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Germany invades Poland
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Germany invades France
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Armistace signed between France and Germany
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Period: to
Battle of Britain
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Dunkirk Evacuation begins
Ended on June 4th. On the first day, only 7,011 men were evacuated, but by the ninth day, a total of 338,226 soldiers (198,229 British and 139,997 French) had been rescued by the hastily assembled fleet of 850 boats. -
Alcase-Lorraine re-annexed (de facto) by Germany
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American neutrality ends with passage of Lend-Lease Act
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Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece
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Germany invades Soviet Union
German, Romanian and Slovak troops invaded the Soviet Union, later also joined by Hungary (following the bombing of the Hungarian city Kassa), effectively starting Operation Barbarossa. Having destroyed most of the Soviet Air Force on the ground, German forces quickly advanced deep into Soviet territory using blitzkrieg tactics. Armored units raced forward in pincer movements, pocketing and destroying entire Soviet armies. -
Period: to
Battle of Moscow
The Battle of Moscow was one of the most important battles of World War II, primarily because the Soviets were able to prevent the most serious attempt to capture their capital. The battle was also one of the largest during the war, with more than a million total casualties. The Wehrmacht had been forced to retreat before, during the Yelnya Offensive in September 1941 and at the Battle of Rostov. However, Moscow marked a turning point, as it was the first time since the Wehrmacht began its conqu -
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
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US Doolittle raid on Japa
Doolittle raid sees first bombs dropped on Japanese mainland by American forces. -
Battle of Midway begins
Most important battle in Pacific Campaign. Japanese fleet suffers defeat from which it will not recover. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
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Period: to
Battle of El Alamein (Second)
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Battle of El Alamein (second) Ends
Ends with definitive victory for allies under Montgomery. Rommel retreats. -
Battle of Stalingrad ends with German 6th Army surrender
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Mussolini voted out of power by his own Grand Council
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Allies invade Normandy
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B-29s bomb Yahata, Japan
First bombing of Japanese mainland since Doolittle raid in April 1942 -
Period: to
Battle of the Bulge
German offensive eventually fails due to fierce resistance and the use of superior air power (which was used once weather cleared). -
Hitler commits suicide
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Final surrender of German forces
Holiday celebrate on May 8 (May 7th in Commonwealth countries) -
US drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima
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US drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki
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Japanese sign instrument of surrender aboard USS Missouri