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Germany Invades Poland
World War II official begins with Germany invading Poland -
Germany controls most of Western Europe
By this time, Germany has control of Austria, Czechoslovakia, part of Poland, part of France, Denmark, and ended military resistance in all other western nations. -
The Battle of Britain Begins
Germany's assault on the final standing European nation: Great Britain, ends. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks U.S. airbase in Hawaii. -
Battle of Midway
The U.S. successfully defeats the Japanese navy to retake the island of Midway which becomes a significant airbase to launch planes and ships. -
The Battle of Stalingrad begins
The Battle of Stalingrad stops the advance of German forces and results in extremely high casualties for the Germans which leaves them vulnerable to the Allies. -
Allies invade Sicily, Italy
Allied forces of the U.S., Great Britain, and free France begin making their way into Italy. -
Battle of the Bulge
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D-Day
Allied forces land on beaches in France to begin an invasion to push the German army back. -
Victory in Europe (V-E) Day
Germany officially surrenders. This marks the end of the war in Europe -
U.S. drops bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
This bombing of Japan essentially ended the war in the Pacific as well as World War II. -
Japan surrenders marking the end of WWII