WWII Timeline

Anti-Comintern Pact

Nov 25, 1936

Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact, directed against the Soviet Union and the international Communist movement.

Japan invades China

Jul 7, 1937

initiating WWII in the Pacific

Munich agreement

Sep 29, 1938

Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France sign the Munich agreement. This forces the Czechoslovak Republic to cede the Sudetenland.

Invasion of Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Hitler uses Blitzkrieg to invade Poland. Initiating WWII in Europe.

Invasion of Poland

Sep 17, 1939

The Soviet Union invades Poland from the east.

Italy Enters War

Jun 10, 1940

Italy invades southern France on June 21.

Italy Invades Egypt

Sep 13, 1940

Mussolini's forces finally cross the Libyan border into Egypt, achieving what the Duce calls the "glory"

Bulgaria joins the Axis

Mar 1, 1941

Invasion of Yugoslavia

Apr 10, 1941

This was recognized immediately by Germany and Italy.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

War on Japan

Dec 8, 1941

The United States declares war on Japan, entering World War II.

Infamy Speech

Dec 8, 1941

U.S. and British troops land at several points on the beaches of Algeria and Morocco in French North Africa.

Axis Forces

May 13, 1943

Axis forces in Tunisia surrender to the Allies. This cause the North African Campaign to end.

D-day

Jun 6, 1944

Allied Forces

Aug 15, 1944

Allied forces land in southern France near Nice and advance rapidly towards the Rhine River to the northeast.

U.S. Troops Land

Oct 20, 1944

U.S. troops land in the Philippines.

Suicide

Apr 30, 1945

Hitler commits suicide.

Germany surrenders

May 7, 1945

Germany surrenders to the western Allies.

Victory in Europe Day

May 8, 1945

Surrender of Japan

Sep 2, 1945