World War II: Key Dates and Events

• World War II (WWII) was a global conflict fought between 1939 and 1945.
• It involved the vast majority of the world's countries, forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis.

Key Dates

• September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland, marking the start of World War II.
• September 3, 1939: France and the United Kingdom declare war on Germany.
• June 22, 1941: Germany launches Operation Barbarossa, invading the Soviet Union.
• December 7, 1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, leading the United States to declare war on Japan on December 8, 1941, and subsequently on Germany and Italy on December 11, 1941.
• June 6, 1944: D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy, France.
• May 7/8, 1945: Germany surrenders to the Allies, marking Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day).
• August 6, 1945: The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
• August 9, 1945: The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
• August 14/15, 1945: Japan surrenders to the Allies, marking Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) and the end of World War II.
• September 2, 1945: Formal surrender of Japan signed aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

Key Treaties and Agreements

• Treaty of Versailles (1919): Although preceding WWII, this treaty, which ended World War I, imposed harsh terms on Germany, contributing to resentment and economic instability that fueled the rise of extremist ideologies.
• Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (August 23, 1939): A non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, which included secret protocols dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.
• Atlantic Charter (August 14, 1941): A joint declaration by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, outlining a vision for the post-war world, emphasizing self-determination, freedom of the seas, and economic cooperation.
• Declaration by United Nations (January 1, 1942): A pledge by 26 nations to support the Atlantic Charter and not make separate peace agreements with the Axis powers.
• Cairo Declaration (November 27, 1943): A statement by the United States, United Kingdom, and China regarding post-war arrangements in Asia, including the return of territories seized by Japan.
• Tehran Conference (November 28 – December 1, 1943): A meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin, primarily focused on coordinating strategies against Germany and discussing post-war arrangements.
• Yalta Conference (February 4–11, 1945): Another meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin, discussing the post-war reorganization of Europe, including the division of Germany and the establishment of the United Nations.
• Potsdam Conference (July 17 – August 2, 1945): A meeting between Truman, Churchill (later replaced by Attlee), and Stalin, focusing on the administration of defeated Germany, the establishment of post-war order, and the prosecution of war criminals.
• Treaty of Peace with Japan (September 8, 1951): Formally ended the state of war between Japan and many of the Allied Powers. The Soviet Union did not sign the treaty.

Explore pivotal moments of World War II, from Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939 to Japan's surrender in 1945. Learn about the key events that shaped this global conflict and its major turning points. Understand the timeline of WWII.