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Germany invades Poland
Defying the harsh rules set by the Treaty of Versailles, Adolf marched his forces into Poland and advanced into Warsaw, shelling and bombing as they went. Hitler had previously signed a non-violence pact with Poland in January 1934, one of his first initiatives after he rose to power. By breaking this peace treaty caught Poland off guard and they were quickly defeated in a matter of weeks. Soon after in October Germany annexed all of Poland and its territories. This, started WWII. -
Britain & France declare war on Germany
On this day, Britain and France declared war on Germany after the invasion of Poland. Both nations were outraged by Hitler's clear breach of Treaty rules and immenent rise to power, especially after both nations vowed to protect Poland. Britain's initial response was to simply drop anti-Nazi propaganda onto the streets of Germany, under specific guidelines not to harm civilians. However, on September 4th, Britain began bombing German ships in retaliation. The war would go on for 6 years. -
Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain
Only hours before Germany's invasion of Britain, Prime MInister Chamberlain resigned. The process of war became too daunting for Chamberlain and his position was taken by Churchill. Churchill was known for his expertise in military leadership. Churchill is well known for his reassuring speech about "never surrendering" to the Nazis -
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Evacuation of Dunkirk
Codenamed "Operration Dynamo," the evacuation of Dunkirk was the evacuation of Allied forces from the seaport of France to Britain. Over 300,000 soldiers were evacuated by boat to escape the invading presence of Germany. Miraculously, the Allies won the battle due to Hitler's foolish decision to withold his land-based army and rely on the air squad to bomb the soldiers at the beach. When Hitler unleahsed his land forces upon Dunkirk they were met with the stronger British side. -
Italy enters war on side of Axis powers
As the defeat of France became apparent, Italy chose to join the war and invades Paris along with Germany. Italy entered the war with Germany because of their similar interests. With the rise of fascist leaders in both nations, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini formed a mutualistic partnership to combat communist Russia and colonise the world. Ultimately, Italy feared Germany's power and Mussolini became a mere pawn in Hitler's battle for power. Italy surrendered to the Allied powers in 1943. -
France signs armistice with Germany
France's collapse was as sudden as it was unexpected. After Germany swiftly invaded the French capital in a matter of weeks, German soldiers marched through the abandoned streets of France on the 14th of June while citizens looked on in shock. Hitler demanded that the armistice be signed in a railcar, the same on he was in when he singed the armistice for WWI. The armistice, signed by German Gen. Wilhelm Keitel and French Gen. Charles Huntziger, called for the French to end hostilities. -
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Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the defence of Britain against the onslaught of Germany. It was fought solely in the skies and was the largest bombing campaign to that date and the first all-air battle in history. Winston Churchill managed to rally the stubborn Brits to fight back against Hitler rather than negotiate with him, a decision that proved to be vital to Britain's future as the only remaining force resisting Germany. Britain emerged victorious after 4 months of fighting . -
Tripartite Pact signed
Also known as the Berlin pact, the Tripartite pact was an agreement signed by Japan, Italy and Germany in Berlin. The purpose of the pact was to provide assistance to a signatory if invaded by another nation. This put pressure on the neutral America to withhold from aiding the Allied Powers. The pact also recognised Japan as lord over East Asia, and Germany & Italy in the establishment of a new Europe. -
Operation Sea Lion
Operation Sea Lion the name of a planned invasion of Britain by Hitler in late 1940, the plan never came to fruition after Germany's defeat in the Battle of Britain. Additionally, Hitler had planned the invasion out poorly, and achieving his plans for Operation Sea Lion couldn't be done in such a short amount of time. Hitler began to set his views on the incoming attack on Russia -
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Siege of Tobruk
