WWII: The Timeline of How the Allies Turned the Tide

Even decades later, WWII remains one of history’s most devastating and consequential events. It profoundly shaped the geopolitical landscape and altered the balance of power, ultimately leading to the rise of the United States and Soviet Union as global superpowers. WWII was marked by incredible technological advancements from WWI. Nations could now heavily rely on aircraft and tanks to project power. The conclusion of the war, marked by the dropping of the nuclear bomb, also pushed the world into the Atomic Age.

Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a look at some of the most defining events of this conflict at large. To identify the most important events and battles of World War II, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed various military and historical sources. We ordered these events chronologically to paint a picture of how the war played out for both the Axis and Allies. We also included information on each event and how it fits into the bigger picture.

Why Are We Covering This?

World War II was a transformative and defining moment in human history, leaving an indelible mark on the world that continues to resonate today. The war’s far-reaching consequences, from the geopolitical realignments to the technological innovations and social transformations, underscore its enduring importance and significance in shaping the modern world.

Here is a look at the most important events and battles of World War II.

Invasion of Poland

• Date: September 1, 1939
• Location: Poland
• Nations involved: Nazi Germany, Slovakia, and Soviet Union vs. Poland

The invasion of Poland was the event that ignited the biggest conflict that the world had ever seen, World War II. Nazi Germany, under the command of Adolf Hitler, launched a massive military campaign against Poland characterized by the Blitzkrieg, or “lightning war.” This strategy is known for its quick, coordinated attacks by air and ground forces. This invasion would push Britain and France to declare war on Germany on September 3rd, 1939, officially marking the beginning of World War II in Europe.

Evacuation of Dunkirk

• Date: May 26, 1940 – June 4, 1940
• Location: Dunkirk, France
• Nations involved: Britain, France, Belgium, Canada, and others vs. Germany

In May 1940, German forces launched their Blitzkrieg on France and the Low Countries. This effectively trapped Allied troops from Britain, France, Belgium, and Canada around the port city of Dunkirk on the northern coast of France. These soldiers faced certain doom at the hands of the Germans. However, a massive mobilization of naval vessels ferried over 330,000 Allied troops to safety. Despite the constant enemy fire and logistical challenges, this evacuation became known as the “Miracle of Dunkirk.”

Battle of Britain

• Date: July 10, 1940 – October 31, 1940
• Location: Primarily over the skies of Britain
• Nations involved: United Kingdom and Canada vs. Germany and Italy

After France fell early in the summer of 1940, Germany turned its attention to the last major power that opposed it in Europe. The Battle of Britain lasted between July and October, and there were frequent engagements between the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and the German Luftwaffe. Under the command of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, the RAF was able to repel Luftwaffe attacks, denying Germany air superiority. Radar proved very important in detecting and intercepting Luftwaffe raids.

Operation Barbarossa

• Date: July 22, 1941 – December 5, 1941
• Location: Eastern Front (Soviet Union)
• Nations involved: Germany and Axis Powers (Italy, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Finland) vs. Soviet Union

Operation Barbossa was a massive German offensive into the Europe’s Eastern Front. Adolf Hitler believed that expansion into the Soviet Union would allow for the control of Soviet oil, wheat, and more, ultimately fueling the German war machine. Like earlier campaigns, the German military employed Blitzkrieg tactics, allowing for initial success. However, Hitler, like Napoleon before him, ran up against a protracted timeline and the willingness of the Russian people to employ a “scorched earth” strategy. As the fighting on the Eastern Front became more drawn out, German resources spread thin in other areas, and the Allied Powers took advantage of this.

Siege of Leningrad

• Date: September 8, 1941 – January 27, 1944
• Location: Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Soviet Union
• Nations involved: Germany, Finland, and Italy vs. Soviet Union

The Siege of Leningrad, lasting for more than two years, was one of the longest and most devastating sieges in history. At the onset, there was a population of roughly 2.5 million in the city, which dwindled to anywhere between 1 to 1.5 million. The city’s survival became a rallying cry for the Soviet war effort and a source of national pride for generations of Russians.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

• Date: December 7, 1941
• Location: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (United States)
• Nations involved: United States vs. Japan

December 7, 1941, was “A date which will live in infamy,” according to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the early hours of that day, Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, catching American forces off guard. Fortunately, most U.S. aircraft carriers were not housed in the harbor at the time, but significant losses remained. More than 2,400 Americans were killed, and over 1,100 were wounded in the attack. The devastation at Pearl Harbor shocked the American public and quickly woke this sleeping giant.

