-
Germany and USSR invades Poland
Invasions of Poland by USSR and Germany, beginning World War II. Most of Poland is taken in days. -
Warsaw surrendurs
Warsaw surrenders on September 27. The Polish government flees into exile via Romania. Germany and the Soviet Union divide Poland between them. -
Germany invades Denmark, France, and Norway.
Germany invades Denmark, Norway, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg. All fall within weeks. -
Italy in
Italy enters the war. Italy invades southern France on June 21. -
Germany invades USSR
Germany invades the USSR, opening what becomes known as the Eastern Front. -
Pearl Harbor
Imperial Japanese Navy attacks the US Pacific Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. US enters the war, opening the Pacific Theatre. -
Battle Of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad. Germany's entire Sixth Army is lost, and the war begins turning in favor of the Allies. -
D-Day
Allied Expeditionary Force under Dwight Eisenhower lands on the coast of northern France on what will later be called "D-Day". The "Second Front" that Stalin has been demanding for three years is now open. -
Hitler dies
Hitler commits suicide, shortly before the fall of Berlin and surrender of German forces in Europe. -
USA nuke
USA develops the atomic bomb, and successfully uses it in August to force the surrender of Japan.