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German Invasion
German invasion of Poland initiates World War 2 in Europe -
Period: to
World War 2
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Alliances
Honoring their gaurentee of Poland's borders, Great Britain and France declare war on Gemany -
Soviet Invasion
The Soviet Union invades Poland from the East. -
Italy
Italy enters the war and invades Southern France on the 21st -
Eypt is Invaded
The Italians invade British controlled Egypt from Italian controlled Libya -
Axis Powers
Bulgaria joins the Axis Powers -
US and British Troops
US and British troops land at several points on the beaches of Algeria and Morocco in French North Africa. The failure of the Vichy French troops to defend against the invasion enables the Allies to move swiftly to the western border of Tunisia, and triggers the German occupation of southern France on November 11. -
Surrender
Axis forces in Tunisia surrender to the Allies, ending the North African campaign. -
Tank Offensive
The Germans launch a massive tank offensive near Kursk in the Soviet Union. The Soviets blunt the attack within a week and begin an offensive initiative of their own. -
Hungary
Fearing Hungary’s intention to desert the Axis partnership, the Germans occupy Hungary and compel the regent, Admiral Miklos Horthy, to appoint a pro-German minister president. -
Soviet Offensive
The Soviets launch a massive offensive in eastern Byelorussia (Belarus), destroying the German Army Group Center and driving westward to the Vistula River across from Warsaw in central Poland by August 1. -
Normandy
Anglo-American forces break out of the Normandy beachhead and race eastward towards Paris. -
Final Offensive
The Germans launch a final offensive in the west, known as the Battle of the Bulge, in an attempt to re-conquer Belgium and split the Allied forces along the German border. By January 1, 1945, the Germans are in retreat. -
New Offensive
The Soviets launch a new offensive, liberating Warsaw and Krakow in January, capturing Budapest after a two-month siege on February 13, driving the Germans and their Hungarian collaborators out of Hungary in early April, forcing the surrender of Slovakia with the capture of Bratislava on April 4, and capturing Vienna on April 13. -
WWII Ending
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.
