The complete course of World War II (1939–1945) 💥

World War II was a global conflict from 1939 to 1945.

The main opponents were the so-called “Axis powers”:

and the so-called “Allies”:

The war was in many ways a continuation of the disputes of World War I (that took place from 1914 to 1918).

The Second World War was the largest and most devastating war in our history. It is estimated that 50 to 70 million people died as a result of the war.

The "Munich Agreement" was a treaty between the German Empire, Great Britain, France and Italy.

The agreement of September 29, 1938 stipulated that Czechoslovakia had to cede the Sudetenland (which belonged to Germany before the First World War) to the German Reich within ten days.

The Wehrmacht invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939. The country is annexed by Germany.

On September 1, 1939, the Wehrmacht attacks Poland.

This is the beginning of World War II.

In response, on September 3, 1939, France and Great Britain declared war on Germany.

On September 17, 1939, the Soviet Union also attacks Poland from the east.

On September 27, 1939, Warsaw was taken by the Wehrmacht.

Poland is defeated and under German control.

Despite France and Great Britain declaring war on Germany in September 1939, there are no military conflicts between the countries in 1939.

The western front remains largely passive. This period is known as the "Phoney War".

On April 9, 1940, the Wehrmacht invades Denmark and Norway, ending the Phoney War.

Denmark surrenders on the day of the attack. Norway surrendered on June 9, 1940.

On May 10, 1940, the Wehrmacht attacks France and also took over the neutral countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

The Wehrmacht offensive runs until June 25, 1940 and is a particular military success, as the French army is considered to be extremely strong at this time.

The Wehrmacht advances further into French territory and puts the British troops (that are stationed there) under pressure.

From May 26 to June 4, 1940, the British army (trapped in France) is evacuated by boat from Dunkirk to England.

On June 10, 1940, Italy declared war on France and Great Britain.

Italy entered the war as an ally of Germany.

The Italian army attacks the south of France on the same day, but without success.

On June 14, 1940, the Wehrmacht takes the French capital Paris.

On June 22, 1940, France signed an armistice agreement with Germany.

With the agreement, Germany will receive the northern half of France and the entire Atlantic coast.

The south of France becomes the state of "Vichy France" which collaborates with Germany.

On June 14, 1940, the Soviet Union occupies the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The countries are annexed as Soviet republics (3 - 6 August 1940).

The Battle of Britain takes place from July 10th to October 31st, 1940.

The German Luftwaffe attempts to force a surrender by attacking Britain. The operation becomes a failure.

On October 28, 1940, Italy attacks Greece from the territory of Albania.

The Greek-Italian war ended on April 23, 1941, through the intervention of the Wehrmacht and results in the capitulation of Greece.

Germany wins new allies:

On March 1, 1941, Bulgaria joins.

In February 1941, Germany sends the "Afrika Korps" to North Africa to support the Italian army in the attack on Egypt.

The operation ran from February 21, 1941 to June 30, 1943 and ended in a defeat for the Wehrmacht.

 

On April 6, 1941, Germany, Italy and Hungary attack the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

In addition, the Wehrmacht is now fighting against Greece.

On April 17, 1941, Yugoslavia surrenders.

On April 23, 1941, Greece surrenders.

On June 22, 1941, Germany attacks the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa).

The German-Soviet War begins.

From October 2, 1941, the battle for Moscow begins.

On December 6, 1941, however, a powerful Soviet counter-offensive drives the Wehrmacht into a chaotic retreat.

On December 8, 1941, the United States and Great Britain declared war on Japan.

On December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy, Japan's allies, declare war on the USA.

On May 30, 1942, the British bomb Cologne for the first time.

The bombing brought the war to German territory and lasted until the end of the war in May 1945.

Many German cities are attacked.

On June 28, 1942, the Wehrmacht (with allied troops) launched a new offensive against the Soviet Union.

Since Hitler forbids the German army from surrendering, it endures another two months without supplies and finally capitulates on February 2, 1943.

This victory of the Red Army against the Wehrmacht is considered a turning point in the war.

Finally, on May 12, 1943, the German and Italian troops in North Africa are defeated by the Allies. They capitulate on May 13, 1943 in Tunisia.

This attack is considered the last major offensive against the Soviet Union.

Sicily is defeated in August 1943.

Italy surrenders on Sep 3, 1943.

The Germans immediately take control of northern Italy and Rome and establish a fascist puppet regime.

The Red Army continues to drive back the Wehrmacht from the Soviet Union.

On June 5, 1944, the Allies take Rome.

Italy is defeated.

Now Germany is in a war on two fronts (Western Front and Eastern Front).

On July 25, 1944, Allied troops break out of Normandy and advance towards Paris.

Finally, on August 25, 1944, Paris is liberated by the Allies.

By December 1944 practically all of France, most of Belgium and part of the southern Netherlands have been liberated.

The attempt fails. From January 1, 1945, the Wehrmacht is in retreat.

On January 12, 1945, the Soviet Union's major offensive begins.

On April 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler kills himself.

On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered unconditionally.

The unconditional surrender of Germany is formally announced on May 8, 1945.

The fighting in Europe is over. This ended the Second World War in Europe.

On August 6, 1945, the USA dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima (Japan).

On August 9, 1945, the second atomic bomb is dropped by the USA on Nagasaki (Japan).

On August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered unconditionally.

The unconditional surrender of Japan is completed on September 2, 1945.

This is considered the end of World War II.