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Beginning of World War II
Nazi invasion of Poland. This marks the beginning of World War II. Great Britain and France, allies of Poland, declared war two days later. -
German Invasions
Germany invades France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium. They all fall within weeks. -
Battle of Britain
Germany suffers its first defeat over England and abandons all invasion plans previously made. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Four million German troops invade Russia and within a month, over two and a half million Russians are dead or wounded. This is all due to Hitler's command of "maximum cruelty". However, the cold winter leads to the great loss of Germany's Army, and the war turns in favor of the Allies. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Japanese Navy attacks Pearl Harbor as well as the Philippines. The Germany fails to defeat Russia and the United States joins the war. -
Battle of Midway
This battle was a turning point in the war because the U.S. army destroyed hundreds of Japanese planes and regained control in the Pacific. Four Japanese carriers sunk and Japan's superiority was lost. -
The Battle of Kursk
The battle of Kursk begins. This battle was supposed to be the largest tank battle of the war, however, there was severe crisis for the German's war machine and there was major consequences for the Germans such as a great number of killed men and lost armor. -
D-Day
General Dwight Eisenhower led the American, British, and Canadian forces to invade the beaches of Normandy, France. The "Second Front", which Stalin had been demanding for three years, is now open. -
Adolf Hitler's Death
Adolf Hitler commits suicide in Berlin. He appoints Admiral Doenitz his successor. -
The U.S. Develops the Atomic Bomb
The first atomic bomb is dropped on Japan and Hiroshima is destroyed.