world war II

  • Treaty of Munich

    Hitler, Chamberlain, Daladier of France and Mussolini of Italy all met in Europe and agreed that Hitler could have Sudetanland in Czechoslovakia.
  • Invasion of Poland

    Hitler invades Poland
  • War on Germany

    Britain and France declare war on Germany.
  • Period: to

    Phoney War

    Period of time where Britain took little to no military action on Germany.
  • Period: to

    Hitler takes Denmark and Norway

    Hitler takes both Denmark and Norway in order to break the British Naval Blockade on Germany.
  • Blitzkrieg

    Hitler starts blitzkrieg, or "lightning war", on Holland and Belgium.
  • Chamberlain resigns/Churchill put in charge

    Neville Chamberlain resigns because of too much pressure for a more aggressive war effort. Winston Churchill becomes head of wartime coalition.
  • Italy enters war (AXIS)

    Italy enters the war as an axis power.
  • France signs Armistice with Germany

    The French sign armistice that takes France out of the war and into German occupation.
  • Period: to

    Battle of Britain

    Hitler sends his Luftwaffe to both assess the RAF's response time to attacks and to also destroy the hopes of the British people. However, the RAF defends London until the bombings stop.
  • Tripartite Pact

    Pact of Alliance is signed by Germany, Italy, and Japan.
  • Period: to

    Italy and Germany attack Yugoslavia

    German and Italian troops led by Erwin Rommel attack Yugoslavia, Greece, and the island of Crete before heading back to North Africa.
  • Hitler attacks Russia

    Hitler attacks Russia (Operation Barbarossa)
  • Pearl Harbor

    Japanese forces attack Pearl Harbor in Hawaii before taking British, French, and Dutch colonies in South East Asia.
  • Britain and USA declare war on Japan.

    Following the Pearl Harbor attacks, both Britain and the US declare war on Japan.
  • Period: to

    Japanese take Singapore

    After taking Singapore from the British, the Japanese take some 60,000 prisoners.
  • Period: to

    Battle of Midway

    USA defeats Japanese Navy. This success triggers momentum for the US, allowing them to push the Japanese farther back.
  • Period: to

    Battle of Stalingrad

    Russians defeat Germans for the first time in World War II.
  • Battle of Alamein

    Montgomery attacked German/Italian army in North Africa with a bombardment and armoured attack. This leads to a 1500 mile chase across the desert.
  • Axis Powers surrender North Africa

    After many battles in North Africa, the Axis Powers are forced to surrender. General Dwight Eisenhower assumed control of French Morocco and Algeria.
  • Italy Surrenders

    After American and British troops invade and capture Italy, the new government is formed and the Italians surrender.
  • Meeting in Tehran

    Allie leaders including Stalin, Roosevelt, and Stalin meet in Tehran to discuss war efforts against Germany and postwar settlements.
  • D-day

    Allies attack German forces in Normandy, Western France. By using the element of surprise, the Allies successfully defeat the Germans.
  • Period: to

    Battle of the Bulge

    The German's last defensive effort is diminished by Allied troops in Belgium.
  • Mussolini captured and excecuted

    Mussolini is captured and executed by his own people.
  • Hitler commits suicide

    Hitler commits suicide knowing that he has lost the war.
  • German Forces Surrender

    German forces stationed in Italy surrendered to Allied forces.
  • VE Day

    VICTORY IN EUROPE!
  • Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima

    After Japanese generals refuse to surrender, the US drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
  • Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki

    After the Japanese refuse to surrender despite the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, the US bombs Nagasaki.
  • Japanese Surrender

    Japan finally surrenders, ending World War II.
  • The End of World War II

    US General Douglas MacArthur accepts the Japanese surrender, thus ending World War II.