Timeline of WWII

1939

    • Hitler invades Poland on September 1.

    • Britain and France declare war on Germany on September 3.

1940

    • Rationing starts in United Kingdom.

    • Churchill becomes Prime Minister of United Kingdom.

    • Britain succeeds in Battle of British forces against Hitler, forces him to postpone invasion attempt.

1941

  • Hitler invades Russia, begins Operation Barbarossa.

  • The Allied Powers take Tobruk in South Africa and resist German attacks.

  • United States enters World War II after Pearl Harbor is attacked.

1942

  • Japan takes control of Singapore in February, takes about 25,000 prisoners.

  • American victory at the Battle of Midway, marked as the turning point of the Pacific War.

  • Murder of many begin at Auschwitz.

1943

  • Germany surrenders at Stalingrad, known as the first major defeat done to Germany.

  • Allied Powers able to invade Italy after victory at North Africa.

  • Italy surrenders, but Germany fills in their position.

  • British and Indian forces go against Japan in Burma.

1944

  • The Allied Powers invade France, and Paris is liberated in August. (D-Day)

  • Guam is liberated by US Okinawa and Iwo Jima is bombed.

1945

  • Auschwitz is liberated by Soviet Union.

  • Russia arrives at Berlin, Adolf Hitler commits suicide, and Germany surrenders on May 7.

  • Truman becomes President of the United States after Franklin D. Roosevelt dies.

  • Attlee replaces Churchill.

  • Japan surrenders on August 14 after the two atomic bombs drop on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.