WWII TIMELINE by Anabela Flosa

November 11, 1918

aflosa — 2022-02-13 17:12:56 UTC

World War I Ends
France, the U.S., Britain, and other allies defeat Germany resulting in the end of WWI. Known as "the war to end all wars".

January 30, 1933

aflosa — 2022-02-13 17:14:59 UTC

Hitler Elected German Leader
The new chancellor of Germany, Adolf Hitler is appointed and eventually embraces dictatorial powers and controls.

September 1, 1939

aflosa — 2022-02-13 17:21:40 UTC

World War II Begins
Germany invades Poland, provoking Poland's allies Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

September 17, 1939

aflosa — 2022-02-13 17:23:54 UTC

The Soviet Union Invades Poland
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin demands the invasion of Poland, securing a percentage of Polish territory.

September 27, 1939

aflosa — 2022-02-13 17:28:37 UTC

Warsaw Captured
Warsaw surrenders to German troops. The Polish wished that if they could defeat the German themselves, the anti-communist government would be back with help from the Allies after war. Poland holds out for another nine days before complying.

December 13, 1939

aflosa — 2022-02-13 17:31:13 UTC

United Kingdom Wins War's First Sea Battle
The first prominent naval attention of World War II, British cruisers defeat a German battleship at the Battle of the River Plate.

April 8, 1940

aflosa — 2022-02-13 18:05:48 UTC

Invasion of Norway
Germany invades Norway, marking the end of a 6-month period called the "Phony War", a period of limited land operations.

May 10, 1940

aflosa — 2022-02-13 18:13:20 UTC

Germany invades Belgium & Churchill becomes Prime Minister
Germany invades Belgium for the second time in order to invade France. Neville Chamberlain is replaced by Winston Churchill of an all-party coalition government

May 26 - June 4, 1940

aflosa — 2022-02-13 18:13:59 UTC

Dunkirk
The trapped British army evacuates to England from Dunkirk. This evacuation allowed British Army to avoid capture and death.

June 14, 1940

aflosa — 2022-02-13 20:02:17 UTC

Paris falls to Nazis
German forces invade Paris and President Roosevelt froze the American assets of the Axis powers, Germany and Italy.

July 10 - October 31, 1940

aflosa — 2022-02-13 20:06:16 UTC

Britain Under Attack
The Battle of Britain ends in the defeat of Nazi Germany.

December 7-8, 1941

aflosa — 2022-02-13 20:09:15 UTC

Pearl Harbor Attack
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, marking the beginning of the war for the U.S.

September 2, 1945

aflosa — 2022-02-13 20:15:09 UTC

End of World War II
Japan formally surrenders

July 1944

aflosa — 2022-02-13 20:18:26 UTC

First Major Concentration Camp
The first major camp to be liberated was Majdanek, located in Lublin, Poland. It was discovered by the advancing Soviet Red Army.

January 17-21, 1945

aflosa — 2022-02-13 20:22:53 UTC

End of Concentration Camps
On this day, Soviet troops approached Auschwitz and began the final evacuations of prisoners from the camp. The march contained approximately 56,000 prisoners, also known as the "Death March".

December 11, 1941

amymiddlemast — 2025-03-21 15:08:39 UTC

The USA declares war on Germany and Italy.