The War in Europe began in September 1939,
when Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler invaded Poland.
Using blitzkrieg tactics the country was quickly overtaken.
The world was shocked.
Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany, but took little action.
This became known as the Phony War.
But in 1940, German offensives rapidly defeated Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and France
The British Army meanwhile, was on the retreat being evacuated from Dunkirk.
Britain alone was attacked by Germany during the battle of Britain and the Blitz,
however the Luftwaffle failed to defeat the RAF.
In June, 1941, Hitler invaded Russia under the Codename Operation Barbarossa.
in December 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
Bringing the USA into the war
Germany Italy and Japan Formed the axis powers
While britain Russia and the USA made up the major combatants on the allied side
In 1942 , the Nazis implemented their final solution a plan to exterminate all Jewish people
Critical battles followed that would dramatically change the course of the war
These were midway in the Pacific theatre june 1942
El Alamein in Egypt, November 1942
Stalingrad in Russia Janurary 1943
on June 6th
1944 D-Day The Allies launched operation overlord
invading Normandy France
The red Army Advanced in the East and was the first to reach the German capital of Berlin
Germany Surrendered in May 1945 shortly after Adolf Hitler Committed suicide
On 6th of August 1945 the Americans dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima Japan
Surrendered on V-J day
15 August 1945
the war was over
WW2 lasted from 1939 - 1945 and remains the most geographically widespread military conflict the world has ever seen
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