-
September 1, 1939
Germany invades Poland, World War II begins. -
April 1, 1940
Hitler seizes low countries. -
Period: to
May 10 - June 22, 1940
Blitzkrieg (lightning war) takes over much of western Europe including the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France. -
May 20, 1940
Auschwitz concentration camp is established. -
June 22, 1940
France surrenders to Germany, leaving Great Britain alone against the Axis Powers. -
July 10, 1940
Germany launches air attack onto Great Britain, it lasts until the end of October. Later named "the Battle of Britain". -
July 26, 1940
U.S. withholds gasoline from Japan -
September 27, 1940
Japan joins the Axis Powers -
March 30, 1941
U.S. seizes Axis ships. -
December 7, 1941
The Japanese attack the U.S. Navy in Pearl Harbor. -
December 8, 1941
U.S. joins the Allies -
December 11, 1941
Nazi Germany declares war on the United States -
January 16, 1942
Germans begin the mass deportation of more than 65,000 Jews from Lodz to the Chelmno killing center. -
July 5, 1943
Battle of Kursk -
October 1, 1943
Rescue of Jews in Denmark -
April 25, 1944
Paris is liberated -
May 15, 1944
Germans begin the mass deportation of about 440,000 Jews from Hungary -
June 4, 1944
Rome falls to Allies forces -
June 6, 1944
D-Day and the Normandy Invasion. Allies invade France and push Germany back. -
December 16, 1944
Germany launches large attack in the Battle of the Bulge. They lost to the Allies. -
April 12, 1945
FDR dies -
April 30, 1945
Adolf Hitler commits suicide. -
May 7, 1945
Germany surrenders to the Allies -
May 9, 1945
Germany surrenders to the Soviets. -
September 2, 1945
End of World War II
