World War II Major Events Timeline (2024)

Skip to content

Join The Conversation

World War II Major Events Timeline (1) World War II Major Events Timeline (2) World War II Major Events Timeline (3) World War II Major Events Timeline (4) World War II Major Events Timeline (5)

Funded By:

World War II Major Events Timeline (6)World War II Major Events Timeline (7)

Support Provided By: Learn More

Official Site

Discover the pivotal events between 1918 and 1942 that shaped the first half of World War II. This timeline traces that path from the bitter conclusion of the First World War through the ascendancy of the Nazi party to America’s entry into the global conflict. Witness many of these events inWorld on FireSeasons 1 and 2.

  1. November 11, 1918

    World War I Ends

    World War II Major Events Timeline (11)

    Britain, France, the US, and other allies defeat Germany, bringing an end to World War I, billed as “the war to end all wars.”

  2. January 30, 1933

    Hitler Appointed German Leader

    World War II Major Events Timeline (12)

    Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany and later assumes dictatorial powers. German rearmament takes off.

  3. September 1, 1939

    World War II Begins

    World War II Major Events Timeline (13)

    Germany invades Poland, inciting Poland’s allies Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

  4. September 17, 1939

    Soviet Union Invades Poland

    World War II Major Events Timeline (14)

    Working in concert with Hitler, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin orders the invasion of Poland, securing a share of Polish territory.

  5. September 27, 1939

    Warsaw Captured

    World War II Major Events Timeline (15)

    Warsaw surrenders to German troops. Poland holds out for another 9 days before capitulating.

  6. December 13, 1939

    UK Wins War’s First Sea Battle

    World War II Major Events Timeline (16)

    British cruisers defeat a German pocket battleship at the Battle of the River Plate, the first major naval engagement of World War II.

    See Also
    WW2 Timeline: The dates and events that changed the world

  7. April 8, 1940

    Norway Invaded

    World War II Major Events Timeline (17)

    Germany invades Norway, ending a 6-month period of limited land operations called the “Phony War.”

  8. May 10, 1940

    Churchill Becomes Prime Minister

    World War II Major Events Timeline (18)

    Winston Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister. The same day, Germany invades Belgium.

  9. May 26-June 4, 1940

    Miracle of Dunkirk

    World War II Major Events Timeline (19)

    The trapped British army evacuates to England from Dunkirk, France, surviving to fight another day.

  10. June 14, 1940

    Paris Falls to Nazis

    World War II Major Events Timeline (20)

    Paris falls to German forces. France capitulates 11 days later.

  11. July 10-October 31, 1940

    Britain Fights for Its Life

    World War II Major Events Timeline (21)

    The Battle of Britain pits German bombers against British fighters in a thwarted German prelude to invasion.

  12. September 7, 1940 – May 11, 1941

    The Blitz

    World War II Major Events Timeline (22)

    German bombers target major cities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, killing over 40,000 civilians and leveling over a million homes.

  13. December 9, 1940 – February 9, 1941

    Operation Compass

    World War II Major Events Timeline (23)

    Armies of Great Britain and its empire defeat Italian forces for control of Egypt and eastern Libya.

  14. February 12, 1941

    The Desert Fox Arrives

    World War II Major Events Timeline (24)

    German General Erwin Rommel takes command of the Afrika Korps, seeking to drive the British out of North Africa.

  15. June 22, 1941

    Hitler Launches Operation Barbarossa

    World War II Major Events Timeline (25)

    Opening what will become the bloodiest front of World War II, massive German armies invade the Soviet Union.

  16. December 7, 1941

    U.S. Plunged into War

    World War II Major Events Timeline (26)

    Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, starting war with the US. Sensing weakness, Hitler declares war on America 4 days later.

  17. January 20, 1942

    Wannsee Conference

    World War II Major Events Timeline (27)

    High-ranking Nazi officials approve a systematic plan for the mass extermination of Jews across Europe—the “Final Solution.”

  18. June 4–7, 1942

    Battle of Midway

    World War II Major Events Timeline (28)

    Japanese expansion in the Pacific is thwarted near Midway Island, as US dive bombers sink four Japanese aircraft carriers.

  19. November 8, 1942

    America Joins the War in North Africa

    World War II Major Events Timeline (29)

    US troops land in French North Africa as part of Operation Torch, designed to support British forces in the region.

