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Stalin and Hitler Sign Nonaggression Pact
Germany and the Soviet Union agree to a nonaggression pact leaving the Soviets free to strengthen their western frontier, and Hitler free to attack Poland. -
Germany Invades Poland
Official beginning of WWII -
France and Great Britian Join War
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Germany Gains Complete Control over Poland
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Hitler Seizes Low Countries
Adolf Hitler takes neutral Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg. -
Germany Attacks France
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Italy Attacks France
Benito Mussolini's Italian forces attack France from the south. -
Japan Joins Axis
Responding to the embargoes imposed by the United States, Japan joins the German-Italian alliance. -
Germany Invades Soviet Union
Germany invades the Soviet Union violating the Nonaggression Pact. -
Japanese Decide to Attack
The Japanese government decides to attack Pearl Harbor if negotiations with the United States fail. -
Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor
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United States at war
Germany and Italy, Japan's axis partners, declare war on the United States. The United States declares war on Germany, Italy, and Japan. -
Italy Surrenders
The Italian government officially surrenders to the Allied powers; still, German forces occupy much of Italy. -
Allies capture Naples
The Allies capture German holdings in Naples. -
Paris Liberated
U.S. forces, aided by a Free French division, liberate Paris from Nazi control. -
D-Day
Allied forces take the beaches of Normandy. -
VE-Day
Germany surrenders to the Allies -
Hiroshima Bombed
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing 75,000 people instantly, and injuring more than 100,000. -
Nagasaki Bombed
A second atomic bomb is dropped in Nagasaki -
VJ-Day
Japan surrenders, ending the war.
