history, landing on the beaches of Normandy, France. Over 150,000 American, British, and Canadian troops stormed the heavily defended beaches to establish a foothold in Nazi-occupied Europe. This opened the long-awaited second front in Western Europe.

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January 27, 1945: Liberation of Auschwitz

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January 27, 1945: Liberation of Auschwitz

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Soviet forces liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, revealing to the world the full horror of the Holocaust. This Nazi death camp was where over one million people, mostly Jews, were murdered. The liberation of concentration camps across Europe exposed the systematic genocide that became known as the Holocaust.

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As Soviet forces closed in on Berlin, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his underground bunker. His death marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. Berlin fell to Soviet forces shortly after, and Germany would surrender unconditionally just over a week later.

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Germany officially surrendered unconditionally to the Allied forces, ending the war in Europe. Celebrations erupted across the Allied nations as people celebrated Victory in Europe Day. However, the war in the Pacific against Japan continued for several more months.

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August 6 & 9, 1945: Atomic Bombs Dropped

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August 6 & 9, 1945: Atomic Bombs Dropped

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The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These were the first and only times nuclear weapons have been used in warfare. The devastating power of these weapons killed over 200,000 people and led to Japan's surrender, ending World War II.

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Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender in a radio broadcast, ending World War II. The formal surrender ceremony took place on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. After six years of global conflict, the world was finally at peace, though it had come at an enormous cost in human lives.