World War II Major Events Timeline (30)

MASTERPIECE Newsletter

Sign up to get the latest news on your favorite dramas and mysteries, as well as exclusive content, video, sweepstakes and more.

Popular Shows

Support Provided By:Learn More

"; var ad300x100 = "

"; var ad_size_is_large = window.innerWidth >= 950 ? true : false; var ad_dimensions = [[970, 90], [728, 90]]; var ad_outer_contain = document.querySelector("#second-banner-ad"); var ad_inner_contain = document.querySelector("#second-banner-ad div.ad-contain"); if (ad_size_is_large) { ad_outer_contain.classList.add("ad-970-90"); ad_inner_contain.innerHTML = ad970x90x2; } else { ad_dimensions = [300, 250]; ad_outer_contain.classList.add("ad-300x250"); ad_inner_contain.innerHTML = ad300x100; } document.body.appendChild(script970x90x2); var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/22540141786/n6735.pbs/drama_masterpiece_17_btf', ad_dimensions, ad_ID).addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting("series-name","world-on-fire"); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); // Load second ad function loadAd() { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(ad_ID); }); } // check visibility on scroll // function isVisible($el) { var winTop = window.pageYOffset; var winBottom = winTop + window.innerHeight; var elTop = Number($el.getBoundingClientRect().top); var elBottom = Number(elTop) + Number($el.clientHeight); return ((elBottom<= winBottom)); } // check if ad has loaded var loaded = false; //Load second ad on scroll when visible window.onscroll = function() { if (isVisible(ad_outer_contain) == true && !loaded ){ loadAd(); loaded = true; } };

