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Germany Invades Poland
Theatre of War: Europe Germany's forces invade Poland using its Blitzkrieg tactics. Blitzkrieg involved early bombing of the enemies air force, communications and resources and then rushing the opposition with planes troops and tanks. The Blitzkrieg tactics were very effective and took Poland easily. This is seen as the defining event that started WWII. -
Britain and France declare war on Germany
Theatre of War: Europe
In response to the invasion of Poland two days before, Britain and France officially declare war on Germany. -
Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain
Theatre of War: Europe
Winston Churchill become Prime Minister of Britain, replacing the former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. He remained Prime Minister until 1945, but then becoming Prime Minister again in 1951 to 1955. -
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Evacuation of Dunkirk
Theatre of War: Europe
Dunkirk is a town on the coast of the North Sea in France. With Germany invading the north, 338,000 soldiers were stuck on the beaches of Dunkirk. The Luftwaffe were closing in on the stranded soldiers, and began dropping bombs. The RAF managed to hold back the Luftwaffe, in time for 850 boats to save the stranded soldiers. The boats were a mix of military and private owned ships. These lucky conditions lead to this event is often being called the Miracle of Dunkirk. -
Italy enters war on side of Axis power
Theatre of War: Europe
Italy had originally planed on being unaligned to either side of the war, but on this date, Benito Mussolini declares war on Britain and France, and joining the Axis side. -
France signs armistice with Germany
Theatre of War: Europe
Paris had been taken by Germany, and the invasion was soon to end. Former French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud is replaced by Marshal Henri Petain. Marshal plans to sign the armistice straight away to prevent civilian deaths. France was then divided into 2 states, occupied Vichy France, and unoccupied France. Marshal took the position of "chief of state" in Vichy France. -
Operation Sea Lion
Theatre of War: Europe
Operation Sea Lion was Nazi Germany's planned invasion of Great Britain. This event never occurred as Germany could not use its Blitzkrieg tactics against Britain, as the RAF was to strong to be taken out easily. Because they couldn't take out the RAF, the Battle of Britain was lost, and Hitler's Operation Sea Lion didn't happen. Hitler at this time was believed to be more focused on Russia. -
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Battle of Britain
Theatre of War: Europe
This 3 month long battle began with German bombers raiding British ships and ports. The Germans wanted to take out British defences so it could use it's Blitzkrieg tactics to rush across the nation, but the British air force, although smaller than Germany's, were faster, and could turn faster than German aircrafts. The British air force would not be defeated, and therefor, Operation Sea Lion couldn't be enacted, and the Battle of Britain would be lost for the Germans. -
Tripartite Pact signed
Theatre of War: All
The Tripartite was a pact between Germany, Italy, and Japan, that would officially mark their alliance to one-another. The pact was signed in Berlin. The pact meant that if anyone of the countries were under threat from an Allied power, the other members of the pact would assist them. It also sent a message to the still un-aligned US, to think twice before entering the war on the side of the Allies. -
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Siege of Tobruk
Theatre of War: North Africa
Tobruk in Libya, was originally controlled by Britain, and the Germans wanted to take control of it. The Germans sent more soldiers to Tobruk to reinforce the Italians. The Axis were supported by Afrika Korps led by Erwin Rommel. The Allied powers involved the Brits, Australia, South Africa and India. The Axis pushed the Allied back to Egypt with their Panzer tanks and Tobruk was taken back. -
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Operation Barbarossa
Theatre of War: Europe
This was the planned invasion of the Soviet Union by Germany. Germany sent over 3 million soldiers and 3 thousand tanks to Russia. Operation Barbarossa was failure as the Germans underestimated the strength of the Russians, and were not used to the cold conditions that the Russians were used to, and therefor were highly disadvantaged. This event is seen as a mistake by the Germans, for they now had to fight the war on the Russian front as well as in Western Europe. -
Bombing of Peal Harbour
Theatre of War: Asia-Pacific
Pearl Harbour, a naval base located outside of Hawaii, was attacked by hundreds of Japanese planes. These Japanese planes bombed the base, destroying 8 battleships, 300 airplanes and killing over 2,400 American people, some of those being civilians. This event was seen as a tactical error by Japan as the day afterwards, the US declared war on Japan, and joining the outnumbered Britain on the side of the Allies. -
Britain and US declare war on Japan
Theatre of War: Europe and Asia-Pacific
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbour, US President Franklin Roosevelt declare war on Japan, along with Britain. With the US and Britain now fighting on the same side, the war completely changed, with the chances for the Allies winning drastically increasing. -
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Japan takes Singapore
Theatre of War: Asia-Pacific
Singapore had been a part of the British colony since the 19th century. The battle between Britain forces and Japan on the Malay Peninsula had gone on for many months, but due to tactical errors, when 5,000 Japanese troops were dropped in Singapore, Singapore was unprepared, and eventually over-powered. Many civilians and Allies were killed, wounded, or captured as POWs. -
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Battle of Midway
Theatre of War: Asia-Pacific
Half a year after the Pearl Harbour bombings, the US fought Japan in one of the biggest naval battles in WWII. The US and the Japanese had been trying to decode their messages to one another to know when the next attack would be. The US were anticipating an attack on one of their 3 islands, and to try and figure out which one, they sent out a decoded message that one island had a shortage of water. The US then decoded a Japanese message telling pilots to bring extra -
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Battle of Midway again