Battle of Midway

• Date: June 4, 1942 – June 7, 1942
• Location: Midway Atoll, Pacific Ocean
• Nations involved: United States vs. Japan

The Battle of Midway was one of the largest naval battles in the Pacific theater, taking place at the Midway Atoll, located northwest of Hawaii. Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto devised a plan to lure the American aircraft carriers into a decisive battle near Midway to crush remaining American forces in the Pacific. However, American forces were able to prepare a defense and deploy aircraft carriers, led by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, to intercept the Japanese fleet. The battle was a turning point in the Pacific as four of Japan’s six fleet carriers were lost in the engagement, and the Japanese withdrawal allowed the United States to go on the offensive.

Battle of Stalingrad

• Date: August 23, 1942 – February 2, 1943
• Location: Stalingrad (now Volgograd), Soviet Union
• Nations involved: Germany and Axis powers (Romania, Italy, Hungary) vs. Soviet Union

The Battle of Stalingrad was a months-long engagement between Soviet forces led by General Georgy Zhukov and the German Sixth Army under the command of Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus. This battle was an extension of Operation Barbossa’s push into the Eastern Front. Although caught off guard initially and suffering heavy casualties, Soviet forces pushed back and eventually encircled the German Sixth Army, forcing a surrender. The Soviet victory at Stalingrad paved the way for a counterattack that would ultimately push German forces back towards the West and contribute significantly to the Allied victory in Europe.

Battle of El Alamein

• Date: October 23, 1942 – November 11, 1942
• Location: El Alamein, Egypt
• Nations involved: Germany and Italy vs. Allies (United Kingdom, British Commonwealth, United States, and others)

The Battle of El Alamein was an important engagement in the North African campaign. This small railway town in Egypt provided access to railways and the Suez Canal, allowing for oil imports from the Middle East. The British Eighth Army, under the command of General Bernard Montgomery, faced off against Axis forces led by the infamous Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. The Battle of El Alamein culminated in a decisive victory for the Allied forces, with Rommel’s Afrika Korps suffering heavy casualties and retreating westward towards Libya. It also stopped Axis powers from advancing into Egypt.

Operation Torch

• Date: November 8, 1942 – November 16, 1942
• Location: Morocco and Algeria
• Nations involved: Allies (United States, United Kingdom, and others) vs. Axis (Germany, Italy)

Operation Torch was an Allied campaign in North Africa to claim vital territory and resources within the region and important shipping lanes. The operation involved a complex amphibious assault on French North Africa, targeting the territories of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, which were occupied by Axis forces. The successful Allied invasion of North Africa paved the way for more strategic offensives in the Mediterranean, including the invasion of Sicily and the Italian Campaign.

Operation Overlord (D-Day)

• Date: June 6, 1944
• Location: Normandy, France
• Nations involved: Allies (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, and others) vs. Germany

Operation Overlord, commonly known as “D-Day,” was one of the most important military operations of the entire war. It allowed Allied forces to gain a foothold in Europe to push back against Germany. Operation Overlord was meticulously planned over months of coordination between Allied military leaders and intelligence agencies. The operation succeeded in establishing beachheads and breaking through German defenses. It ultimately marked the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany’s hold on Western Europe.

The Battle of the Philippine Sea

• Date: June 19, 1944 – June 20, 1944
• Location: Pacific Ocean
• Nations involved: United States vs. Japan
• Impacts on WWII:

The Battle of the Philippine Sea is famously remembered for the overwhelming success of American aircraft, which inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese. American pilots shot down hundreds of Japanese aircraft, which earned the battle the nickname “The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot.” The Japanese losses from this battle were catastrophic, with the Japanese naval air arm more or less wiped out and several Japanese carriers sunk.

