World War II Timeline

[Alexanderofmacedon]

March 13, 1938

Germany Annexes Austria

Hitler violates the Versailles treaty, accompanying troops into Austria to force a political union. Enthusiastic crowds welcome Hitler and his Nazi forces. Encouraged, Hitler annexes Austria the next day. It becomes part of his vision of a 1000-year German Reich.

October 15, 1938

Germany Occupies Sudetenland

As agreed at Munich, Hitler’s troops occupy Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland. A few months later, Hitler branches the agreement by seizing the entire country. Britain and France are outraged and embarrassed. They react by guaranteeing Poland’s security, drawing a line Hitler can not cross without war.

November 9, 1938

Kristallnacht

In a night of anti-Jewish terror across Germany, hundreds of synagogues are burned, thousands of shops vandalized, and 20,000 Jews are arrested. “Kristallnacht” (the night of broken glass) is sparked by the murder of a German diplomat by a French Jew in Paris.

September 1, 1939

Germany Invades Poland

Germany invades Poland in a blitzkrieg, a “lightning war” of massive attacks by tank battalions and screaming Stuka dive-bombers. Britain and France have guaranteed Poland’s security; They declare war on Germany two days later. WWII has begun.

April 9, 1940

Nazis invade Norway and Denmark

In dual lightning assaults, Germany invades Norway and Denmark. The British and French make their own landings in Norway on April 14, but are driven out weeks later. By seizing Norway the Nazis protect a vital shipping source of Swedish iron ore, and gain air and naval bases within striking distance of Britain.

May 10, 1940

Nazis invade France, Low Countries
As the allies reel from Nazi attacks elsewhere, Germany lands a knockout blow: a massive assault on Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium and France. The Germans achieve stunning victory everywhere, most of all France. Hitler’s armies blast through France and enter Paris in a month.

May 26 – June 4, 1940

Dunkirk

After retreating to the French port of Dunkirk, British and French forces face annihilation. Inexplicably, Hitler orders his Panzer divisions to halt. This gives time for the allies to evacuate to Britain saving the lives of 338,226 men. The allies leave behind vast amounts of weapons, tanks, armor and ammo. They are not prepared to defend England.

July – October 1940

Battle of Britain

Hitler’s goal is to invade Britain. First though he needs to control the skies over the English Channel. The Luftwaffe and Royal Air Force battle for supremacy over the Channel for months. Waves of German bombers hit London. The Royal Air Force gains the edge, shooting down far more German planes. After devastating losses on September 15, Hitler abandons the invasion.

April 6, 1941

Axis invades Greece and Yugoslavia

Germany and Italy invade Greece and Yugoslavia. Hitler’s goal is to secure his southern flank for his surprise attack on the USSR. By April 24, the defending force of 50,000 allied troops evacuate Greece.

April 8, 1941

Siege of Tobruk

North Africa’s ports and the Suez canal are prized by both sides in WWII. Since March 1940 the “desert fox” German general Erwin Rommel, has led his Afrika Korps to victories over the British. He lays siege to the city of Tobruk where 24, 000 Australian troops are trapped. The Australian troops fight off the attack and Rommel is forced to abandon the siege.

June 21, 1941

Germany invade USSR

Hitler launches what he has planned all along: a surprise invasion of the USSR with 4 million German and axis troops. His plan was to quickly defeat the inferior Soviet army and gain their vast resources. This proves to be his downfall.

September 12, 1941

Siege of Leningrad

Nazi forces advance to Leningrad. Instead of fighting street-to-street they starve the Soviet city. In a 3-year siege 1million civilians will die

December 7, 1941

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

In a surprise attack in Hawaii, Japanese planes kill 2,280 servicemen and injure 1,109. Nineteen ships are destroyed. The attack is to destroy the American navy for the Japanese to gain key victories in the east, however the U.S carriers are out at sea. Within days America declares war on Japan and the rest of the axis powers.

April 9, 1942

Surrender at Bataan

For three months American troops fight off Japanese attacks. No reinforcements come to the aid of the defenders. When they run out of supplies Gen. McArthur escapes while his 80,000 troops surrender and are marched on the 65-mile Bataan death march.

June 4, 1942

Battle of Midway

America code-breakers intercept a code that gives the Japanese’s next target: Midway. Four Japanese aircraft carriers are sunk and only one U.S.

