World War II Timeline by Taylor Langland

September 1, 1939-Germany invades Poland

2024-10-11 18:50:33 UTC

Germany launches a surprise attack on Poland using the German battleship. 1,300 airplanes were used in the invasion as well. Hitler invaded Poland because Germans wanted to live there. This marked the beginning of World War 2.

September 3, 1939-Declaring war on Germany

2024-10-11 18:50:41 UTC

Great Britain declared war on Germany. Later that day, France declared war on Germany. Great Britain and France declared war on Germany in response to the invasion of Poland.

August 23, 1939-Nazi-Soviet pact

taylorlangland1 — 2024-10-11 18:51:17 UTC

Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Nazi-Soviet pact. It was a 10-year non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, meaning that they promised not to attack each other. In a way, it prepared the way for World War 2.

July 10 - Oct 31, 1940-Battle of Britain

2024-10-11 18:52:12 UTC

The battle marked the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces and aimed to gain air superiority over Britain as a precursor to a potential invasion. Strategic defense, and the bravery of its pilots led to a decisive victory, preventing Germany from achieving its objectives and marking a turning point in the war.

1939-1945-Battle of the Atlantic

taylorlangland1 — 2024-10-11 18:52:58 UTC

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign in World War 2. Allied powers were the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Brazil, Norway against Germany and Italy.

December 8, 1941-United States declaring war

2024-10-11 18:53:27 UTC

The United States declares war on Japan. Germany and Italy soon declare war on the United States. Now the nation has become fully engaged in World War 2. From families at home to people serving in the military, the whole United States was engaged in the war.

June 10, 1940-Italy joining and invading

2024-10-11 18:53:49 UTC

Italy joins the war and on June 27, invades Southern France. Italy joined the war on Germany’s side. Italy was joining, hoping to gain territory.

May 4-8, 1942-The Battle of Coral Sea

2024-10-11 18:54:37 UTC

During World War II, a significant naval and aerial confrontation occurred in which a U.S. fleet successfully repelled a Japanese invasion aimed at the strategically important Port Moresby in New Guinea

June 6, 1944-Operation overlord, D-Day

2024-10-11 18:55:30 UTC

On June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, Operation Overlord marked the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France. Over 156,000 troops landed on five beachheads in Normandy, facing fierce German resistance, especially at Omaha Beach.

April 1, 1945-Battle of Okinawa

2024-10-11 18:56:03 UTC

During World War 2. U.S. forces aimed to capture the island as a base for launching operations against the Japanese mainland. The battle lasted for nearly three months and involved intense fighting, resulting in heavy casualties: around 12,500 American soldiers and an estimated 100,000 Japanese troops.

September 27, 1940-Tripartite Pact

taylorlangland1 — 2024-10-11 18:56:05 UTC

Germany, Italy and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact. An agreement made by Germany, Italy and Japan. This created a defense alliance between the countries and was created to prevent the United States from joining the conflict.

December 7th, 1941-Pearl Harbor attack

2024-10-11 18:56:14 UTC

The Japanese launch a surprise attack on the US naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The United States had been stationed in Pearl Harbor ever since April 1940. Then the base was attacked by 353 Imperial Japanese aircraft. These increased the tensions between Japan and the United States for the next 10 years.

May 8, 1945-V-E Day

2024-10-11 18:56:41 UTC

On Victory in Europe Day, commonly known as V-E Day, Germany surrendered its military forces unconditionally to the Allied powers, which included the United States.

August 6th, 1945-First ever atomic bombing

2024-10-11 18:57:17 UTC

The United States bombed Hiroshima. The uranium bomb that exploded over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, had a destructive power equivalent to 15,000 tonnes of TNT. It obliterated and incinerated approximately 70 percent of the city's structures, leading to an estimated 140,000 fatalities by the close of 1945, as well as heightened incidences of cancer and chronic illnesses among those who survived.

April 9, 1942-Bataan Death March

2024-10-11 18:57:45 UTC

The Bataan Death March was a grueling 66-mile trek in the Philippines that 76,000 prisoners of war were compelled to undertake by the Japanese military in April 1942, during the initial phase of World War II.

August 9th, 1945-Atomic bombing of Nagasaki

2024-10-11 18:59:41 UTC

The Fat Man bomb exploded at an elevation of 1,650 feet above Nagasaki, producing a yield of 21 kilotons, which was approximately 40 percent more powerful than the Little Boy bomb.

September 3, 1943-Italy surrenders unconditionally

2024-10-11 18:59:45 UTC

Italy initially started to surrender because their government leader changed. Italy switched to the allied powers after this and Germany started occupying their military positions. Even after surrendering, war still happened in Italy as the allies fought Germany's will in italy.

August 15th, 1945-VJ day

2024-10-11 19:00:13 UTC

Victory over Japan Day signifies the conclusion of World War 2, a conflict recognized as one of the most lethal and devastating in history.

February 19-March 26, 1945-Battle of Iwo Jima

2024-10-11 19:01:05 UTC

Forces aimed to capture the strategically important island to provide a base for air operations against Japan. Despite fierce resistance from Japanese troops and heavy casualties on both sides, the U.S. ultimately secured the island, symbolized by the iconic flag-raising on Mount Suribachi, but at a high cost, with nearly 26,000 American casualties and significant losses for the Japanese defenders.

December 8, 1941-Japan gains control

taylorlangland1 — 2024-10-11 19:01:12 UTC

The Japanese gained control over the Philippines, French, Indochina, and Singapore. The Japanese also invaded innocent Thailand and forced them to declare war on the United States and Great Britain. The Japanese were so successful because of their powerful army.

July 17th, 1945-Potsdam Conference

2024-10-11 19:02:18 UTC

U.S. President Harry Truman gathered in Potsdam, Germany, between July 17 and August 2, 1945, to negotiate the terms for bringing World War II to a close.

April 30, 1945-Hitler dies

2024-10-11 19:02:42 UTC

Adolf Hitler took his own life on April 30, 1945, as Soviet forces advanced on Berlin.

June 3, 1942-The Battle of Midway

taylorlangland1 — 2024-10-11 19:03:19 UTC

The Battle of Midway was a battle between us and Japan over control of islands in between us and japan. And if the Japanese won, it could give them the ability to attack Hawaii and the west coast of the us. The US won and it was used as a military base during the war.

February 4-11, 1945-Yalta Conference

taylorlangland1 — 2024-10-11 19:06:59 UTC

They agreed on the division of Germany into occupation zones and the establishment of the United Nations, while also addressing the future of Eastern Europe. Although Stalin promised free elections in the region, this commitment was not upheld, setting the stage for future tensions in the Cold War.

April 12, 1945-FDR dies

taylorlangland1 — 2024-10-11 19:08:17 UTC

Harry S. Truman becoming the 33rd President of the United States. Roosevelt's death occurred just weeks before the end of World War 2 in Europe, leaving Truman to navigate the final stages of the conflict and the post-war landscape. Truman's leadership would prove crucial as he made significant decisions.