-
Hitler invades Poland on 1 September. Britain and France declare war on Germany two days later.
-
-
-
German 'Blitzkrieg' overwhelms Belgium, Holland and France.
-
Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain.
-
British Expeditionary Force evacuated from Dunkirk.
-
British victory in Battle of Britain forces Hitler to postpone invasion plans.
-
Allies take Tobruk in North Africa, and resist German attacks.
-
The Blitz continues against Britain's major cities.
-
Hitler begins Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of Russia.
-
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, and the US enters the war.
-
US troops halt the Japanese island-hopping advance towards Australia at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.
-
Beginning of German Army attack on Stalingrad in Russia.
-
Mass killing of Jews from Mizocz Ghetto in the Ukrane.
-
Nazis order all Gypsies arrested and sent to extermination camps.
-
Nazis carry out Operation Harvest Festival in occupied Poland, killing 42,000 Jews.
-
Allied troops land successfully near Anzio, just south of Rome.
-
Allied troops liberate Rome. Within six weeks, Anglo-American bombers could hit targets in eastern Germany for the first time.
