World War II Timeline

Invasion of Rhineland

Mar 7, 1936

Germany directly violates the Treaty of Versallies by invading the demilitarized zone of the Rhineland.

Invasion of China

Jul 7, 1937

Japan invades Manchuria, China. This marks a step in America's change from isolationist to activity in the war.

Quarantine Speech

Oct 5, 1937

FDR exclaimed the need to "quaratine" the Axis Powers and introduced the cash-and-carry policy.

Anschluss

Mar 12, 1938

Hitler joins Austria with Germany to reunite all German speaking people. France and Great Britain do nothing to stop Germany.

Invasion of Sudetenland

Oct 11, 1938

Germany invades Sudetenland, causing the Munich Conference to occur.

Munich Conference

Oct 30, 1938

In an attempt to keep peace, the conference was meant to quench Germany's want to for the German speaking people to be united. However, it also made it easier for Germany to later invade Czechoslovakia.

Invasion of Czechoslovakia

Mar 1, 1939

After taking control over all their military fortifications, Germany invades and gains control over Czechoslovakia. France and Great Britain do nothing.

Nazi-Soviet Pact

Aug 23, 1939

Soviet Russia signs a peace pact with Germany to avoid war over Poland.

Invasion of Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Germany invades Poland with Blitzkrieg. Great Britain and France give Germany an ultimatum, which they refuse. This marks the beginning of the war.

Battle of the Atlantic

Sep 3, 1939

Longest battle of WWII

Invasion of Norway

Apr 9, 1940

Invasion of Denmark

Apr 9, 1940

Lend-Lease Act

Mar 6, 1941

America now would provide military weapons to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

Atlantic Charter

Aug 14, 1941

Meeting between FDR and Churchill to make an attmept at peace.

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

Japan bombs the US Naval base in Hawaii. This marks America's entrance into the war.

America Declares War

Dec 8, 1941

America declares war on Japan. FDR called Pearl Harbor "a day that will live in infamy."

Germany & Italy Return

Dec 11, 1941

Germany and Italy declare war on America, turning this into a true World War.

Bataan Death March

Apr 9, 1942

March in which more than 10,000 Filipino and American prisoners died.

Battle of Coral Sea

May 7, 1942

Fought completely by aircraft.

Battle of Midway

Jun 4, 1942

America cracked the Japanese code

Battle of Stalingrad

Aug 23, 1942

Last German offensive on the Eastern war front. Allied victory.

Australian Assault

Oct 23, 1942

The Allied powers block Japan's attmept to take over British-owned Australia

El Alamein

Oct 23, 1942

America and it's allies attack North Africa. Marks the beginning of America's attack in the Atlantic.

D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

America lands in Normandy to aid the French.

Battle of Letye Gulf

Oct 23, 1944

Japan no longer threatened America.

Battle of the Bulge

Dec 16, 1944

Final German offensive on the Eastern war front. Allied Victory

Yalta Conference

Feb 4, 1945

FDR, Churchill, and Stalin meet to discuss post-war organization.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Feb 19, 1945

This battle gave America a base near Japan that was much needed to defeat them.

Battle of Okinawa

Apr 1, 1945

It was the largest amiphbious assault in the Pacific war. Bloodiest battle in the Pacific.

Bombing of Nagasaki

Apr 9, 1945

America drops a sencond atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.

Germany Surrenders

May 8, 1945

Germany surrenders to the Allied Powers

Potsdam Conference

Jul 17, 1945

Meeting between Churchill, Stalin, and Truman to decide upon Germany's punishment.

Bombing of Hiroshima

Aug 6, 1945

America launched the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.

Japan Surrenders

Sep 2, 1945

Japan surrenders to Allied Powers.