World War 2 By plattlucas Jul 7, 1937 Japan invades China initiating World War 2 in the Pacific Sep 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland intiating World War 2 in Europe Japan invaded Manchuria on September 18, 1931 Sep 3, 1939 Britain and France declared war on Germany Jun 22, 1941 Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union Dec 6, 1941 Soviet counteroffensive drives the Germans from the Moscow suburbs in chaotic retreat Dec 7, 1941 Japan bombs Pearl Harbor Dec 8, 1941 US declares war on Japan May 9, 1945 Germany surrenders to the Soviets Aug 6, 1945 US drops an atomic bomb Hiroshima Aug 9, 1945 US drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki Sep 2, 1945 Japan formally surrenders, ending World War 2