-
July 7, 1937
Japan invades China, initiating World War II in the Pacific. -
March 31, 1939
France and Great Britain guarantee the integrity of the borders of the Polish state. -
September 1, 1939
Germany invades Poland, initiating World War II in Europe. -
September 17, 1939
The Soviet Union invades Poland from the east. -
June 10, 1940
Italy enters the war. Italy invades southern France on June 21, 1940. -
December 7, 1941
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. -
December 8, 1941
The United States declares war on Japan, entering World War II. -
December 11–13, 1941
Nazi Germany and its Axis partners declare war on the United States. -
June 6, 1944
British and US troops successfully land on the Normandy beaches of France, opening a “Second Front” against the Germans. -
September 12, 1944
Finland concludes an armistice with the Soviet Union, leaving the Axis partnership. -
October 20, 1944
United States troops land in the Philippines. -
December 16, 1944
The Germans launch a final offensive in the west, known as the Battle of the Bulge, -
March 7, 1945
United States troops cross the Rhine River at Remagen. -
April 30, 1945
Adolf Hitler commits suicide. -
May 8, 1945
Germany Surrenders! -
August 6, 1945
U.S drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. -
August 8, 1945
The Soviet Union declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria. -
August 9, 1945
The U.S drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki. -
August 9, 1945
The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. -
September 2, 1945
Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.
