World War II Timeline by Mandy Guan

Non-Aggression Pact: August 23, 1939

12355073 — 2025-03-10 19:57:53 UTC

It was a secret peace agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. This prevented them from attacking each other and allowed them to split up and share Eastern Europe. An example of this pact being put into action is the German invasion of Poland as the Soviets complied with it by not intervening.

Attack on Pearl Harbor: December 7, 1941

12355073 — 2025-03-10 19:57:53 UTC

Japanese forces surprise-attacked the United States by attacking its naval base in Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii. As a result, the Japanese won and the United States changed from being neutral to joining the Allies in World War 2.

Poland Invaded: September 1-October 6, 1939

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:16:29 UTC

At the start of World War 2, Nazi Germany alongside the Slovaks and Soviets invaded and attacked Poland. The Germans used the military strategy of “blitzkrieg”, or lightning war. As the Soviet Union complied with the Non-Aggression Pact with Germany, it took the east of Poland while Germany took the west as Poland divided.

Dunkirk Evacuation: May 26, 1940 – June 4, 1940

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:18:02 UTC

It was also known as Operation Dynamo. After Germany invaded using their Blitzkrieg tactics, the Allied powers in Dunkirk, France evacuated to England.

Battle of Britain: July–September 1940

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:21:15 UTC

After the fall of France due in World War 2 due to the German air raids, Great Britain initiated a defense. The United Kingdom was defended by their British forces who eventually defeated the German air forces, Luftwaffe.

Soviet Union Invaded: June 22–December 5, 1941

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:22:54 UTC

It was also named Operation Barbarossa, when Nazi Germany and the Axis powers initiated a surprise attack against the Soviets. Despite some territorial gains, it resulted in the Axis’ failure as they were unable to reach the A-A Line (Arkhangelsk and Astrakhan), in which the battle also resulted in high costs and casualties. This led the Soviet Union to join the Allies.

Manhattan Project: 1942-1946

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:24:50 UTC

It was the United States’ secret research project in developing nuclear weapons in competition with Nazi Germany. Later aided by the United Kingdom and Canada and with major developers such as Oppenheimer, the project eventually produced the atomic bombs that were used against Japan. This also later led to the arms race against the Soviet Union in the Cold War.

Allies Land in North Africa: November 8–16, 1942

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:26:07 UTC

Also named Operation Torch, it was the Allied (British and American) invasion of French colonies in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria), that at the time were between sides, but mainly on Nazi Germany’s side due to Vichy France being on Germany’s and Italy’s side at that time. This eventually resulted in the Allies’ victory and allowed for future invasions of Italy and Germany. Having control of North Africa, the Allies also gained access to the Suez Canal and oil in the Middle East.

Japanese Internment Camps in America: February 19, 1942–March 20, 1946

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:27:30 UTC

During President Franklin D. Roosevelt's term, people of Japanese heritage in the United States were relocated and held in concentration camps. Over 120,000 Japanese people across 10 camps were subject to discrimination and harsh conditions.

Battle of Midway: June 3–7, 1942

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:30:36 UTC

It was a naval battle located in the Midway Atoll island area involving the United States and Japan. Though Japan’s plan against the United States was complex, American codebreakers deciphered Japan’s code so they were able to defend themselves, resulting in the United States’ victory. With Japan’s losses, this became a turning point for World War 2 in the Pacific as the Allies began to have an advantage.

Guadalcanal Campaign: August 7, 1942-February 9, 1943

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:31:42 UTC

It was a battle of the United States' offensive against Japan located in Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands to stop Japan’s Pacific expansion as Japan began to take some land in the islands. Using especially naval forces, it resulted in the Allies’ victory and their gain of the Lunga Point (Henderson Field) airfield.

German Surrender in Stalingrad: January 31–February 2, 1943

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:32:12 UTC

After a battle occurred after Germany’s attempt at seizing the Russian city of Stalingrad due it being named after the Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin, the Germans surrendered. Though Nazi Germany’s Hitler opposed surrendering, Field Marshal Paulus disobeyed Hitler’s orders as the Axis troops were trapped by the Soviets and ran out of supplies.

D-Day: June 6, 1944

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:33:28 UTC

It was the Allies’ amphibious invasion in Normandy, France, which at the time France and Western Europe was occupied by Nazi Germany. This resulted in the Allies’ victory, the liberation of Western Europe, including France, and the weakening of Germany, which was a contribution to Germany’s defeat in the war.

Battle of the Bulge: December 16, 1944– January 28, 1945

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:34:58 UTC

It was the German offensive in the Ardennes (Belgium; Luxembourg; Germany) in an attempt to split the Allies or make a “bulge” by trying to the port city of Antwerp. However, it resulted in an Allied victory and it became Germany’s last offensive as the high casualties and costs weakened it.

Iwo Jima Captured: February 19–March 26, 1945

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:36:47 UTC

Following the battle between the United States and Japan, the U.S.’s Marines and Navy captured the Japanese volcanic island, Iwo Jima, motivated by the island’s airfields of South Field and Central Field. The invasion was a step by the United States to make its way into the Japanese Mainland.

Okinawa Captured: April 1–June 2, 1945

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:36:55 UTC

In a high-casualty amphibious battle between the United States and Japan, the United States won and acquired Okinawa in the Japanese’s Ryukyu Islands. This was the final point to allow the United States to invade mainland Japan. However, because of how deadly the invasion was, the United States was motivated to use atomic bombs.

Hitler Commits Suicide: April 30, 1945

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:38:59 UTC

In his underground bunker in Berlin, Hitler ingested a cyanide capsule and used a gun to commit suicide, shooting himself in the head. Afterwards, the Axis’ Germany soon unconditionally surrendered to the Allies.

Germany Surrenders: May 7, 1945

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:39:14 UTC

Ending the European side of World War 2 (V-E Day) and Germany’s Third Reich, Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allies in Reims, France. However, a secondary document was signed a day later in Berlin for the Soviet Union to recognize it.

Bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki: August 6 and 9, 1945

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:40:33 UTC

It was the United States’ atomic bombings in Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki). This was the United States’ response to Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor. The nuclear attack resulted in many casualties, but eventually Japan’s surrender, ending World War 2 in the Pacific.

Japan Signs Official Surrender: September 2, 1945

12355073 — 2025-03-15 06:41:39 UTC

After the Pacific War ended in August, the Allies, including US President Truman, peacefully agreed with Japan to respect the sovereignty of the Japanese emperor Hirohito. Between the end of the war (August 14) and the formal signing of peace (September 2), the governments were able to prepare. On September 2nd in Tokyo Bay on the USS Missouri, a United States battleship.