Lasting for 241 days, the siege of Tobruk took place after Axis forces marched through Cyrenaica from El Agheila, against the British Western Desert Force in Libya. Around 14,000 Australian soldiers were surrounded by German-Italian forces. The siege was vital for Allied forces to protect Egypt and Tobruk's harbour, which would have become a liability for the axis powers, having to haul their supplies over 1500km through the desert rather than use the harbour at Tobruk. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the largest military operation in history, with more than 3 million Nazi troops set out to invade Russia. Hitler sought to take Russia after his easy victory in France, the Soviets were unprepared for the invasion, Stalin refused to believe speculations of invasion. The Germans made huge advanvements. Despite enormous losses in territory, men and weaponry, the Soviets had fought on and survived. As the Russian winter set in, German offensive operations were abandoned. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Killing over 2,000 Americans, the bombing of Pearl Harbor took place at a military base in Hawaii. Hundreds of Japanese warplanes unleashed a 2-hour barrage, destroying large amounts of America's fleet. The purpose of the bombing was to leave the US unable to aid the South Pacific as Japan invaded. On December 8, Roosevelt declared war. Three days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy declared war against the United States. Two years after the start of the conflict, the US joined in WWII. -
Britain and US declare war on Japan
Following the unexpected attack on US soil, the United States declared war on Japan. US President, Theodore Roosevelt signed the declaration at 4:10 p.m., wearing a black armband to symbolise mourning for those lost at Pearl Harbor after delivering an inspiring 10 minute long speech. Because of America's alliance with the Allied forces, Britain declared war against Japan too. Also, because of the Tripartite pact, America was also thrust into WWII against Germany and Italy. -
Japan takes Singapore
Since the 19th century, Britain had colonised Singapore. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, 24,000 Japanese troops were deployed to the Malay Peninsula. Through December and January, battles were fought in the skies between Britain and Japan. On February 8th, 5,000 Japanese troops landed in Singapore. Errors on the part of British Gen. Arthur Percival and poor communication between military and civilian authorities ruined the British Defense and Japan was free to take Singapore. -
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Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a battle between Japan and the US in order to gain control over the Pacific. Japanese admiral Isoruko Yamamoto chose the Midway Atholl, an archipelago above Hawaii, as the sky battlefield. Yamamoto knew that the US would defend Midway at all costs, the US risked allowing the Japanese to situate close to Hawaii. Yamamoto used this information to attempt to trap the US, however, it failed when Japan underestimated the US's capability. The US decimated Japan in the battle. -
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First Battle of El Alamein
Fought near the Egyptian town of El Alamein, 100km (60 miles) west of Alexandria. Axis powers lead by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, fought against the Allies. The Axis powers were incredibly close to victory with the arrival of Rommel, and Hitler was anticipating adding Egypt to his empire. However, American aid arrived at the right time and the Allied forces managed to redeem themselves and win the battle against the exhausted Axis troops. This was a decisive point in the war in North Africa. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
Nazi troops faught against Soviet Russia in the Eastern Front over control of the city of Stalingrad in Southern Russia. The USSR was succesful in defending its city in what is considered the greatest battle of WWII. The battle of Stalingrad was also one of the bloodiest battles in history, with nearly 2 million casualties (military & civilian. The loss was humiliating to Hitler who had hightened the battle's importance. -
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Second battle of El Alamein
Axis and Allied forces met again at the North African theatre. Despite the Allies' victory in the first battle, Churchill was still concerned with the progress in the Western Dessert, and he assigned General Bernard Montgomery to combat the sick Rommel and his German army lacking in fuel and transport. On 2 November, Rommel warned Hitler that his army faced annihilation, Hitler responded that he should 'stand and die'. The battle ended the war for the Western Desert, with the Allies' victory. -
D-Day Landings
Resulting in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control, the battle of Normandy was one of the largest amphibious assaults, 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along the coast of France’s Normandy region. The Allies fought their way across the Normandy countryside in the face of determined German resistance. Victory came to the Allies soon after when Northern France was liberated. This was "the beginning of the end of war in Europe". -
