From 1939 to Today By facebooker_119709889717393 1939 The Second World War. 1940 Germany attacks the French 1941 Japan, Germany´s ally, attacked British Colonial possessions, including Malaya, Burma and India. 1941 Germany attacked the Soviet Union, and Japan attacked the United States. 1944 Britain and The United States invaded Germany and occupied France. 1944 The goverment promised free secondary education for all. 1945 In May, Germany finally surrendered. 1945 the Cold War. 1945 : New Labour Party government, many major industries placed under state control. 1947 Britain gave Independence to India. 1947 British left India and Palestine. 1948 The Soviet Union tried to capture West Berlin. 1948 The National Assistance Act provided financial help for the old, the unemployed and those unable to work trough sickness. 1949 Britain joined with other Western European countries to form the Council of Europe , "to achieve greater unity between members" 1952 Elizabeth II became Queen, the monarchy has steadily increased in popularity. 1956 The first nuclear energy power station in the world 1962 : Britain took American "Polaris" nuclear missiles for British submarines 1964 London became the worldwide capital of youth culture (music, clothes, design) 1969 : Samuel Beckett won the Nobel Prize for literatura. 1969 Samuel Beckett won the Nobel Prize for literatura. Samuel Beckett won the Nobel Prize for literatura. 1972 : in the Northern Ireland government was removed and was replaced with direct rule from London 1973 : Britain became a member of the European Community 1975 it became unlawful to treat women differently from men in matters of employment and pay. 1982 Britain wen t to war to take back the Falklands after an Argent inian invasion. 1982 Intermediate Range Nuclear Force teatry 1983 William Golding won the Nobel Prize for Literature. 1988 End of Cold War 1989 Fall of Berlin Wall