WW2 Battle Timeline

Battle of the Atlantic

Sep 3, 1939

German forces attempted to control the Atlantic ocean using U-boats to block British supply lines. This was a costly battle on both sides with almost 4,500 Allied ships being destroyed, and almost all German ships destroyed or lost. This battle ended May 8, 1945, with Germanys surrender in the war.

Battle of Britain

Jul 10, 1940

This battle was Germany's attack on Britain using their new bomber aircraft. Britain did not surrender after these constant bombings, which lasted until October 31, 1940, forcing Germany to fight multiple fronts throughout the war.

Battle of Bataan

Jan 7, 1942

This battle was a Japanese attack to remove Americans from the Philippines. The battle ended April 9, 1942, after the Americans and Philippinos surrendered after running out of supplies. 76,000 prisoners were forced into death marches.

Battle of Midway

Jun 4, 1942

This battle was a Japanese assault on American aircraft carriers. The battle ended June 7, 1942, with a Japanese defeat due to Americans decoding their plans of attack.

Battle of Guadalcanal

Aug 7, 1942

This battle was the American attack of Japanese troops at Guadalcanal. The battle ended February 9, 1943, when the Japanese lost their footholds on islands near North America and the Americans gained a strategic location to take on Japan.

Battle of Stalingrad

Aug 23, 1942

This battle was a German assault on the Soviet city of Stalingrad. This bloody battle ended February 2, 1943, with Germany's defeat as they were low on food and supplies and were unprepared for the cold climate. Germany's loss in this battle put them on the defensive for the first time in the war as the Soviets continued to attack in the East and Britain and The United States began to attack in the West.

Operation Torch

Nov 8, 1942

This operation was the attack of French colonies in Africa performed by the Allies. This operation ended May 13, 1943, after 270,000 German soldiers surrendered after being surrounded. This battle freed Africa from Hitler's influence.

Operation Overlord

Jun 6, 1944

Operation Overlord was a Allied assault to take back France. This battle took place on the beaches of Normandy. This battle was influenced by the defeat of Germany in Africa.

Battle of Leyte

Oct 17, 1944

This battle was an American assault on the Japanese island of Leyte. The battle ended December 26, 1944, when nearly 80% of Japan’s forces died of disease or starvation in this battle. This battle cut off critical supply lines to Japan.

Battle of the Bulge

Dec 16, 1944

This battle was a German surprise attack on key transportation areas in Belgium and Luxembourg using special formations of panzers. This battle ended as a defeat for Germany on January 16, 1945. The Allies lost roughly 65,000 men compared to Germany's vast loss of 200,000 men and hundreds of mechanized infantry. This defeat significantly reduced Germany's power as most of their elite soldiers and panzer operators were killed.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Feb 19, 1945

This battle was an American assault on the islands of Iwo Jima. The battle ended March 26, 1945, and despite American victory, the Americans lost nearly a quarter of their force in this battle.

Battle of Okinawa

Mar 26, 1945

The American assault of Okinawa to prepare for the invasion of Japan. This battle is known as the bloodiest battle in the Pacific. The battle ended July 2, 1945, and the Americans gained an air base that would allow for an assault on Japan.