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Germany invades Poland initiating World War II in Europe
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Honoring their guarantee of Poland’s borders, Great Britain and France declare war on Germany.
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Germany invades Denmark and Norway. Denmark surrenders on the day of the attack; Norway holds out until June 9.
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Germany uses quick strikes called blitzkrieg, meaning lightning war, to take over much of Western Europe including the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France.
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Winston Churchill becomes leader of the British government.
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Italy enters the war. Italy invades southern France on June 21.
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The air war known as the Battle of Britain ends in defeat for Nazi Germany.
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Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact, forming the Axis Alliance.
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Germany and the Axis Powers attack Russia with a huge force of over four million troops.
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The Japanese attack the US Navy in Pearl Harbor. The next day the US enters World War II on the side of the Allies.
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British and US navies halt the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway. The US Navy defeats the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway.
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The Allies invade and take the island of Sicily.
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Italy surrenders to the Allies, however Germany helps Mussolini to escape and set up a government in Northern Italy.
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British and US troops successfully land on the Normandy beaches of France, opening a “Second Front” against the Germans. Known as D-day
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Allied troops reach Paris. On August 25, Free French forces, supported by Allied troops, enter the French capital. By September, the Allies reach the German border; by December, virtually all of France, most of Belgium, and part of the southern Netherlands are liberated.
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The Germans launch a large attack in the Battle of the Bulge. They lose to the Allies sealing the fate of the German army. By January 1, 1945, the Germans are in retreat.
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US Marines invade the island of Iwo Jima. After a fierce battle they capture the island.
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US troops cross the Rhine River at Remagen.
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US President Franklin Roosevelt dies. He is succeeded by President Harry Truman.
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The Soviets launch their final offensive, encircling Berlin.
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Adolf Hitler commits suicide knowing Germany has lost the war.
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Germany surrenders to the western Allies.
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The United States drops the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The city is devastated.
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Another atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.
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Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders to Allies, ending World War II.
