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1939 September
The Second World War has begun as Britain and France declare war on Germany following Germany's attack on Poland. Poland being defeated by Germany was followed up by the " phoney war" over the winter of 1939-1940 as none of these countries led a major attack toward each other -
May-June 1940
Germany invades Denmark, Holland, Norway, Belgium, and France. German forces easily defeat these countries by their offensives called "Blitzkrieg” (meaning “lightning war”, due to the speed of the attacks). -
July 1940
After Germany failed to takeover Britains Air Force in June, they had to find other ways to try to conquer them. They were not able to launch an attack by sea and instead conducted series of heavy bombing on Britain -
Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks the US fleet at Pearl Harbor, inflicting serious damage and involving the US directly in the Second World War. Germany declares war on the USA, bringing America into the war in Europe. At the Washington Conference, Britain and the US agree a strategy of “Europe first” – in other words, that they will concentrate on the defeat of Germany before turning to deal with Japan. This begins the train of events that would lead to D-Day. -
April 1942
The build up of US forces in Britian ( Operation Bolero) begins in preparation for D Day. -
Casablanca conference
The allies agree that the conditions are no right for D Day to take place in 1943. They also decide to capture Sicily and decide to form a staff to begin the detailed planning of D Day. They are able to fully takeover Sicily in July. -
Tehran Conference
The British, American and Soviet leaders – Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin – meet together for the first time, at the Teheran Conference. Stalin wants to know when the Allies will land in France, to aid the Soviet armies fighting on the Eastern Front. Churchill and Roosevelt tell him that the planned date is May 1944. Discussions are also held on related matters, such as the planned Allied landings in the south of France. -
December 1943
Construction work also begins at various points along the English coasts, in this case however on the first sections of the Mulberry Harbours. These artificial harbours, made in huge sections from steel and concrete, will be towed over to Normandy after D-Day and assembled there. They will enable the Allies to land troops and equipment at a faster rate than is possible straight onto the beaches. -
January 1944
Across many parts of Europe, including France, British and US aircraft begin to drop weapons and supplies to the Resistance. This will enable them to fight back against the occupying Germans. Back in the UK, the first amphibious exercise for American troops takes place at Slapton Sands, Devon. The exercise involves 16,000 assault troops, and is a rehearsal of the techniques that will be used on D-Day itself. -
February 1944
Over a long period, Allied air forces (RAF Bomber Command, and the United States Army Air Force’s 8th Air Force) have been making a series of heavy air raids against German cities. German fighter aircraft defend against these attacks, and there are heavy casualties on both sides in this aerial fighting (and many German civilians are also killed). The Germans are less able to replace these losses of airmen and aircraft than the Allies. This will make the German forces not as strong at D-Day. -
March 1944
Allied air forces carry out the first of many raids on the French railway network. This is part of the Transportation Plan, which aims to reduce the Germans’ ability to use the French railways to transport troops and military supplies. -
April 1944
At the start of the month, a 10-mile strip along much of Britain’s coastline becomes a restricted zone. Civilians living outside the zone are forbidden from entering it, and those inside cannot leave. The Royal Navy begins a campaign of mine-laying off German bases along the Channel coast. These minefields were intended to prevent the fast German motor torpedo boats (known as E-Boats) from coming out to attack Allied shipping. The Allied commanders have completed plan for D- Day. -
May 1944
By now, the troops that will land in Normandy on D-Day and immediately afterwards are in camps all along the south coast of England. Before the end of May, the troops are sealed in the camps, to guard the secret that the landings are imminent. Vehicles and other equipment are waterproofed, to ensure that they can wade through deep water when landing on the beaches. In the last days of May, the troops are briefed on their tasks for D-Day. -
June 1944
Plans have changed for the date of D day because of weather. The date is now June 6th. At about 11 p.m., the British and American airborne troops begin taking off from bases in England. They will be the first Allied soldiers to land in Normandy, by glider and parachute, in the early hours of the following morning. -
The invasion
The first wave of the attack began with the paratroopers. These were men who jumped out of planes using parachutes. They jumped at night in the pitch dark and landed behind enemy lines. Their job was to destroy key targets and capture bridges in order for the main invasion force to land on the beach. Thousands of dummies were also dropped in order to draw fire and confuse the enemy. -
The invasion
In the next stage of the battle thousands of planes dropped bombs on German defenses. Soon after, warships began to bomb the beaches from the water. While the bombing was going on, underground members of the French Resistance sabotaged the Germans by cutting telephone lines and destroying railroads. -
The Invasion
Soon the main invasion force of over 6,000 ships carrying troops, weapons, tanks, and equipment approached the beaches of Normandy. Troops landed at Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword,and Utah beaches. Utah and Omaha were the US troops. The Utah landing was successful, but the fighting at Omaha beach was fierce. Many US soldiers lost their lives at Omaha, but they were finally able to take the beach. In the end all were taken over by the allies -
Overall result
The allied forces consisted of 150,000 soldiers, 5,000 ships, 800 aircraft. They fought on 50 miles of Normandy Coastline in Northern France. More than 4,000 allied troops died and 6,000 were wounded, but the allies still succeeded in breaching Hilters coastal defense. This was the largest land, air, and sea operation ever undertaken. -
August 1944
Allied soldiers along with the French resistance liberate Paris after 4 years of German occupation. -
Battle of the Bulge
The final German offense on the western front begins. -
January 1945
The Battle of the Bulge ends with a defeat and retreat for Germany as its supplies grow short and its forces are overcome by Allied resistance. -
February 1945
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Soviet Leader Joseph Stalin, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill meet at Yalta. Britian and the United States allow Stalin to control Eastern Europe when the war has ended. -
The death that changed it all
Soviet forces entered eastern front, encircling Berlin. Hitler goes down to his bombproof for a few days waiting it out. While down there he still orders his soldiers and even marries his wife Eva. However, he becomes crazy at the idea of them finding and killing him. He poisons his wife, dogs, and himself. He then proceeds to shoot himself. He was then quickly cremated in the chancellery garden.Soviets found the ashes and moved them, so no one could create a memorial at his resting place. -
The day it all ended.
U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower accepts Germany's unconditional surrender at Reims, France. At Midnight on May 8,1945 World War II is officially over.
