World War II Timeline By vcaiazzo Sep 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland Period: Sep 1, 1939 to Sep 16, 1945 World War 2 Sep 17, 1939 Soviet Union invades eastern Poland Sep 27, 1939 Surrender of Warsaw Nov 30, 1939 Soviet Union invades Finland Mar 12, 1940 Finland Signs peace treaty with the Soviet Union Sep 27, 1940 Germany, Italy, and Japan Tripartite Act Mar 1, 1941 Bulgaria joins axis Dec 7, 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbour Jun 4, 1942 Battle of Midway Nov 8, 1942 Operation Torch begins Jun 6, 1944 Operation Overlord Jul 25, 1944 Operation Cobra begins Aug 15, 1944 Operation Anvil Dec 16, 1944 Battle of the Bulge begins Feb 19, 1945 USA lands on Iwo Jima Apr 12, 1945 FDR dies and Truman takes office Apr 30, 1945 Hitler committs suicide Aug 6, 1945 Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima Aug 9, 1945 Atomic Bomb dropped on Nagasaki Aug 14, 1945 Japan surrenders Sep 16, 1945 Japan surrenders in Hong Kong