world war 2 timeline by Angel Duarte

European Front Event - Month Day, Year

12365637 — 2025-03-10 19:58:07 UTC

Brief Description

Pacific Front Event - Month Day, Year

12365637 — 2025-03-10 19:58:07 UTC

Brief Description

Non-Aggression Pact

2025-04-19 00:16:10 UTC

A treaty signed on August 23, 1939, between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It stated that both countries would not attack each other for ten years and would remain neutral if either were attacked by a third party.

Poland Invaded

2025-04-19 00:17:10 UTC

German troops invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, triggering World War II. In response to German aggression, Great Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany.

Dunkirk Evacuation

2025-04-19 00:18:07 UTC

Between May 26th to June 4th 1940 and involved the rescue of more than 338,000 British and French soldiers from the French port of Dunkirk. This evacuation was a miracle because of the overwhelming odds and the large number of Allied soldiers rescued. The evacuation also boosted British morale and helped unite the country against Hitler's forces.

Battle of Britain

2025-04-19 00:19:22 UTC

The battle of Britain was fought from July 10th to October 31st 1940. This battle was fought between the Royal air force and the German air force. It was the first major battle fought entirely in the air, and was faught because after conquering France, Nazi Germany aimed to invade Great Britain, but first needed to gain air superiority by destroying the Royal Air Force through sustained aerial attacks.

Soviet Union Invaded

2025-04-19 00:20:17 UTC

The Soviet Union was invaded by Nazi Germany on June 22, 1941, in Operation Barbarossa. This invasion marked the beginning of the Eastern Front of World War II and led to a brutal and prolonged conflict.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

2025-04-19 00:20:51 UTC

The attack on Pearl Harbor occured December 7th 1941. Pearl Harbor is a a U.S. Navy base in Hawaii and was site of a surprise attack by the Japanese in 1941 by using aircrafts and submarines. This attack led the U.S. to enter World War II and decalre war on Japan.

Japanese Internment Camps in America

2025-04-19 00:21:56 UTC

The Japanese Internment Camps were a period in US history where about 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in camps after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. This began in 1942 and lasted until the end of World War II.

Battle of Midway

2025-04-19 00:22:35 UTC

The Battle of Midway was a pivotal naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, fought between the US Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy on June 3-6, 1942. It is widely considered a turning point in the Pacific War, as the US Navy achieved a decisive victory that crippled Japan's naval power and shifted the momentum of the war.

Guadalcanal Campaign

2025-04-19 00:24:11 UTC

a major World War II battle fought between August 1942 and February 1943 in the Solomon Islands. It was the first major land offensive by Allied forces against the Empire of Japan in the Pacific theater, codenamed Operation Watchtower by the United States.

Manhattan Project

2025-04-19 00:24:54 UTC

The Manhattan Project was a top-secret, US-led World War II project aimed at developing the first atomic bomb. It ran from 1942 to 1947 and involved over 130,000 people. The project's goal was to beat Nazi Germany to the creation of a nuclear weapon, leading to the successful detonation of the first atomic bomb in 1945.

Allies Land in North Africa

2025-04-19 00:25:37 UTC

The Allied landing in North Africa, codenamed Operation Torch, took place on November 8, 1942. The Allied forces, primarily British and American troops, landed in French North Africa with hopes of opening up a second front.

D-Day

2025-04-19 00:26:20 UTC

The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The operation, given the codename OVERLORD, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France.

Battle of the Bulge

2025-04-19 00:27:03 UTC

Battle of the Bulge, (December 16, 1944–January 16, 1945), the last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War II which was a unsuccessful attempt to push the Allies back from German home territory

Iwo Jima Captured

2025-04-19 00:27:59 UTC

The island of Iwo Jima was captured by the United States Marine Corps and Navy in a 36-day battle that took place from February 19 to March 26, 1945. The capture was part of the larger Pacific Theater of World War II, with the goal of securing a vital air base for the Allied forces.

Hitler Commits Suicide

2025-04-19 00:28:44 UTC

Hitler commits suicide on April 30th 1945. He commited suicide with a gunshot to the head in the Führerbunker in Berlin after it became clear that Germany would lose the Battle of Berlin, which led to the end of World War II in Europe. This suicide led to the occupying Allies dividing Germany into four zones and the start of the Cold War.

German Surrender in Stalingrad

2025-04-19 00:30:25 UTC

The German surrender at Stalingrad occurred between January 31st and February 2nd, 1943, when General Friedrich Paulus and his Sixth Army surrendered to the Red Army. This marked the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, a pivotal turning point in World War II.

Germany Surrenders

2025-04-19 00:30:56 UTC

Germany surrendered to the Allies on May 7th, 1945. German General Alfred Jodl signed the Instrument of Surrender at Reims, France. After the surrender, the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and France took administrative control of Germany and this day is now known as Victory day in Europe even today.

Okinawa Captured

2025-04-19 00:31:39 UTC

Okinawa was captured by US forces in April 1945, specifically on April 1st, when the Battle of Okinawa began with the initial landings. The battle, part of Operation Iceberg, lasted until June 22, 1945, when the last pockets of Japanese resistance were overcome.

Bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki

2025-04-19 00:32:18 UTC

The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. These were the first times nuclear weapons were used in war. The bombings are considered to have been a significant factor in Japan's surrender.

Japan Signs Official Surrender

2025-04-19 00:32:49 UTC

This surrender occurred on September 2nd 1945. This surrender was signed by Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, which marked the end of World War II. This surrender occured after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US, and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan