World War II Battles Timeline

Battle of the Atlantic

Sep 3, 1939

Ended on May 8th, 1945. The Allies shipping through the Atlantic was constantly attacked by German submarines. This caused many allied allied ships to be sunk. This forced allied ships to travel in convoys.

Battle of Britain

Jul 10, 1940

Ended on October 31st, 1940
Germany fails to invade Britain by air, bombing British cities, air bases, and other buildings.
This makes Germany not want to invade Britain like originally planned.

Battle of Philippines (Bataan)

Jan 7, 1942

Ended on April 9th, 1942. Japan defeated U.S. and Filipino armies and made them go to a death march to prisoner of war camps. Japan gained control of Bataan, Corregidor.

Battle of Midway

Jun 3, 1942

Ended on June 7th.The battle was in the Pacific between Japanese and United States ships. Japan was defeat and lost several battleships and aircraft carriers.

Battle of Stalingrad

Jul 17, 1942

Ended on February 2nd, 1943. Soviet forces surrounded German forces in the city of Stalingrad. This battle had a large number of casualties. This was the first defeat Germany told the German public about.

Battle of Guadalcanal

Aug 7, 1942

Ended on February 9, 1943. Start of the Allied campaign in the Pacific against Japan. First offensive focus of the United States in World War II. The Allies defeated the Japanese at land and sea but due to the tenacity of the Japanese soldiers, it led to the atomic bomb being used to end the war.

Operation Torch

Nov 8, 1942

Ended on November 16th, 1942. The Allies invaded French north Africa by land and sea. France was neutral at the time. Led to the Allies getting land in Algeria and Germany getting land in Tunisia.

Operation Overlord (D-Day)

Jun 6, 1944

Ended on August 25th, 1944. Allied forces invaded German forces across the Normandy coast in terrible weather. There was a great number of casualties, especially for America. Led to the end of World War II.

Battle of Leyte

Oct 20, 1944

Ended on October 26th. The remaining United States Pacific fleet attacked the Japanese navy. Allied forces won the battle. This led to the Japanese navy losing a large amount of battleships. This prevented allied ground forces from being isolated on Leyte.

Battle of Bulge

Dec 16, 1944

Ended on January 16, 1945. German forces attacked Allied forces in Aachen, Germany. 10,000 bombers were sent as reinforcements and the Germans suffered significant losses and lost the battle.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Feb 19, 1945

Ended on March 26th, 1945. The island was stormed by American soldiers and America took control of the island and was able to use it as an airforce base to bomb Japan. There was constant Japanese resistance instead of surrendering, even after the battle was clearly lost.

Battle of Okinawa

Jun 22, 1945

Ended on June 22nd, 1945. The Battle of Okinawa was the final battle between the Japanese and the United States in World War II. America won and gained control over the island of Okinawa and it was the first time a large number of Japanese soldiers actually surrendered. It also led to President Truman dropping the atomic bomb on Japan to avoid American casualties.