ww2 timeline By Geiger Swanson Sep 1, 1939 World War II begins. Period: Sep 1, 1939 to May 7, 1945 WW2 Timespan May 30, 1940 Winston Churchill becomes leader of the British government. Jun 22, 1941 Germany and the Axis Powers attack Russia. Jul 10, 1942 The Allies invade and take the island of Sicily. Sep 3, 1943 Italy surrenders to the Allies Jun 6, 1944 D-day and the Normandy invasion. Apr 12, 1945 US President Franklin Roosevelt dies. Apr 30, 1945 Adolf Hitler commits suicide as he knows Germany has lost the war. May 7, 1945 Germany surrenders to the Allies.