August 7, 1942

Battle of Guadalcanal

The U.S marines assault the island of Guadalcanal. For seven months fighting will go on before the Americans secure the island. Five men fall to malaria for every one in battle.

November 8, 1942

Operation Torch

In the first major assault of WWII, 65,000 allied troops land in Northwest Africa. They are met with resistance by French Vichy troops. The allies have Rommel’s Afrika Korps trapped on two sides.

February 2, 1943

Germans Defeat at Stalingrad

Nearly 2 million soldiers die in the 6-month battle for Stalingrad. A sorounded German 6th army asks for permission to retreat. Hitler denies and declares a “fight to the death”. Only 91,000 Germans surrender at the end. This is the first major defeat and from now on the Red army will push the Germans back.

July 10, 1943

Allies invade Sicily

An invasion by the allies on Sicily off the coast of mainland Italy. They face 250,000 Italian and German troops. The Italians surrender by the thousands. After 38 days the defenders are driven from Sicily and Mussolini is toppled. Invasions of mainland Italy are soon to follow.

June 6, 1944

D-Day

In the greatest invasion of WWII, more than 3,000 ships and 10,000 planes will be used as well as 2,500 allied deaths. At the end of the day 150,000 allied troops are safely ashore.

July 20, 1944

Assassination attempt on Hitler

Resigned to ultimate Nazi defeat, German military leaders plot to assassinate Hitler, seize power and seek favorable peace terms. A bomb is exploded in a meeting attended by Hitler, but he survives. Some 200 conspirators are exposed, including Rommel. Rommel is allowed to commit suicide, but the rest are tortured and executed.

September 17, 1944

Operation Market Garden

The allies decide on a bold move that could end the war quickly. Airborne landings inside German held Holland, to seize key bridges and leave wide open to attack. 39,000 allied paratroopers are successfully dropped or landed in gliders. Panzer divisions soon pin them down. The operation fails. Almost 5,000 troops are killed and key objectives were not met.

December 16, 1944

Battle of the Bulge

Six months after D-Day, the allies have about 50 divisions along a 600 mile front. Then the Nazi’s launch a surprise counter-attack through the Ardennes in southern Belgium. The Panzer led assault drives deep into allied lines as the Germans push towards Antwerp. By Christmas the attack fails due to lack of fuel and supplies.

February 13-14, 1945

Fire bombings of Dresden

In a two day raid, more than a thousand British and U.S bombers drop incendiary bombs on Dresden, Germany. The city is famed for its architecture and has little military significance. The raid creates a firestorm that kills 35,000 – 135,000 people.

February 19, 1945

Battle of Iwo Jima

Needed for a base for the B-29 bombers, the U.S embark on a mission against 20,000 Japanese. The Marines lose about 6,000, while killing all Japanese resistence.

May 8, 1945

Victory in Europe (V-E) Day

By May 1, the Soviets have fought and taken Berlin. With the suicide of Hitler, the Nazi authorities are forced into an unconditional surrender.

August 6, 1945

Atomic Bombings

The morning of August 6, a B-29 drops the atom bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Instantly 20 miles are obliterated. An estimated 135,000 are killed or injured. Three days later an other atom bomb is dropped on Nagasaki. These bombs lead to the surrender of Japan.

August 14, 1945

Victory in Japan (V-J) Day

Japan agrees to surrender. The war is over. Estimates of civilian and military deaths is 35 – 60 million.

You're welcome

[Kagemusha]

Maybe you should add Russo-Japanese War and Winter War to year 1939.

[naut]

Just one fact,

The war in the European Theatre of Combat, started before Britain and France declared war. The war officially started 4:40 AM 1st September 1939, with the bombing of the Polish town of Wieluń by the Luftwaffe.

[Flavius Clemens]

"December 7, 1941

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

In a surprise attack in Hawaii, Japanese planes kill 2,280 servicemen and injure 1,109. Nineteen ships are destroyed. The attack is to destroy the American navy for the Japanese to gain key victories in the east, however the U.S carriers are out at sea. Within days America declares war on Japan and the rest of the axis powers."

Although the USA declared war on Japan, wasn't it in fact Germany and Italy that then declared war on the USA rather than vice versa?

