-
Nazi Invasion of Poland
Nazi Germany invades Poland, sparking the beginning of World War II and leading to a declaration of war by Britain and France. -
German ‘Blitzkrieg’ overwhelms Holland, Belgium and France
German 'Blitzkrieg' tactics overwhelm Holland, Belgium, and France, leading to the rapid collapse of these countries and the German occupation of Western Europe. -
Period: to
Battle of Britain and the ‘Blitz’ of British Cities
The Battle of Britain took place with the Royal Air Force successfully defending against German air attacks and thwarting Hitler's plans to invade Britain, while the Blitz inflicted heavy bombings on British cities. -
Period: to
Evacuation of Dunkirk
The evacuation of Dunkirk takes place, with hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers rescued from the beaches by a flotilla of civilian boats, representing a significant morale boost for the Allies. -
Operation Barbarossa begins
Operation Barbarossa commenced as Nazi Germany launched a massive invasion of the Soviet Union, aiming to seize control of its territories and resources. -
Pearl Harbour Attacks
The Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, brings the United States into World War II, resulting in their full-scale involvement against the Axis powers. -
The Allies Take Tobruk
The Allies capture the strategically important city of Tobruk in North Africa from Axis forces, boosting morale and establishing a foothold for subsequent operations in the region. -
The Fall of Singapore
The Fall of Singapore marked a significant victory for Japanese forces and a major defeat for the Allies in the Pacific part of World War II. The fall was mainly due to poor planned defence of the island. -
First News of Nazi Atrocities Against Jewish People Reaches the Allies
The Allies received their first news of the Nazi atrocities committed against Jewish people, solidifying their understanding of the Holocaust and further motivating their efforts to defeat the Axis powers. -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway unfolded as a crucial naval confrontation, resulting in a significant victory for the United States against the Japanese fleet and marking a turning point in the Pacific. -
German Forces Surrender at Stalingrad
The German forces surrendered at Stalingrad after a gruelling battle one of the bloodiest battle in WWII, which marked a turning point in the war and the first major defeat for the Germans in their Eastern campaign. -
D-Day Landings
In June 1944, the D-Day Landings took place, as Allied forces launched a massive amphibious invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France, ultimately leading to the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control -
the United States drops the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In April 1945, during the final stages of World War II, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The devastating bombings resulted in immense loss of life and destruction, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of the war in the Pacific. The bombings also marked the first and, so far, only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, raising profound ethical and political questions. -
Soviet Liberation of Auschwitz
Auschwitz, a notorious concentration and extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, was liberated by Soviet forces. The liberation of Auschwitz exposed the horrifying extent of Nazi atrocities and became a symbol of the Holocaust's brutality and the need to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.