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Nazi Germany invades Poland
German troops invade Poland on the ground while Hitler's air force bombs Polish cities from the sky. -
Britain and France Declare War
Britain and France declare war on Germany honoring their commitment to Poland. -
Hitler Seizes Low Countries
Adolf Hitler takes neutral Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg. -
Hitler Defeats France
Britain forces retreat from France and Adolf Hitler's armies defeat French forces. -
Italy Attacks France
Benito Mussolini's Italian forces attack France from the south. -
France Surrenders
France surrenders to Germany and signs an armistice. Great Britain now stands alone against the Axis powers. -
US Extends Japanese Embargo
The United States extends the Japanese embargo to include iron and steel. -
Draftees to Camps
The first draft numbers are drawn, sending thousands of draftees to drill camps all over the country. -
Robin Moor
The American merchant ship Robin Moor is sunk by a German torpedo in the South Atlantic. -
Germany Invades Soviet Union
Germany invades the Soviet Union violating the Non Aggression Pact. -
US Aids Soviets
The United States extends lend-lease aid to the Soviet Union. -
US Defends Iceland
President Franklin D. Roosevelt announces that the United States will take over defense of Iceland for the duration of the war. -
U.S.S Kearny
German submarines damage the U.S.S. Kearny in a skirmish near Iceland, killing 11. -
Japanese Decide to Attack
The Japanese government decides to attack Pearl Harbor if negotiations with the United States fail. -
Bombed Pearl Harbor
Japanese fighter planes attack the American base at Pearl Harbor destroying U.S. aircraft and naval vessels, and killing 2,355 U.S. servicemen and 68 civilians. -
D-Day
Invasion of Normandy, France. -
End of WW2 in Europe
The final battles of the European Theatre of World War II -
Nagasaki
US drops second atomic bomb. Over 40,000 killed -
Tokyo Petitions for Peace
Tokyo asks for peace on the condition that Emperor Hirohito will retain his throne. The Allies accept. -
Surrender of the Empire of Japan
A formal surrender ceremony is conducted in Tokyo Bay on the U.S. battleship Missouri. World War II officially ends. -
Lend-Lease Program
Congress approves the lend-lease bill which would deliver arms to Great Britain to be paid for following the war's end.
