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The second world war started on September 1, 1939 when the German army, under the command of Adolf Hitler, invaded the city of Warsaw in Poland
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Britain and France declare war on Germany after their invasion of Poland. Britain was obligated to join the war after signing a treaty with Poland to aid if they were attacked.
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The last Polish force surrenders 26 days after the German invasion leaving Germany to gain full control of their country. 140,000 Polish soldiers are taken prisoner
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German forces invade France, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg. Winston Churchill becomes the British prime minister
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Hitler was so eager to take control of Ukraine that he stopped his troops from advancing on Moscow. The German failure to take Moscow remains a major turning point in the war and is known as Hitler's Greatest Mistake
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The Germans resume their advance on Moscow only to be stopped 27km outside the city by strong Russian resistance
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More than 400 Japanese bomber planes launched an attack on Pearl Harbor. The casualties included 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians. With this surprise attack, the United States declares war on Japan on officially enters World War 2.
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Germany and Italy declare war on the United States
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Benito Mussolini, Italian politician and leader of the National Fascist Party is arrested and replaced by Pietro Badoglio.
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Eisenhower becomes supreme commander of western allied forces
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American, British, Canadian forces invade France at the beaches of Normandy
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Hitler survives an assassination attempt by senior German officers with only light wounds.
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Paris is liberated. The liberation started with an uprising by the French Resistance against the German garrison.
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The Russians liberate the Auschwitz death camp
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The United States claims a victory in the Battle of Iwo Jima
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Japan surrenders and World War II finally comes to an end. The estimated number of casualties of the war range between 50 million and 70 million
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The United States launches the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima Japan. The city is completely destroyed.
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The U.S, launches a second atomic bomb on Japan this time aimed at the city of Nagasaki.
