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Invasion of Poland by Germany
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, triggering the start of World War II. -
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Germany
On August 23, 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, a non-aggression agreement that also included a secret division of Eastern Europe into spheres of influence between the two countries. -
The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain, which occurred between July and October 1940, was a massive aerial campaign between the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and the German Luftwaffe over the United Kingdom. -
The Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk, which took place between May and June 1940, where Allied forces were evacuated from the Dunkirk coast in northern France after being trapped by the German advance. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941, by the Imperial Japanese Navy, which prompted the United States' entry into the war. -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa, launched by Nazi Germany on June 22, 1941, marking the beginning of the invasion of the Soviet Union and the largest military operation in history in terms of manpower and casualties. -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway, which took place from June 4 to 7, 1942, and was a decisive naval battle between the United States and Japan in the Pacific Theater. The U.S. victory at Midway halted Japanese expansion and shifted the balance of power in the Pacific. -
The Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, which began on September 8, 1941, and lasted until January 27, 1944, was one of the longest and most destructive sieges in history. The German blockade of Leningrad resulted in severe famine and loss of life, but the city remained under Soviet control. -
Battle of Kursk
Fought from July 5 to August 23, 1943, it was the largest tank battle in history and a decisive Soviet victory over the German forces, halting their advance into the Soviet Union and initiating a series of Soviet offensives on the Eastern Front. -
Invasion of Sicily
On July 9, 1943, Allied forces launched Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, leading to the overthrow of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and the weakening of Axis control over Southern Europe. -
D-Day Invasion
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious invasion in history, landing on the beaches of Normandy, France. This pivotal event marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation. -
Battle of the Bulge
Fought from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, it was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front. The Allies successfully repelled the German advance, leading to significant German casualties and hastening the end of the war in Europe. -
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, leading to Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, and ultimately, the end of World War II. -
End of the War in Europe
On May 8, 1945, known as Victory in Europe (VE) Day, Germany formally surrendered to the Allies, marking the end of the war in Europe.