World War II Chronology1938

Britain and France agree in Munich to let Germany have part of Czechoslovakia. Hitler said it would be his last territorial demand and then in March of 1939 he broke the pact by taking Prague. Policy of Appeasement ended

1939Germany and Italy sign a pact pledging support for each other in a warGermany and Russia sign a 10 year nonaggression pact in Aug. (when Hitler later violates this agreement it brings the USSR into the War)Sept – Germany invades Poland (Using Blitzkrieg) and Russia invades for the east. Germany and Russia sign a treaty dividing Poland between them

IT’S ON!!!

World War II Chronology1939

Phony War on the Western Front Maginot Line would hold Confident British Navy could blockade Germany

German launches counter blockade with submarines, mines and depth bombs, sinking many allied merchant and passenger ships

Russian-Finish War. Russia invades Finland in November. Finland gives Soviet union important ports and industry

World War II Chronology1940

Germany invades Denmark and Norway in April. Denmark signs protection treaty, falls in five hours and Norway is reinforced by British forces and fights until June.In May Germany invades Belgium, the Netherlands (falls in four days) and Luxembourg. Churchill becomes British Prime Minister and reinforces Belgium and the Netherlands. Both finally fallMay 29th to June 4th – Dunkirk – approximately 360,000 withdrawn by sea. The common citizens of England are largely responsible for this evacuationJune 5th – the battle for France. Germany invades over a 100 mile front and head to Paris. Italy declares war on Britain and FranceGermans occupy Paris on June 14 and armistice signed on June 22. Franco-Italian armistice signed on 24 June

World War II Chronology1940

France – Marshal Petain and the Vichy government in the unoccupied FranceAug - Battle of Britain (The plan is an Air Campaign to be followed by an invasion of Britain). Germany urged for peace with Britain but Churchill refused. Britain and the RAF defeated the Germans and ended Hitler’s hopes of invading England.Japan gains air bases in French Indo China to support its war against ChinaSept 27 – Japan signs pact with Germany and Italy

Germany and Italy control Europe and Japan controls Greater East Asia

World War II Chronology1940

U.S. places sanctions on Japan in SeptU.S. trades destroyers for leases on British Naval and Air bases in the Atlantic and CaribbeanU.S. begins to builds ships, planes and other war material ↑

1941Gibraltar and Suez Canal

Italy attacks North Africa while Germany drives through SE Europe• Italy failed, Germany succeeded in over running Romania, Bulgaria,

Yugoslavia and Greece. Aids Italy and drives the British out of Libya and now drives for oil in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia

World War II Chronology1941

Lend/Lease between U.S. and AlliesJune – Germany invades Russia

Italy, Hungary, Finland and Romania declare war on Russia Great Britain and U.S. promise support to Russia 2000 mile front (White Sea to Black Sea) German attack

• From East Prussia, through Baltic states to Leningrad• Northern part of German Poland through White Russia to Moscow• Southern part of German Poland toward Kiev

World War II Chronology1941

Russian Guerrilla warfare slowed the German advanceScorched earth policyWinterSoviet counter offensive drove Germans back from the outskirts of Moscow and LeningradBritish attack Germans in Libya.

World War II Chronology1941

In Conjunction with the German invasion of Russia, Japan moved against Thailand

U.S. and Great Britain protested Tojo comes to U.S. to trick government

Dec 7th, Japan Attack Pearl HarborJapan attacks Midway Island, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Guam and Wake island and other targets.U.S. declares war on JapanDec 9th – China declares war on Japan, Germany and Italy.Germany and Italy declares war on U.S. on Dec 11th and the USA declares war on them in return

World War II Chronology1941

Dec – Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama declare war on Axis PowersBolivia declares war on JapanBulgaria, Hungary and Romania declare war on U.S.Japan and Russia avoid war with each other26 nations against the Axis Powers in Jan 1942

World War II Chronology1942

Wake, Guam and Hong Kong (Christmas of 1941) fall to the JapaneseSingapore, the Netherlands Indies, and Burma fall to Japan.Darwin (Australia) is heavily bombed

World War II Chronology1942

Jan – Rommel drives to Suez CanalRommel takes TobrukJune – Battle of Midway – U.S. victory that ended Japanese expansionJuly – Rommel takes El AlameinJuly - Sevastopol falls to Germany in Russia Aug – Germans attack Stalingrad and the Russian stop the attack

World War II Chronology1942

Aug – Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal) invaded by U.S.Sept – U.S. and Australia invade New GuineaOct – Montgomery route Rommel at El Alamein and by November the Germans are forced out of EgyptNov – Russians counterattackNov 8 – Allies invade North Africa

World War II Chronology1943

Russian Counterattack at Stalingrad, Kharkov and SmolenskFeb – Guadalcanal falls to U.SMay – Germans out of North AfricaJuly – Allies invade Sicily

Badoglio succeeds MussoliniSept – Italy invaded by Allies

Italy out of the war on Sept 8th

World War II Chronology1943

Convoy Operations in Atlantic rid the Allies of the German U-Boat threatAllied Strategic Bombing continues on German industrial areasAllied Transport airplanes having an effect everywhereJapanese outer rings falls and Australia is no longer threatened

World War II Chronology1944

Feb – Marshall Islands taken (Eniwetok/Kwajalein)June 6 - NormandyAug – Marianas taken (Saipan, Timian and Guam) (Superfortress B-29s bombing Japan)Aug – Paris falls to AlliesRussia drives Germany back to its own borders and has Romania, Bulgaria declare war on GermanyAllies drive through Italy and invade FranceGerman V bombsDec – German counterattack (Bastone)Battle of the Bulge

Russia in World War 2

World War II Chronology1945

Feb - Marshall Islands (Iwo Jima)Feb – Budapest fallsApr – Mussolini killedApr – Vienna fallsApr – Berlin fallsMay – German Surrender

World War II Chronology1945

MacArthur lands in PhilippinesApril Fools Day – Okinawa Aug – Russia attacks ManchuriaAug 6th – HiroshimaAug 9th – NagasakiAug 15th - Surrender