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Nazi Germany invades Poland. Poland will surrender in only 3 weeks.
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France and Great Britain declare war on Germany, officially starting World War 2.
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The Battle of France starts with the Germans invade through the Ardennes with tanks, a feat previously deemed impossible.
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The Italians invade British-held territories in North Africa but are defeated. In order to continue the assault, Hitler sents Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps (A German Panzer Division) to reinfore the Italians and mount another attack. The campaign ends with the Germans withdrawing in 1943.
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The failed airial invasion of Great Britain by Nazi Germany. The Battle ended in October with the Luftwaffe withdrawing.
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Code-named ¨Operation Barbarosa¨ by the German Army, this was the start of the war on the eastern front, which would ultimately spell the downfall of the Third Riech
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The Japanese bomb the American Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, drawing the US into the war.
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The US Navy decicively defeats the Imperial Japanese Navy, turning the tables on the war in the Pacific.
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The US attacks Guadalcanal in order to get a strong foothold in the Pacific. The marines storm the beaches and force the Japanese to retreat, but fighting lasts for months. A stunning success, this puts the Japanese in the defensive.
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The Russians defend Stalingrad from the Germans and turn the tide of the war. The Russians take up the offensive and force the Germans into a 2 year retreat all the way to Berlin. This is one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of the war.
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Code-named "Operation Husky", this was the American-lead invation of Sicily in order to gain a foothold in Europe and Italy.
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The Allied Invasion of France, and arguably one of the most famous days in history. In early morning, paratroopers dropped behind German lines to distract them, and at 6am, marines landed on the shore under heacy machinegun fire. The Americans had taken the beach by 11, but at a cost... over 9,000 Americans had died and thousands more would die to liberate France.
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The Americans had pushed the Germans out of France so fast, they out ran their own supply trucks.The Germans, desperate to take back some territory, surprise attacked the supply-less Americans. They surrounded the Americans in Bastogne until January, when the skies cleared for the US Airforce and reinforcements arrived. This was the last time the Germans went on the offensive.
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The US Marines landed on Iwo Jima against fierce resistance. It took a month and many dead, but they forced the Japanese of the island with fierce and bloody hand to hand combat. The Japanese would rather die than surrender, so every inch of ground was taken with force and bravery.
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On this day, the Russians take Berlin and the Germans unconditionally surrender. Known as V-E Day, this ended all fighting in Europe. (left) General Jodl signs the document of surrender.
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The B-29 bomber "Enola Gay" drops atomic bombs on Japan, the only two to be dropped to date. This will eventually lead to Japan surrendering.
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Japan surrenders unconditionally, officially ending WW2. The final death count exceeds 15 million.
