WW2 Events Timeline by Brian Boling

Non-Aggression Pact (23 August 1939)

12354594 — 2025-03-10 19:57:36 UTC

A peace treaty signed between Germany and the Soviet Union, agreeing to not lead any attacks on each other. This allowed Germany to more freely invade Poland without having to worry about Soviet threats.

Invasion of Poland (1 Sep 1939-6 Oct 1939)

12354594 — 2025-03-10 19:57:36 UTC

The invasion of Poland by Germany and the Slovak republic in an effort to take over the country as German territory. This was the event that kicked off WW2.

Dunkirk Invasion (26 May 1940-2 June 1940)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:07:16 UTC

The evacuation of about 338,000 soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk due to German threat. It was a great success and kept the British morale up.

Battle of Britain (10 July 1940-31 October 1940)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:13:49 UTC

A series of air raids over Britain by Germany. It was Germany's first big military defeat.

Soviet Union Invaded (22 June 1941)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:14:19 UTC

The surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Germany. This broke the non-aggression pact formed between the two before the war.

Bombing of Pearl Harbor (7 December 19 1941)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:16:51 UTC

The bombing of a U.S. air base in Hawaii by Japan to weaken the United States military. It was the main event that caused the U.S. to join the war.

Battle of Midway (Midway 2-7 June 1942)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:18:25 UTC

A series of naval battles between Japan and the U.S. that slowed the Japanese momentum in the pacific. It was the first major axis defeat in the war.

Manhattan Project (13 August 1942-August 1945)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:19:38 UTC

An undercover project led by American and Canadian scientists to develop the first atomic bomb. This mission was successful and the testing of the first nuclear bomb called the “trinity” was performed roughly 3 years after the project began.

Allies Land in North Africa (8 November 1942)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:20:49 UTC

The invasion of the beaches of North Africa by the U.S. and the British. It opened up a second front for the allies against the axis powers.

Guadalcanal Campaign (7 August 1942-9 February 1943)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:22:52 UTC

A series of naval battles between the U.S. and Japan surrounding the Solomon islands. It paused all Japanese expansion attempts and put the allies in a winning position.

German Surrender in Stalingrad (2 February 1943)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:23:37 UTC

The surrounding of Stalingrad by Soviet troops after a long and tedious battle. This was the first surrender by Hitler’s army in the war thus-far.

D-Day (6 June 1944)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:23:43 UTC

The invasion of the beaches of Normandy, France by the allies in a surprise attack. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and almost 5,000 allied troops died.

Battle of the Bulge (16 Dec 1944-25 Jan 1945)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:26:02 UTC

The last major Nazi offensive of WW2, with a surprise attack creating a “bulge” in the enemy lines. The Germans initially made some gains on the allies, but quickly lost the upper hand due to bad weather and advances made by troops led by General Patton.

Iwo Jima Captured (19 Feb 1945)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:27:15 UTC

The capture of Iwo Jima island by the American forces after weeks of fighting for it. Iwo Jima was a key target to capture because of its position as a possible spot to conduct easier attacks on Japan from.

Hitler Commits Suicide (30 April 1945)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:28:33 UTC

Hitler killed himself after realizing Germany would lose the war. This threw Germany into disarray and they lost the war soon after.

Germany Surrenders (7 May 1945)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:29:21 UTC

The German surrender to the allied powers following the suicide of Adolf Hitler. This marked the end of the United States involvement on the European front in WW2.

Okinawa Captured (22 June 1945)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:30:55 UTC

A 3 month battle for the island of Okinawa, which would finally remove the long-standing barrier in between America and Japan. About 110,000 Japanese soldiers and almost 50,000 American deaths, making it one of the bloodiest battles of WW2.

Bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki (6-9 August 1945)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:32:03 UTC

The dropping of atomic bombs on 2 densely populated Japanese cities, resulting in over a hundred thousand civilian deaths. This attack swiftly won the U.S. the war on the Pacific front, with Japan surrendering shortly thereafter.

Japan Signs Official Surrender (2 September 1945)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:32:55 UTC

Japan surrenders to the U.S. after nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This solidified the U.S. as the winners of the Pacific front.

Japanese Internment Camps in America (19 Feb 1942-20 March 1946)

12354594 — 2025-03-15 05:34:21 UTC

The forcing of roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans into concentration camps under the suspicion of working in tandem with Japan. Almost 2,000 Japanese-Americans died as a result. Although the war ended in 1945, the camps weren't abolished until 1946.