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Adolf Hitler Becomes Chancellor
Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany. -
Mussolini Joins Hitler
In a speech in Rome, Benito Mussolini fascist leader of Italy promises to fight the democracies with Adolf Hitler if the war breaks out. -
Stalin and Hitler Sign Non Aggression Pact
Germany and the Soviet Union agree to a nonaggression pact leaving the Soviets free to strengthen their western frontier, and Hitler free to attack Poland. -
Nazi Army Invades Poland
German troops invade Poland on the ground while Hitler's air force bombs Polish cities from the sky. -
Britain and France Declare War
Britain and France declare war on Germany honoring their commitment to Poland. President Franklin D. Roosevelt invokes the Neutrality Act. -
Roosevelt Increases Defense Spending
In a speech to Congress, President Franklin D. Roosevelt requests new defense spending, an enlarged army, and an expanded air fleet. Public opinion favors the new defense program. -
Japan Forces Joins Axis
Responding to the embargoes imposed by the United States, Japan joins the German-Italian coalition. -
Roosevelt Re Elected for Third Term
In the presidential election, Democrats break with the two-term tradition and renominate Franklin D. Roosevelt for a third term. Republicans nominate Wendell L. Willkie, a public-utilities executive who shared FDR's views on the war in Europe. Franklin D. Roosevelt defeats Wendell L. Willkie by nearly 5 million popular votes. -
U.S. Seizes Axis Ships
President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders the United States Coast Guard to seize German ships that sail into American ports. 65 Axis ships are held in "protective custody." -
Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor
Japanese fighter planes attack the American base at Pearl Harbor, destroying U.S. aircraft and naval vessels, and killing 2,355 U.S. servicemen and 68 civilians. -
Largest Budget in History
President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his State of the Union Address in which he proposes a massive government spending budget, the largest in American history. -
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord known as D-Day. The U.S landed on Omaha and Utah beach in Normandy France on the 6th of June. While England landed on Gold, Sword an Juno. The U.S Casualties were 2,499 dead 3,184 wounded 1,928 missing. 2,700 British, 946 Canadians. Total killed, wounded or missing in Operation Overlord -
Operation Fortitude
Spearheaded by the British,Operation Fortitude was a ruse designed to deceive the Germans into thinking the Allies would make landfall in France at the Pas de Calais instead of Normandy. Operation Fortitude continued even after the Allies launched their invasion of Normandy. Aircraft focused many of their bombing runs on the Pas de Calais instead of Normandy. -
Atomic Bomb Tested
An atomic bomb is successfully detonated in the New Mexico desert. -
Auschwitz, Birkenau Liberated
As Soviet troops approached Auschwitz in January 1945, most of its population was sent west on a death march. The prisoners remaining at the camp were liberated on 27 January 1945, a day now known as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. -
Operation Carthage
Operation Carthage was a British World War II air raid on Copenhagen Denmark which incurred significant collateral damage. The target of the raid was the Shellhus used as Gestapo headquarters in the city centre. -
WWII, Westen War Ends
The war in Europe concluded with an invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, culminating in the capture of Berlin by Soviet troops. -
Hacksaw Ridge
The Battle of Okinawa also known as Hacksaw Ridge was a major battle of the Pacific War fought on the island of Okinawa by United States Marine and Army forces against the Imperial Japanese Army. -
Hiroshima
The United States drops an atomic bomb the first to be used in warfare on Hiroshima, killing 75,000 people instantly, and injuring more than 100,000. -
Soviet Union Enters Pacific
With still no surrender from Japan, the Soviet Union enters the Pacific war as promised in Yalta, defeating Japanese forces in Manchuria. -
Nagasaki
A second atomic bomb is dropped in Nagasaki. -
WWII, Pacific War Ends
When armed forces of the Empire of Japan surrendered to the forces of the Allies. The surrender came over three months after the surrender of the Axis forces in Europe and brought an end to World War II. -
Desmond Doss
Private Desmond Doss walked into the bloodiest battle of WWII's Pacific theater with nothing to protect himself other than his Bible and his faith in God. A devout Seventh Day Adventist and conscientious objector, Doss had enlisted as a medic and refused to carry a rifle. He Was Awarded The Medal Of Honor.
