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Hitler Rises to Power
Adolf Hitler becomes the chancellor of Germany only to later assume dictatorial powers. -
Beginning of World War II
Germany invades Poland. Poland's allies Britain and France declare war on the Germans. -
Stalin and the Soviet Union Invade Poland
Working with Hitler, leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin invades Poland. -
Germany Invades Norway
Germany invades Norway ending a 6-month period known as the "Phony War" -
Churchill Becomes Prime Minister
Winston Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister. This is also the same day the Germans invaded Belgium -
Nazis Occupy Paris
Paris falls to the Nazis and eleven days later the rest of France is occupied. -
United States Enter the War
After the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor starting a war, Hitler also declares war on the U.S. four days later. -
United States and Britain Declare War on Japan
As a result of the Pearl Harbor attacks, the U.S. and Britain declare war on the Japanese. -
Battle of Midway
USA beats Japanese at the Battle of Midway. Victory allows United States to push the Japanese back. -
Stalingrad
Russians beat Germany for the first time -
Allies Take Sicily
U.S. and British forces invaded Sicily -
Mussolini Surrenders
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 -
Battle of the Bulge
Germany launched its final defensive through the Ardennes region of Belgium. However, they were beaten back by the allies. -
D-Day
Allies launch an attack on Germany's forces in Normandy. Essential victory in the war. -
FDR Dies
President Roosevelt dies and is succeeded by Truman. -
Mussolini Captured and Executed
Italian partisans captured Mussolini and executed him. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
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. -
Germany Surrenders
German forces in north west Germany, Holland and Denmark surrendered to Montgomery on Luneburg Heath -
V.E. Day
Victory in Europe was celebrated -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
The Japanese generals refused to surrender. The US dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. -
Japanese Surrender
After the second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, the Japanese surrender to the Allies ending the Second World War.