-
Adolf Hitler becomes the chancellor of Germany only to later assume dictatorial powers. -
Germany invades Poland. Poland's allies Britain and France declare war on the Germans. -
Working with Hitler, leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin invades Poland. -
Germany invades Norway ending a 6-month period known as the "Phony War" -
Winston Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister. This is also the same day the Germans invaded Belgium -
Paris falls to the Nazis and eleven days later the rest of France is occupied. -
After the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor starting a war, Hitler also declares war on the U.S. four days later. -
As a result of the Pearl Harbor attacks, the U.S. and Britain declare war on the Japanese. -
USA beats Japanese at the Battle of Midway. Victory allows United States to push the Japanese back. -
Russians beat Germany for the first time -
U.S. and British forces invaded Sicily -
After Mussolini was thrown out of office and the new government surrendered to the Allies, the Germans took control of the Italian army and used Mussolini as the head of a puppet government in North Italy -
Germany launched its final defensive through the Ardennes region of Belgium. However, they were beaten back by the allies. -
Allies launch an attack on Germany's forces in Normandy. Essential victory in the war. -
President Roosevelt dies and is succeeded by Truman. -
Italian partisans captured Mussolini and executed him. -
The German leader, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bombproof shelter together with his mistress, Eva Braun, who he had, at the last minute, made his wife. -
German forces in north west Germany, Holland and Denmark surrendered to Montgomery on Luneburg Heath -
Victory in Europe was celebrated -
The Japanese generals refused to surrender. The US dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. -
After the second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, the Japanese surrender to the Allies ending the Second World War.