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World War II Begins
German Invasion of Poland
On this day, German troops invaded Poland, marking the unofficial start of the seond World War. -
Support without Fighting: The Lend-Lease Bill
The Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act allowed the United States to send weapons and other aid to the Allies while still not declaring outright war. This brought the country to a state of preparedness without joining the battles overseas. The bill was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on this date. -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Infamy Speech
Japanese forces attacked the US Naval base on Pearl Harbor, prompting the Americans to declare war on Japan and officially join the conflict. President Roosevelt gave an address the following day declaring war. -
D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy Beach
Invasion of Normandy
On this date, thousands of Allied forces invaded Normandy Beach on the French coastline, swinging the momentum in the Allies' favor. Germany surrendered less than a year later. -
US Bombs Hiroshima, Japan
The Atomic Bomb
By President Harry Truman's order, American military forces dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in an effort to get Japan to surrender. -
US Bombs Nagasaki, Japan
Bombing Nagasaki
The second atomic bomb was dropped three days after the first, devastating Japan. -
US War with Japan Ends
Brief History of WWII
Though Japan had been under Allied rule since August 1945, a peace treaty officially took effect on this date almost seven years later, officially ending the war with Japan and bringing closure to the Seond World War.