*** START *** The plugin meta info in content-specialfeature.php:
  • show_featured_image: 0
  • hide_title: 0
  • mp_sf_type: None
  • flipcard: 0
  • letter_format: 0
  • listicle: 0
  • question_answer: 0
  • timeline: 1
  • timeline_list_0_date: November 11, 1918
  • timeline_list_0_image: 13431
  • timeline_list_0_headline: World War I Ends
  • timeline_list_0_description: Britain, France, the US, and other allies defeat Germany, bringing an end to World War I, billed as “the war to end all wars.”
  • timeline_list: a:19:{i:0;s:13:"timeline_item";i:1;s:13:"timeline_item";i:2;s:13:"timeline_item";i:3;s:13:"timeline_item";i:4;s:13:"timeline_item";i:5;s:13:"timeline_item";i:6;s:13:"timeline_item";i:7;s:13:"timeline_item";i:8;s:13:"timeline_item";i:9;s:13:"timeline_item";i:10;s:13:"timeline_item";i:11;s:13:"timeline_item";i:12;s:13:"timeline_item";i:13;s:13:"timeline_item";i:14;s:13:"timeline_item";i:15;s:13:"timeline_item";i:16;s:13:"timeline_item";i:17;s:13:"timeline_item";i:18;s:13:"timeline_item";}
  • timeline_list_1_date: January 30, 1933
  • timeline_list_1_image: 13432
  • timeline_list_1_headline: Hitler Appointed German Leader
  • timeline_list_1_description: Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany and later assumes dictatorial powers. German rearmament takes off.
  • timeline_list_2_date: September 1, 1939
  • timeline_list_2_image: 13446
  • timeline_list_2_headline: World War II Begins
  • timeline_list_2_description: Germany invades Poland, inciting Poland’s allies Britain and France to declare war on Germany.
  • timeline_list_3_date: September 17, 1939
  • timeline_list_3_image: 13445
  • timeline_list_3_headline: Soviet Union Invades Poland
  • timeline_list_3_description: Working in concert with Hitler, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin orders the invasion of Poland, securing a share of Polish territory.
  • timeline_list_4_date: September 27, 1939
  • timeline_list_4_image: 13433
  • timeline_list_4_headline: Warsaw Captured
  • timeline_list_4_description: Warsaw surrenders to German troops. Poland holds out for another 9 days before capitulating.
  • timeline_list_5_date: December 13, 1939
  • timeline_list_5_image: 13434
  • timeline_list_5_headline: UK Wins War’s First Sea Battle
  • timeline_list_5_description: British cruisers defeat a German pocket battleship at the Battle of the River Plate, the first major naval engagement of World War II.
  • timeline_list_6_date: April 8, 1940
  • timeline_list_6_image: 13444
  • timeline_list_6_headline: Norway Invaded
  • timeline_list_6_description: Germany invades Norway, ending a 6-month period of limited land operations called the “Phony War.”
  • timeline_list_7_date: May 10, 1940
  • timeline_list_7_image: 13435
  • timeline_list_7_headline: Churchill Becomes Prime Minister
  • timeline_list_7_description: Winston Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister. The same day, Germany invades Belgium.
  • timeline_list_8_date: May 26-June 4, 1940
  • timeline_list_8_image: 13436
  • timeline_list_8_headline: Miracle of Dunkirk
  • timeline_list_8_description: The trapped British army evacuates to England from Dunkirk, France, surviving to fight another day.
  • timeline_list_9_date: June 14, 1940
  • timeline_list_9_image: 13437
  • timeline_list_9_headline: Paris Falls to Nazis
  • timeline_list_9_description: Paris falls to German forces. France capitulates 11 days later.
  • timeline_list_10_date: July 10-October 31, 1940
  • timeline_list_10_image: 13439
  • timeline_list_10_headline: Britain Fights for Its Life
  • timeline_list_10_description: The Battle of Britain pits German bombers against British fighters in a thwarted German prelude to invasion.
  • timeline_list_11_date: September 7, 1940 – May 11, 1941
  • timeline_list_11_image: 21635
  • timeline_list_11_headline: The Blitz
  • timeline_list_11_description: German bombers target major cities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, killing over 40,000 civilians and leveling over a million homes.
  • suppress_modal: 0
  • interview: 0
  • timeline_list_12_date: December 9, 1940 – February 9, 1941
  • timeline_list_12_image: 21638
  • timeline_list_12_headline: Operation Compass
  • timeline_list_12_description: Armies of Great Britain and its empire defeat Italian forces for control of Egypt and eastern Libya.
  • timeline_list_13_date: February 12, 1941
  • timeline_list_13_image: 21637
  • timeline_list_13_headline: The Desert Fox Arrives
  • timeline_list_13_description: German General Erwin Rommel takes command of the Afrika Korps, seeking to drive the British out of North Africa.
  • timeline_list_14_date: June 22, 1941
  • timeline_list_14_image: 21639
  • timeline_list_14_headline: Hitler Launches Operation Barbarossa
  • timeline_list_14_description: Opening what will become the bloodiest front of World War II, massive German armies invade the Soviet Union.
  • timeline_list_15_date: December 7, 1941
  • timeline_list_15_image: 13438
  • timeline_list_15_headline: U.S. Plunged into War
  • timeline_list_15_description: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, starting war with the US. Sensing weakness, Hitler declares war on America 4 days later.
  • timeline_list_16_date: January 20, 1942
  • timeline_list_16_image: 21636
  • timeline_list_16_headline: Wannsee Conference
  • timeline_list_16_description: High-ranking Nazi officials approve a systematic plan for the mass extermination of Jews across Europe—the “Final Solution.”
  • timeline_list_17_date: June 4–7, 1942
  • timeline_list_17_image: 21640
  • timeline_list_17_headline: Battle of Midway
  • timeline_list_17_description: Japanese expansion in the Pacific is thwarted near Midway Island, as US dive bombers sink four Japanese aircraft carriers.
  • timeline_list_18_date: November 8, 1942
  • timeline_list_18_image: 21634
  • timeline_list_18_headline: America Joins the War in North Africa
  • timeline_list_18_description: US troops land in French North Africa as part of Operation Torch, designed to support British forces in the region.
  • related_content_module: 0
*** END **********************************************************************
World War II Major Events Timeline (2024)
Top Articles
Cabbage Soup Recipe [Keto & Low Carb]
Olive Garden Pasta Alfredo Recipe
Mile High Preps
Free Summer english language arts assessment pdfs for homeschool
Latest Posts
Greek Lamb Burger Recipe w/ Tzatziki - Eat the Gains
Egg Roll in a Bowl Recipe (Low-Carb) - Evolving Table
Article information

Author: Jonah Leffler

Last Updated:

Views: 6066

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jonah Leffler

Birthday: 1997-10-27

Address: 8987 Kieth Ports, Luettgenland, CT 54657-9808

Phone: +2611128251586

Job: Mining Supervisor

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Electronics, Amateur radio, Skiing, Cycling, Jogging, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.