Timeline of World War II

First Neutrality act Passed

Oct 31, 1935

An early example of the US trying to stay neutral during WWII. This was an ultimate failure.

Signing of the Rome Berlin Access

Oct 25, 1936

Italy and Germany signed a pact that would later be joined by Japan and other facist countries.

Signing of the Anti-Comintern Pact

Nov 25, 1936

A pact signed between Nazi Germany and Japan directed towards communism instead of their fascism.

Hitler Declares Austria as Part of the third Reich

Mar 12, 1938

Another example of appeasment, the Nazi's took over Austria.

Munich Conference Called

Sep 28, 1938

An example of British Appeasment that lead to the Nazi's getting more territory.

German invasion of Czechoslovakia

Mar 16, 1939

Germany invaded Czechoslovakia which led to no response by Great Britain leading to more Nazi expansion.

Mussolini Invades Albania

Apr 7, 1939

An example of Italian Imperialism, this was another cause of WWII.

Germany invades Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Generally considered the event that started WWII, Germany invaded Poland causing England to declare war on them.

German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact signed

Oct 23, 1939

The Germans and Soviets agreed not to fight eachother. This was violated by the Germans and resulted in the USSR fighting Germany.

Soviet Union invades Finland

Nov 30, 1939

Doing some of there own military expansion, the USSR decided to invade Finland and ultimately resulted in some territory gain on the Soviet side.

Dunkerque was Evacuated

Mar 27, 1940

This was the massive evacuation of allied troops in France after the Nazis started sweeping over the area.

German invasion of Denmark of Norway

Apr 9, 1940

Another example of Nazi conquering which saw quick capture of Norway and Denmark. But not Sweden.

Winston Churchill Named Prime minister of Great Britain

May 10, 1940

Churchill was the prime minister of England during WWII. After reading Mein Kampf, Churchill knew that Hitler had to be destroyed and succeeded.

German invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg

May 10, 1940

Another example of Nazi expansion during WWII.

Mussolini declares war on Great Britain and France

Jun 10, 1940

Honoting its' alliance with Germany, Italy declared war on France and Great Britain resulting in the Allies spending a lot of time there.

Battle of Britain

Jul 10, 1940

The Nazi's decided to bomb the British into submission wit constant air rades. This was an ultimate failure.

Japan forms an alliance with Germany and Italy

Sep 27, 1940

The Japanese formed the Axis powers with Japan and Germany creating the enemy for the Allies.

German Attack of Soviet Union

Jun 22, 1941

Despite an anti-aggression pact, Hitler double-crossed the USSR and invaded causing the demise of the Nazi's

Roosevelt and Churchill sign the Atlantic Charter

Oct 14, 1941

This lead to the Americans starting to supply the British with arms and food to help them win the war.

Pearl Harbor Attacked

Dec 7, 1941

Japan attacked the US Navy outpost at Pearl Harbor leading to US involvment in WWII.

US declares war on Japan

Dec 8, 1941

The US declared war on Japan and subsequently led to German declaration of war on the US. This led to the end of WWII.

Bataan Death March

Apr 9, 1942

The Japanese conquered a combination of Philipino American military outposts. Not having enough space for their POW's, the Japanese marched them to death.

Wannsee Conference

May 10, 1942

This was the meeting between various Nazi leaders to come up with the final solution with Jews. This lead to the infamous death camps.

Battle of Midway

Jun 3, 1942

This naval battle on Midway island caused a crippling blow to the Japanese fleet and ended the Japanese chance of winnig WWII.

Battle of Stalingrad

Oct 23, 1942

Going on for several months, the Battle of Stalingrad saw nearly two million casualties and saw the end of the Nazi offensive in Russia.

D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

The allied invasion of the Atlantic wall at Normandy. With the Allies closing in on the west and the Russians on the right, it was really only a matter of time before the Nazi's lost.

MacArthur lands in Philiphines

Oct 17, 1944

This lead to the Japanese losing their control of the Philipines.

V-E Day

May 8, 1945

The date when the Nazi's officially surrendered ending WWII.

Potsdam Conference

Jul 17, 1945

The Allies met to decide what to do with the former Nazi territory and this lead to the Cold War.

V-J Day

Oct 15, 1945

After the dropping of Atomic bombs, a treaty was made with Japan officially ending WWII.