World War II was a war that claimed more lives than any other and decimated more land. It resulted in 45-60 million deaths. Six million of these were Jews who died in Nazi concentration camps. This essay outlines the chronology of World War II.
The first day of World War II, September 1, 1939, begins with Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland’s capital, in an extensive encirclement attack. Two days later, Brittan (France) declare war against Germany. This event is widely considered to have sparked the Second World War. Poland was part of an alliance with Brittan and France, so Germany did not attack Poland when it invaded Poland. This created a chain reaction that resulted in Germany’s subsequent invasions of France and Brittan, which also led to World War II. Germany invades Norway & Denmark on April 9, 1941. Next, it invades Belgium and the Netherlands, Luxembourg, then France. France finally surrenders to Germany in June 1942. The Battle of Britain begins in July 1940. Shortly after, Italian troops invaded British-controlled Egypt to try and expand their control over North Africa.
Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Tripartite Pact were signed in Berlin on September 27, 1940. It formalizes the alliance of Axis Powers. The Pact offers mutual assistance in case any member is attacked by any other nation that was not already involved in war.
The largest German military effort in World War II is launched by Nazi Germany on June 22, 1941. It’s Operation Barbarossa which sees the Soviet Union invaded. Within a matter of weeks, the Soviet Union was officially joined the Allied countries.
Japan launches an unexpected attack on American soil on December 7, 1941 and bombs Hawaii’s naval station at Pearl Harbor, Oahu. The attack results in more than 2300 American sailors and soldiers being killed, while another 1,100 are injured. After the attack of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt requested and received a declaration de war against Japan. The United States starts mobilizing civilian defense forces on its home front after Congress approves. Germany and Italy declare war upon the United States, in response to their war declaration against Japan. The previously neutral United States retorts to the declarations. It officially joined World War II with the Allied Powers.
British resistance is crushed by Japan and Singapore is captured by Britain in February 1942. In the midst of the war against Japan, President Roosevelt signs Executive Order 9066. It is also known by the Japanese American Internment Order. This orders for the arrest and incarceration all Japanese Americans in the United States. Over 100,000 Americans of Japanese descent were detained in the United States within the first few months.
After months of fighting with U.S. and Filipino troops, Japan takes the Philippines. On May 12, 1942, the last Allied troops surrendered to Japan on Mindanao. Japan wins the battle against the Allies and finally captures Burma. British control is overthrown. The Battle of Midway is fought by the Allies against Japan in June 1942. This battle is a pivotal moment for the Allies.
Axis troops surrendered in Tunisia to Allied forces on May 13th 1943, after a three-year stalemate. On September 8, General Dwight D. Eisenhower announces publicly that Italy has surrendered to the Allies. This announcement was made five days before in Sicily. The Battle of Sicily proved to be a decisive battle for all the Allies in their victory. The British and US troops arrived on Sicily, Italy to take control of the axis power. This victory was significant because it saw Italy expelled from war. It is the first Axis Power to break the Tripartite Pact and significantly weaken it.
President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met in Tehran, Iran, during the November 28th and December 1st 1943 to discuss military strategy and political issues, such as postwar settlements.
In a carefully planned effort to free Western Europe from Nazi rule, Allied troops arrive on Normandy beaches, France, June 6, 1944. D-Day is the biggest amphibious military operations in history. The Allies defeat Japan in the Battle for Leyte Gulf close to the Philippines in October 2001.
Germany’s final major offensive campaign begins in the Ardennes region, Belgium and Luxembourg. It runs from December 16, 1944 through January 16, 1945. The Battle of the Bulge, the most significant battle fought along the Western Front of World War II’s Second World War, is won by the Allies.
The meeting took place in Yalta on Crimea Peninsula between February 4-11 1945. During Yalta Conference, leaders discuss terms and conditions for Germany’s unconditional submission, including postwar compensations, government, borders, and other details. Following Germany’s surrender the Soviet Union agrees, along with the rest of the Soviet Union, to fight against Japan. After a prolonged battle with Japanese forces, the Allies captured Iwo Jima in March of that year.
Germany surrenders to France’s Allies at Reims on May 7, 1945. This marks the end of World War II. On August 6, the United States dropped an atomic bomb against Hiroshima in Japan. This was the first and only time that atomic weapons were used in wartime operations. An estimated 60,000-80,000 Japanese, American, Korean residents are killed by the bomb’s impact. The bomb’s indirect or direct effects lead to 135,000 deaths in the following months. Three days later, the United States detonates an atomic weapon against Nagasaki, Japan. The explosion causes an estimated death toll of 40,000-70,000 people, with an additional 60,000 suffering severe injuries. The total number of deaths reached 80,000 by 1945.
Finally, Japan finally surrenders to its Allies on September 2, 1945. The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed in Tokyo Bay by the Japanese. This effectively ended World War II.
This essay concludes by summarizing the timeline of World War II.