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Beginning of World War II
Germany invades Poland, initiating World War II in Europe -
Great Britan and France declare war on Germany
Honoring their guarantee of Poland's borders,Great Britan and France declare war on Germany -
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Germany invades Denmark and Norway
Germany invades Denmark and Norway. Denmark surrenders on the day of the attack. Norway holds out until June 9. -
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Germany attackes western Euroupe
Germany attacks western Europe, specifically France and the neutral low countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg). Luxembourg is occupied on May 10; the Netherlands surrender 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 collaborations regime with its capital in Vichy is established. -
Italy enters the war
Italy enters the war. Italy invades southern France on June 21. -
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The Battle Of Britan
The air war is known as the battle of Britain ends in defeat for Nazi Germany. -
Tripartite Pact
Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact -
Bulgaria joins the axis.
Bulgaria joins the axis. -
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Axis partners invade the Soviet Union
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners ( except Bulgaria) invade the Soviet Union. . The Germans quickly overrun the Baltic states and, joined by Finns, lay siege to Leningrad by September. in the center, the German capture Smolensk in early august and drive on Moscow by October. In the south, German and Romanian troops capture kiev in September and capture rostov on the don river in November -
A Soviet counteroffensive drives the germans from the moscow
A Soviet counteroffensive drives the germans from the Moscow suburbs in chaotic retreat -
Japan bombs pearl harbor
Japan bombs pearl harbor -
the United States declares war on japan
The United States declares war on Japan, entering World War II. Japanese troops land in the Philippines, French Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia), and British Singapore. The Japanese occupy the Philippines, Indochina, and Singapore by April 1942 and take control of Burma in May -
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Axis partners declare war on the United States.
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States. -
The US Navy halts the Japanese
The US Navy halts the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway. -
Axis forces surrender to the Allies
Axis forces in Tunisia surrender to the Allies, ending the North African campaign. -
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Allied forces go on the offensive against Japanese forces
For the first time, Allied forces go on the offensive against Japanese forces by landing on and taking Tulagi, Florida, and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. -
Allied forces land in southern France near
Allied forces land in southern France near Nice and advance rapidly towards the Rhine River to the northeast. -
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Allied troops reach Paris.
Allied troops reach Paris. On August 25, Free French forces, supported by Allied troops, enter the French capital. By September, the Allies reach the German border. By December, virtually all of France, most of Belgium, and part of the southern Netherlands are liberated. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Germans launch a final offensive in the west, known as the Battle of the Bulge, in an attempt to re-conquer Belgium and split the Allied forces along the German border. By January 1, 1945, the Germans are in retreat. -
Allied troops conquer Okinawa
Allied troops conquer Okinawa, the last island stop before the main Japanese islands. -
Hitler commits suicide.
Hitler commits suicide. -
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Germany signs an unconditional surrender
Germany signs an unconditional surrender at the headquarters of US General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander of Allied forces in northwest Europe, at Reims on May 7. The surrender takes effect on May 8 at 11:01 PM Central European Time (CET). -
Germany signs a second document of surrender in Berlin
Germany signs a second, very similar, document of surrender in Berlin. It also comes into effect on May 8 at 11:01 PM CET. In Moscow, this was already after midnight on May 9. -
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. -
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. -
Ending Of World War II
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.