Timeline of Major Events
1939
- September 1: Hitler invades Poland, Britain and France declare war on Germany two days later
1940
- January 8: UK starts to rationalize
- German Blitzkrieg conquers Belgium, Holland, and France
- May 10: Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain
- May 27: Allied soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk (British Expeditionary Force)
- September 17: British victory in Battle of Britain forces Hitler to postpone invasion plans
- German Blitzkrieg conquers Belgium, Holland, and France
- May 10: Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain
- May 27: Allied soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk (British Expeditionary Force)
- September 17: British victory in Battle of Britain forces Hitler to postpone invasion plans
1941
- June 22: Hitler begins Operation Barbarossa; the invasion of Russia
- The Blitzkrieg continues against Britain's major cities
- November 27: Allies take Tobruk in North Africa and resist German attacks
- December 7: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and the United States enter the war
- The Blitzkrieg continues against Britain's major cities
- November 27: Allies take Tobruk in North Africa and resist German attacks
- December 7: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and the United States enter the war
1942
- Germany suffers setbacks at Stalingrad and El Alamein
- February 2: Japan invades Singapore around 25,000 prisoners taken
- June 4: American naval victory in Battle of Midway marks turning point in Pacific War
- Genocide of Jewish people begins at Auschwitz
- February 2: Japan invades Singapore around 25,000 prisoners taken
- June 4: American naval victory in Battle of Midway marks turning point in Pacific War
- Genocide of Jewish people begins at Auschwitz
1943
- February 2: Surrender at Stalingrad marks Germany's first major defeat
- March 2: Allied victory in North Africa enables invasion of Italy to be launched
- September 8: Italy surrenders to Allies, but Germany takes over the battle
- December 14: British and Indian forces fight Japanese in Burma
- March 2: Allied victory in North Africa enables invasion of Italy to be launched
- September 8: Italy surrenders to Allies, but Germany takes over the battle
- December 14: British and Indian forces fight Japanese in Burma
1944
- January 22 & February 15: Allies land at Anzio and bomb monastery at Monte Cassino
- Soviet offensive gathers pace in Eastern Europe
- August 15 & 25: D Day; The Allied invasion of France. Paris is liberated in August
- Guam liberated by the US Okinawa, and Iwo Jima bombed
- Soviet offensive gathers pace in Eastern Europe
- August 15 & 25: D Day; The Allied invasion of France. Paris is liberated in August
- Guam liberated by the US Okinawa, and Iwo Jima bombed
1945
- January 27: Auschwitz liberated by Soviet troops
- May 7: Russians reach Berlin: Hitler commits suicide and Germany surrenders
- April 12: Truman becomes President of the US on Roosevelt's death, and Attlee replaces Churchill
- August 14: After atomic bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrenders
- May 7: Russians reach Berlin: Hitler commits suicide and Germany surrenders
- April 12: Truman becomes President of the US on Roosevelt's death, and Attlee replaces Churchill
- August 14: After atomic bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrenders