Warsaw surrenders on September 27. The Polish government flees into exile via Romania. Germany and the Soviet Union divide Poland between them
The Soviet Union invades Finland, initiating the so-called Winter War. The Finns sue for an armistice and have to cede the northern shores of Lake Lagoda and the small Finnish coastline on the Arctic Sea to the Soviet Union.
Germany invades Denmark and Norway. Denmark surrenders on the day of the attack; Norway holds out until June 9.
Germany attacks western Europe—France and the neutral Low Countries. Luxembourg is occupied on May 10; the Netherlands surrenders on May 14; and Belgium surrenders on May 28. On June 22, France signs an armistice agreement by which the Germans occupy the
The air war known as the Battle of Britain ends in defeat for Nazi Germany.
The Italians invade British-controlled Egypt from Italian-controlled Libya.
Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact.
taly invades Greece from Albania on October 28
Bulgaria joins the Axis
A Soviet counteroffensive drives the Germans from the Moscow suburbs in chaotic retreat
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States.
British and US navies halt the Japanese naval advance in the central Pacific at Midway
US troops halt the Japanese island-hopping advance towards Australia at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands
British troops defeat the Germans and Italians at El Alamein in Egypt, sending the Axis forces in chaotic retreat across Libya to the eastern border of Tunisia
US and British troops land on Sicily. By mid-August, the Allies control Sicily
Allied troops land on the beaches of Salerno near Naples
Allied troops land successfully near Anzio, just south of Rome
Allied troops liberate Rome. Within six weeks, Anglo-American bombers could hit targets in eastern Germany for the first time
Anglo-American forces break out of the Normandy beachhead and race eastward towards Paris
US troops land in the Philippines.
The Soviets launch their final offensive, encircling Berlin
Hitler commits suicide.
Germany surrenders to the western Allies
Germany surrenders to the Soviets
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.
