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Invation
Japan invades Manchuria. -
Period: to
A treaty of cooperation
Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy sign a treaty of cooperation on October 25; on November 1, the Rome-Berlin Axis is announced. -
Japan invades China
Japan invades China, initiating World War II in the Pacific. -
form
Under German pressure, the Slovaks declare their independence and form a Slovak Republic. The Germans occupy the rump Czech lands in violation of the Munich agreement, forming a Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. -
Initiating World War II in Europe
Germany invades Poland, initiating World War II in Europe. -
The Soviet Union invades Poland
from the east. -
Period: to
The Soviet Union invades Finland
, initiating the so-called Winter War. The Finns sue for an armistice and have to cede the northern shores of Lake Lagoda and the small Finnish coastline on the Arctic Sea to the Soviet Union. -
Period: to
Germany invades Denmark and Norway
Denmark surrenders on the day of the attack; Norway holds out until June 9. -
Period: to
Germany attacks western Europe
France and the neutral Low Countries. Luxembourg is occupied on May 10; the Netherlands surrenders on May 14; and Belgium surrenders on May 28. On June 22, France signs an armistice agreement by which the Germans occupy the northern half of the country and the entire Atlantic coastline. In southern France, a collaborationist regime with its capital in Vichy is established. -
The Italians invade British-controlled Egypt from Italian
The Italians invade British-controlled Egypt from Italian-controlled Libya. -
Declare war on the United States.
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States. -
Ending the North African campaign.
Axis forces in Tunisia surrender to the Allies, ending the North African campaign. -
Fearing Hungary’s intention to desert the Axis partnership
Fearing Hungary’s intention to desert the Axis partnership, the Germans occupy Hungary and compel the regent, Admiral Miklos Horthy, to appoint a pro-German minister president. -
Allied troops liberate Rome
Allied troops liberate Rome. Within six weeks, Anglo-American bombers could hit targets in eastern Germany for the first time. -
Encircling Berlin.
The Soviets launch their final offensive, encircling Berlin. -
Hitler commits suicide.
Hitler commits suicide. -
Germany surrenders
to the western Allies. -
Germany surrenders
Germany surrenders to the Soviets. -
Bomb on Nagasaki.
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. -
Ending World War II.
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders,