-
Britain, France, the US, and other allies defeat Germany, bringing an end to World War I, billed as “the war to end all wars -
Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany and later assumes dictatorial powers. German rearmament takes off -
Working in concert with Hitler, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin orders the invasion of Poland, securing a share of Polish territory -
Germany invades Poland, inciting Poland’s allies Britain and France to declare war on Germany. -
Warsaw surrenders to German troops. Poland holds out for another 9 days before capitulating -
Armies of Great Britain and its empire defeat Italian forces for control of Egypt and eastern Libya -
British cruisers defeat a German pocket battleship at the Battle of the River Plate, the first major naval engagement of World War II -
Germany invades Norway, ending a 6-month period of limited land operations called the “Phony War.” -
Winston Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister. The same day, Germany invades Belgium. -
The trapped British army evacuates to England from Dunkirk, France, surviving to fight another day -
Paris falls to German forces. France capitulates 11 days later. -
Opening what will become the bloodiest front of World War II, massive German armies invade the Soviet Union. -
The Battle of Britain pits German bombers against British fighters in a thwarted German prelude to invasion -
German bombers target major cities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, killing over 40,000 civilians and leveling over a million homes -
High-ranking Nazi officials approve a systematic plan for the mass extermination of Jews across Europe—the “Final Solution -
German General Erwin Rommel takes command of the Afrika Korps, seeking to drive the British out of North Africa -
Japanese expansion in the Pacific is thwarted near Midway Island, as US dive bombers sink four Japanese aircraft carriers -
US troops land in French North Africa as part of Operation Torch, designed to support British forces in the region -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, starting war with the US. Sensing weakness, Hitler declares war on America 4 days later