World War II Timeline by Kurizma Glover By kurizma Sep 1, 1939 world war II begins Sep 3, 1939 france and great britain declare war on germany Sep 17, 1939 soviet union invades poland Dec 13, 1939 UK wins the first sea battle Jan 20, 1940 the “final solution” was established Apr 9, 1940 germany invades denmark and norway May 30, 1940 Winston churchill becomes leader of the british government Jun 10, 1940 italy joins the war Jul 10, 1940 germany launches air attack on great britain Sep 22, 1940 germany, italy, and japan sign the tripartite pact Dec 7, 1941 the us joins the war Dec 11, 1941 germany declares war on the us Jun 4, 1942 us navy defeats the japanese navy Sep 3, 1943 italy surrenders Jun 6, 1944 allied forces invade france Aug 25, 1944 paris is liberated from german control Dec 16, 1944 germans launch attack in the battle of the bulge Feb 19, 1945 us marines invade the island of Iwo Jima Mar 22, 1945 the us third army crosses the rhine river Apr 12, 1945 President Franklin Roosevelt dies Apr 30, 1945 Hitler commits suicide when Germany lost the war May 7, 1945 germany surrenders to the allies Aug 6, 1945 the us drops atomic bomb on hiroshima Aug 9, 1945 another atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki Sep 2, 1945 the war ends