water for where they were going. This confirmed to the US which island was being attacked, and therefor they could set up a counter attack. The US won the Battle of Midway, and this event is seen as a turning point for the Allies in WWII. -
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First Battle of El Alamein
Theatre of War:North Africa
El Alamein, located in Egypt, was the place at which Erwin Rommel continued his battle for North Africa against the British Allies. After Erwin's victory in Tobruk, Libya, he continued to push his Afrika Korps in to El Alamein where the British had retreated to. Afrika Korps were supported by Italy, but the Siege of Tobruk had reduced the Axis power in North Africa, and with support coming from the US, Axis powers were not able to push the Allies back from El Alamein. -
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Battle of Stailingrad again
Theatre of War: Europe
sheer military power due to the size of their army, the Soviets were able to fend of the Germans and send them back. The Battle of Stalingrad saw some of the highest casualty numbers, at around 2 million, including soldiers and civilians. Germany was now forced to fight the war on 2 fronts, which was a factor that turned the tide towards the Allies in WWII. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
Theatre of War: Europe
Stalingrad was the town at which one of the biggest battles of WWII took place. Operation Barbarossa had been launched by the Germans, and 3 million of their troops were heading into Soviet territory. Stalingrad's location made it an essential target for the German's as if it were captured it would make further advancements into Russia easier. Russia also knew this, so they sent their forces to defend Stalingrad. With several advantages such as resistance to the cold and -
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Second Battle of El Alamein
Theatre of War: North Africa
After the Allies first victory in El Alamein, Allied morals had been boosted. The Axis powers had tried once more to push the Allies out of El Alamein and continue their advance across Northern Africa, but the US support that the Allies received in the first battle of El Alamein were still too powerful for the Axis to overcome. Their push was denied, and so was their control over North Africa. -
D-Day Landings
Theatre of War: Europe
This was the event when the Allies crossed the English channel, and landed on the beaches of Normandy, in France. The Allies would begin to take back Nazi occupied Western-Europe. It took them 3 months to free the Nazi occupied half of France. Around 176,000 troops entered France either by boat or parachute, and over 13,000 aircrafts assisted them. This event was key to winning the war, and by freeing France, the Allies would be able to take back the rest of Europe. -
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Battle of the Bulge
Theatre of War: Europe
Also known as the Ardennes Offensive, the Battle of the Bulge was the German's last effort in Europe. They aimed to push the Allies front-line out from Northern France and into Belgium. The Germans created a "Bulge" around the Ardennes that would push back the Allies. The battle continued for many weeks until weather conditions improved and US bombers could take out the German "Bulge". Around 35,000 people died in total during the battle. -
Mussolini captured and executed
Theatre of War: Europe
Benito Mussolini tried to flee to neutral Switzerland when the outcome of the war for the Axis was certain defeat. He tried to flee with his wife Clara Petacci in fear of being persecuted for being a war criminal. On Swiz boarder, they were both captured and shot by Italian partisans, and their bodies were hung in public display in Italy. -
Hitler commits suicide
Theatre of War: Europe
The war was coming to an end, and Hitler knew that the Axis forces would not succeed. Hitler spend the last few days of the war in an underground bunker with his wife Eva Braun and his dog Blondi. Hitler and Eva both consumed cyanide capsules, and to confirm his death shot himself. Their bodies were both cremated. -
German forces surrender
Theatre of War: Europe
German forces are made to surrender unconditionally. General Alfred Jodl, under command of Hitler's successor Grand Admiral Karl Donitz, is ordered to sign the surrender. Grand Admiral agreed with the surrender as otherwise, German forces would be driven towards Soviet forces, where they would be treated much more harshly. -
V.E. day
Theatre of War: Europe
In this event, major cities in both the UK and the US, as well as formerly occupied countries, put out flags and banners, and rejoiced the defeat of the Nazis. -
Hiroshima Bombing
Theatre of War: Asia-Pacific
On this day, America drops a nuclear bomb called "Little Boy" on the city of Hiroshima. The bomb was the first time a nuclear weapon was used in war, and instantly killed 80,000 people and destroyed 4 square miles of city. Over the next couple of days, tens of thousands more people died. The bomb was ordered to be dropped as a troop invasion of Japan would cost America thousands of casualties. -
Soviet Union declares war on Japan
Theatre of War: Europe and Asia-Pacific
On this day, the Soviet Union officially declares war on Japan, and sends 1 million soldiers to Manchuria, China, which is occupied by Japan. Japan had not previously been worried by the Soviet Union as they had been busy fighting German forces in Europe, but with the Nazis defeated, Japan was overrun by the Soviets and were forced to surrender. -
Nagasaki Bombing
Theatre of War: Asia-Pacific
Another nuclear bomb was dropped by America on the city of Nagasaki 3 days after the Hiroshima bombing. This bomb, named "Fat Man", killed between 60 - 80,000 people, and led to the surrender of Japan, and the end of WWII. Exact numbers of deaths from the bombing is hard to gauge as bodies were often completely disintegrated. -
Japan Surrenders (End of WWII)
Theatre of War: Asia-Pacific
Due to the two atomic bombs being dropped on Japanese cities, as well as the Soviet Union advancing upon Japan, Japanese Emperor Hirohito surrenders, in order to stop the death of many more Japanese people. This marks the end of WWII as the war in Europe was already over because of the German surrender. -
United Nations born
Theatre of War: All
On this day, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill issue a declaration called the United Nations. It was originally signed by represents of 26 countries. The United Nations was a peacekeeping organisation to prevent future wars, and to set into action future peacekeeping strategies on an international level.