Operation Market Garden

• Date: September 17, 1944 – September 25, 1944
• Location: Netherlands
• Nations involved: Allies (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and others) vs. Germany

Operation Market Garden was a large-scale airborne operation aimed at capturing a series of bridges in the Netherlands and paving the way for Allied forces into Germany. The Allies had only landed in Normandy months prior but now were attempting to build a corridor for their forces into Germany. This operation was conducted through a series of strategically planned aerial raids and ground assaults. While it was the largest airborne operation in history, it ultimately failed to achieve its objective as Allied forces could not secure the bridge at Arnhem and establish a continuous supply line across the Rhine.

Battle of Leyte Gulf

• Date: October 23, 1944 – October 26, 1944
• Location: Leyte Gulf, Philippines
• Nations involved: United States and Australia vs. Japan

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval battle of World War II, and it struck a decisive blow on who would control the Pacific. Although the Japanese Navy initially saw early success in the battle, including the sinking of several Allied vessels, ultimately, it suffered heavy losses that severely weakened its capabilities for future naval operations. The Battle of Leyte Gulf effectively crippled Japan’s ability to contest Allied control of the Pacific.

Battle of the Bulge

• Date: December 16, 1944 – January 25, 1945
• Location: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany
• Nations involved: United States, United Kingdom, Canada vs. Germany

The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive on the Western Front. Although the Allies had made significant advances, liberating much of France and Belgium, they were stretched thin by the time they reached the Ardennes region. German forces attempted to break through the Allied battle lines with some initial success. However, Allied forces proved too strong and cut off German forces from their supply lines, sealing their fate and inflicting heavy casualties in the process.

Yalta Conference

• Date: February 4, 1945 – February 11, 1945
• Location: Soviet Union
• Nations involved: United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union

The Yalta Conference was a meeting between the three major Allied powers of World War II. Winston Churchill of Britain, Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union came together to discuss the division of Germany and the liberation of Europe. This conference also set the stage for what would be the United Nations. However, the Yalta Conference would also create some geopolitical tensions — a few of which are still being played out today in Eastern Europe.

Battle of Okinawa

• Date: April 1, 1945 – June 22, 1945
• Location: Japan
• Nations involved: Allies (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada) vs. Japan

The capture of Okinawa would provide air bases and staging areas for Allied forces to ultimately invade Japan’s homeland. Despite the formidable Japanese defenses, Allied forces gradually gained ground on Okinawa largely due to naval support and air superiority. However, this battle came with a heavy price. Roughly 12,000 Allied troops were killed and over 36,000 wounded, along with approximately 110,000 Japanese soldiers and over 100,000 Okinawan civilians killed or wounded. 

Battle of Berlin

• Date: April 16, 1945 – May 2, 1945
• Location: Berlin, Nazi Germany
• Nations involved: Soviet Union and Poland vs. Germany

The Battle of Berlin was the final push to topple Germany and end the war in Europe. Berlin was stuck between Allied forces pushing from the West and Soviet forces from the East. The Soviets, under the command of Marshal Georgy Zhukov, launched a massive offensive involving infantry, armor, and artillery that broke through the German forces defending the city. On April 30, 1945, as Soviet troops closed in on his bunker beneath the Reich Chancellery, Adolf Hitler committed suicide. With the fall of Berlin imminent, General Helmuth Weidling surrendered the city to Soviet forces on May 2, 1945. This battle was by far one of the bloodiest and most ruthless of the entire war.

Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

• Date: August 6, 1945 – August 9, 1945
• Location: Japan
• Nations involved: United States, United Kingdom, and Canada vs. Japan

Outside of World War II, the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is one of the most important events in human history, as it marked the first and only time nuclear weapons were used in war. The top-secret Manhattan Project oversaw the development of the bomb. President Harry S. Truman, after weighing the military and moral implications, gave the go-ahead for this operation. The immediate death toll from the dropping of these bombs ranged between 100,000 and 200,000 people. Shortly after these bombs were dropped, Emperor Hirohito announced an unconditional surrender, ending World War II.

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