[Kralizec]

In a night of anti-Jewish terror across Germany, hundreds of synagogues are burned, thousands of shops vandalized, and 20,000 Jews are arrested. “Kristallnacht” (the night of broken glass) is sparked by the murder of a German diplomat by a French Jew in Paris.

I haven't heard of the diplomat murder (not saying it isn't true), but it's pretty well known and as far as I know uncontested that the Kristallnacht was staged by the Nazis.

In a surprise attack in Hawaii, Japanese planes kill 2,280 servicemen and injure 1,109. Nineteen ships are destroyed. The attack is to destroy the American navy for the Japanese to gain key victories in the east, however the U.S carriers are out at sea. Within days America declares war on Japan and the rest of the axis powers.

Germany declared war on America first.

You also might want to add a word or two about Karl Dönitz. He was Germany's most important naval commander and was the one to become Reichspresident (but not Fuhrer) when Hitler died, because the top Nazis had fallen out of his favour (Dönitz himself was not a Nazi member)
He then ruled the remains of Germany for 20 days before authorizing Germany's unconditional surrender.

[Homo Sapiens]

"August 14, 1945

Victory in Japan (V-J) Day

Japan agrees to surrender. The war is over. Estimates of civilian and military deaths is 35 – 60 million."

While August 14 is the official date of Japanese surrender, it should be noted that many garrisons did not surrender for days, and even weeks, afterwards. The final garrison to surrender was at Saigon, Vietnam on November 30, 1945.

[cegorach]

" September 17, 1944

Operation Market Garden

The allies decide on a bold move that could end the war quickly. Airborne landings inside German held Holland, to seize key bridges and leave wide open to attack. 39,000 allied paratroopers are successfully dropped or landed in gliders. Panzer divisions soon pin them down. The operation fails. Almost 5,000 troops are killed and key objectives were not met."


Personally I think it was a blunder from the very beginning and it couldn't succeed, but the word 'could' was a wise choice.



BTW It is quite one-sides vision - nothing about Stalin's attacks like on 17th September when he helped Hitler.
And there is nothing about Kursk, Ukraine, Bagration, Korsun Pocket, Budapest, winter offensive of 1945....

There should be also Warsaw Rising of 1944 on 1st August ( to 2nd October) as the biggest battle of any underground forces during the war, compared by Germans to Stalingrad because of its character.
It was also the only capital destroyed so much during and especially after the battle - 97 % of west bank Warsaw i.e. 80 % of overall with most of its population sent to death camps.
It is also pointed at as the beginning of the Cold War since even the blindest leaders of the West had the true intentions of Stalin revealed.




Regards Cegorach

[Craterus]

You also might want to add a word or two about Karl Dönitz. He was Germany's most important naval commander and was the one to become Reichspresident (but not Fuhrer) when Hitler died, because the top Nazis had fallen out of his favour (Dönitz himself was not a Nazi member)
He then ruled the remains of Germany for 20 days before authorizing Germany's unconditional surrender.

Goebbels was actually first in line, but he and his family killed themselves the day after(?) Hitler committed suicide.

[Homo Sapiens]

www.onwar.com has a day-by-day chronology of World War II, if anyone is interested.

[cegorach]

Interesting, but full of mistakes in the first month especially - no mention about the largest battle of the 1939 defensive war of Poland - the one at Tomaszow Lubelski - about 250 000 Polish soldiers engaged. In addition nothing about defence of Grodno - largest fight 3 days long against Soviets. Usual rubbish about the destruction of the Polish airforce in first 3 days - not true at all.
And many smaller errors after.
ohh and there is this horrible rubbish about Polish murdering Germans in Bydgoszcz and some weird 'ukrainian uprising' - what the hell are those ?

Might be useful, but note reliable.

[The Stranger]

where is al-alamein. operation Bagration (russian mass (d-day) attack on 22 june 1944). battle at Kursk, Moscow and Leningrad.

And where is the pacific theathre

[Kralizec]

Operation August Storm.
On august 8, merely days after the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the Russians invade Manchuria. Their rapid advance, and more importantly the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, made the Japanese realise the hopelessness of their position and forced them to surrender.

[Avicenna]

So the war in Asia is just... ignored? It started in '31, when the Japanese attacked Manchuria.

By the way, didn't France's conquest take the Nazis only two weeks?

Also, in your claim that D-Day is the greatest and giving a list of figures. Surely the greatest invasion was the Soviet invasion of German occupied Europe, if you're measuring it by sheer size in numbers? The Soviets invaded with millions of men. A land invasion is an invasion all the same

[Grey_Fox]

Operation Fall Gelb began on May 10th with the invasion of France and the Low countries and ended on the 25th of June when France surrendered. Six weeks.

Operation Bagration used about 2.5 million Soviet troops, as compared to the 3 million in Operation Barbarossa.

[Franconicus]

You should add:

March 1939: Germany occupies Czech lands.

Before that event Hitler could always say that he only wanted to correct the unfair Versaille treaty. This was the reason why the Brits did let him go, I guess. They wanted a new equilibrium in Europe including Germany. The occupation of Czech lands was the first time that Hitler occupied a not German nation.

The result was that the US called their embessador back and GB and France ended their appeasement policy. They strengthened the back of the Poles. If Hitler had not occupied the CSR, maybe GB would have continued to find and agreement with Germany and would have forced Poland to a compromise. So WW2 would not have started then. However, Czech had a strong tank industry and most of the German tanks that rolled over France hwere made there in 1939.

So I guess it is an important event.

[Kralizec]

Chzechoslovakia, at the time. His excuse was that there were Germans living there (Sudeten Deutschers), but he proceeded to annex the entire country.

[Franconicus]

Chzechoslovakia, at the time. His excuse was that there were Germans living there (Sudeten Deutschers), but he proceeded to annex the entire country.

No, not exactly. There were two steps. First the Sudetenland. This was given to Germany by the Treaty of Munich. Hitler could have stopped here. All the defence insatllations of the CSR were now German. I think the CSR then split into C and S. In March Hitler occupied the rest of the former CSR and showed that he was not only interested in the human rights of Germans. That finally made the Western countries change their minds.

[Avicenna]

I think the Munich agreement already changed GB and France's minds, as the British proceeded to re-arm at that stage.

By the way: 3 September 1939: Britain and France declare war on Germany.

[Pontifex Rex]

Alex (the original poster) does descibe himself as an 'apprentice historian' so it is not really expect him to have the knowledge of the masters

Also, in your claim that D-Day is the greatest and giving a list of figures. Surely the greatest invasion was the Soviet invasion of German occupied Europe, if you're measuring it by sheer size in numbers? The Soviets invaded with millions of men. A land invasion is an invasion all the same

It is generally accepted that D-day was the largest amphibious invasion in history. And,...did the Red Army invade central Europe or liberate it? That would be a debate

[Avicenna]

I would hardly call the invasion of a country and effectively its annexation and replacement of the government with yet another Communist Soviet regime a liberation.

But, of course, I'm also an apprentice historian... without a master.

[Aenlic]

I'd say that the Soviet invasion of Eastern Europe, driving out the Nazis, was just the replacement of one insane regime with another insane regime.

[Kralizec]

No, not exactly. There were two steps. First the Sudetenland. This was given to Germany by the Treaty of Munich. Hitler could have stopped here. All the defence insatllations of the CSR were now German. I think the CSR then split into C and S. In March Hitler occupied the rest of the former CSR and showed that he was not only interested in the human rights of Germans. That finally made the Western countries change their minds.

I stand corrected.

Also should be added that Chzechoslovakia was the only democracy in Eastern Europe, destroyed by Hitler.

Speaking of wich: Alexander, do you plan to update your timeline at all?

[Avicenna]

At least this new regime isn't a racist one that gasses you. I prefer gulag over gas.

[Pontifex Rex]

At least this new regime isn't a racist one that gasses you. I prefer gulag over gas.

Exactly. It was dictatorship, it could still kill you, but it didn't (officially) care what your background was.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

I stand corrected.

Also should be added that Chzechoslovakia was the only democracy in Eastern Europe, destroyed by Hitler.

Speaking of wich: Alexander, do you plan to update your timeline at all?

I would, but one I'm too lazy. Two, I'm...err....too lazy. If you accumulate them all and put them in one of your posts I will add them.

[cegorach]

Exactly. It was dictatorship, it could still kill you, but it didn't (officially) care what your background was.

Yeah right... Check NKVD records and how it worked towards some nationalities especially Balts and Poles m8.