World War II Timeline

  • Period: to

    World War II

  • France and Poland make a secret military agreement

    If Germany attacks either nation, the other will assist in defence. If Poland is attacked by Soviet Russia, France is to hold Germany in check on land and at sea.
  • France and Poland sign a Treaty of Mutual Guarantee, to immediately aid the other if attacked by Germany.

  • Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Treaty of Berlin.

    If one country is attacked, the other is to remain neutral.
  • German president Paul von Hindenburg offers Chancellorship to Adolf Hitler, who accepts.

  • German Chancellor Adolf Hitler tells his top generals of his determination to conquer land, to the east.

  • Adolph Hitler seizes power in Germany.

  • German Chancellor Adolf Hitler withdraws Germany from the League of Nations.

  • Hitler assumes the presidency of Germany when Hindenburg dies and thus gains full control of the government.

  • Germany invades Poland from the west.

  • Britain declares war on Germany at 11 am, France declares war on Germany six hours later.

  • Canada declares war on Germany

  • British troops arrive in France.

  • Soviet Union and Germany divide Poland.

  • Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg are invaded by Germany.

  • British troops enter Belgium

  • Holland surrenders to Germany.

  • Belgium surrenders to Germany.

  • Norway surrenders to Germany.

  • Canada declares war on Italy

  • Italy declares war on Britain and France.

  • Germans enter Paris.

  • The Battle of Britain begins.

  • Italy invades Greece.

  • Germany invades Greece and Yugoslavia.

  • Germany attacks the Soviet Union.

  • Britain declares war on Finland, Hungary, and Rumania

  • Britain and the United States declare war on Japan.

  • Germany and Italy declare war on United States.

  • Italy declares war on Germany.

  • Hitler commits suicide.

  • Russia declares war on Japan.