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Battle of the Bulge
The battle was the largest fought in the Western front, with 190,000 casualties. Hitler's ambitions with the battle were to separate the British and American armies and Germany's last major offence against the Allies. The battle earned its name from the Allies' front took the shape of a bulge. Germany's lack of fuel and America's gallantry were crucial components of this battle, with the morale of the Germans broken, the Allies ceased another victory after fighting in the harsh winter. -
Mussolini captured and executed
With the end of WWII looming, and not in his favour, Benito Mussolini, and his mistress, Clara Petacci attempted to flee to Switzerland to avoid prosecution. However, they were captured by Italian Partisans on the Swiss border. Mussolini attempted to avoid the guards, disguising himself as a German soldier in attempt to flee to Austria. Despite his disguise, Mussolini was caught and he and Clara were shot dead and brought back to Italy, where they were hung upside down and displayed publicly. -
Hitler commits suicide
With his “1,000-year” Reich collapsing infront of him, Adolf Hitler entered his underground bunker, consumed a cyanide capsule, then shot himself in the head. Hitler and his wife, Eva Braun were warned by officers of the impeding Soviet siezing of the chancellory, and Hitler was encouraged to escape. However, he, along with Eva Braun and his dog, 'Blondi' retreated to his bunker and consumed cyanide before shooting himself in the head to ensure his death. His death was not confirmed until 1956. -
German forces surrender
Following the death and Hitler, Germany had lost the war. General Dwight Eisenhower demanded the complete surrender of all German forces, those fighting in the East as well as in the West. If not, Eisenhower would seal off the West and leave Germany for the Soviets to take. German General Alfred Jodl was ordered to sign the unconditional surrender at temporary headquarters – a small schoolhouse in Reims, France, after orders from Grand Admiral Karl Donitz, Hitler’s successor. -
V.E. day
Victory in Europe day was a public holiday celebrated after Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allies, it was celebrated by the US and Britain. People in these nations and areas now free from Nazi occupation hung banners and flags around town. This day also marked the release of more than 13,000 British POWs and the capture of roughly 2 million German soldiers by Russia. -
Atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima
Japan refused to surrender with Germany because of their "death before dishonour" and seperate theatre of war. At 8:16 a.m. Japanese time, an American B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, drops the world’s first atom bomb, over the city of Hiroshima. The atomic blast would kill 80,000 directly, then another 60,000 would be dead by the end of the year from its effects. The bomb wiped out 90% of the city. -
Soviet Union declares war on Japan
After the US's objective of the Hiroshima bomb failed, (to make Japan surrender), Russia declared war on Japan. More than 1 million Soviet soldiers marched into Japan occupied Manchuria and quickly defeated Japan with the strong offence. Originally, the members of Japanese War Council refused to surrender to the Allies' unless their requirements were met. However, after Russia's invasion, many members of this council began to waver on their stance to not surrender. -
Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki
The devastation of the Hiroshima bomb was not enough to bring Japan to a halt and surrender. The United States had planned to drop a second bomb on the 11th. However, bad weather resulted in the early detonation of the bomb at 1:56 a.m in Nagasaki. The explosion unleashed the equivalent force of 22,000 tonnes of TNT and killed an estimated 60-80 thousand civilians. Following the blast, Emperor Hirohito stated, “continuing the war can only result in the annihilation of the Japanese people…” -
Japanese Surrender - End of WWII
Following the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs, the Allies were clearly going to win the war. Japan had used up all of its resources, its military was destroyed and so was its economy. The US had taken the island of Okinawa in Japan and threatened invasion if Hirohito and Prime Minister Suzuki didn't surrender. If they didn't Japan would face “the inevitable and complete destruction of the Japanese armed forces and just as inevitable the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland.” -
United Nations is born
On this day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued a declaration between the nations of the world to vow a peacekeeping organisation after the war. 50 nations signed. The United Nations vowed to provide “life, liberty, independence, and religious freedom, and to preserve the rights of man and justice.”
