World War II - Involvement of Russia

By dtekdemir

  • Germany and the USSR signed a secret non-agression pact dividing up Poland.

    Germany and the USSR signed a secret non-agression pact dividing up Poland.

  • Germany invades Poland, marking the begining of World War 2 begins.

    Germany invades Poland, marking the begining of World War 2 begins.
    Germany broke it's pact with the USSR by invading Poland.

  • Russia invades Poland.

    Russia invades Poland.

  • The Russo-Finnish War began when the USSR invaded Finland.

    The Russo-Finnish War began when the USSR invaded Finland.

  • Finland surrendered to the USSR.

    Finland surrendered to the USSR.
    This war convinces Hitler that the Russian military is ineffective.

  • Germany invades France, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg.

    Germany invades France, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg.
    Winston Churchill becomes Britain's prime minister.

  • The USSR invades the Baltic states.

    The USSR invades the Baltic states.
    Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia

  • Russia annexes the eastern regions of Romania

    Russia annexes the eastern regions of Romania

  • The USSR and Japan signed a neutrality pact

    The USSR and Japan signed a neutrality pact
    After military clashes, Japan and Russia sign non-aggression pact.

  • Germany invades Russia.

    Germany invades Russia.
    Hitler orders "maximum cruelty" against civilians, which results in fanatic Russian resistance.

  • Stalin orders the "scorched earth" strategy.

    Stalin orders the "scorched earth" strategy.
    A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method which involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area.

  • German army group "Center" takes Smolensk, just 220 miles from Moscow.

    German army group "Center" takes Smolensk, just 220 miles from Moscow.

  • Hitler, eager to occupy the rich Ukraine first, orders to stop army group Center's advance to Moscow and to transfer its two tank armies to army groups "North" and "South".

    Hitler, eager to occupy the rich Ukraine first, orders to stop army group Center's advance to Moscow and to transfer its two tank armies to army groups "North" and "South".
    This is argued to be perhaps Hitler's greatest mistake.
  • Period: to

    Germany Siege of Leningrad

  • The final German attack towards Moscow begins (operation Typhoon).

    The final German attack towards Moscow begins (operation Typhoon).

  • The Germans are pushed back.

    The Germans are pushed back.
    At temperatures of -34C (-29F) and below, a major Russian counter attack near Moscow begins. Moscow is saved. *The German failure to take Moscow marks the main turning point of the war.

  • The Japanese Navy attacks Pearl Harbor and the Phillipines, and the US joins the war.

    The Japanese Navy attacks Pearl Harbor and the Phillipines, and the US joins the war.
    With the German failure to defeat Russia, which is marked by their failure to take Moscow, and with the United States joining the war a day later, This date marks the main turning point of World War 2.

  • The Russians reach the old German-Russian border in central Poland

    The Russians reach the old German-Russian border in central Poland

  • The Russians liberate the Auschwitz death camp

  • Germany surrenders. The war in Europe ends

    Germany surrenders. The war in Europe ends

  • Russia declares war on Japan.

    Russia declares war on Japan.

  • With the surrender of Japan. World War 2 finally ends.