1. WWII Timeline
The War in Europe

2. January 30, 1933 Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany.

4. September 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland.
Great Britain and France declare war on Germany

5. June 1940
Germany conquers France

6. July-October 1940 Battle of Britain Air battles over England
Britain’s victory deterred a land invasion showing the RAF alone could win a major battle (Royal Air Force)

7. August 1942 Battle of Stalingrad Estimated 1.25 million casualties
One of bloodiest battles in history , it was the beginning of the tide turning in favor of the Allies.
Stopped German advance into the Soviet Union.

8. January 1944 Battle of Monte Cassino (Italy)
Take back territory seized by Germany by breaking through Rome

9. June 6, 1944 D-Day; Operation Overlord
Battle of Normandy – 156,000 Allied troops line the beaches
Over 4,000 casualties
The beginning of the end of the war in Europe

10. September 1944 Operation Market Garden
Plan to enter Germany through Holland; failed
Largest airborne and glider operation in history
Of the ten thousand men who had landed at Arnhem, fourteen hundred were killed and over six thousand captured; only twenty-four hundred paratroopers safely crossed to the south bank of the Rhine in small rubber boats

11. December 1944 Battle of the Bulge
Last German offensive; Americans surrounded but wouldn’t surrender.
Led by George S. Patton
Costliest action fought by US Army – over 100,000 casualties.

12. February 1945 Bombing of Dresden 22,000-25,000 civilians killed
Controversial b/c not important to German wartime production or industrial center; beautiful architecture and museums.
Hope to force an early surrender by bombing German ppl

13. April 30, 1945 Hitler commits suicide Marries Eva Braun; they
both took cyanide capsule
and he shot himself also.

14. May 8, 1945 V-E Day Victory in Europe Day
Nazis surrender and its celebrated throughout Western Europe and US
/d8247b2a-d a9-4fc5e3c9c769