Second World War Timeline

• Aug 1939
  A series of agreements between Germany and the USSR, known as the Nazi-Soviet Pact, carves up Europe between the two states, and both promise not to attack the other.
• 1 Sep 1939
  Nazi Germany invades Poland, starting WWII.
• 3 Sep 1939
  Britain and France declare war on Germany after Hitler's invasion of Poland.
• Oct 1939 - Apr 1940
  The Phoney War, which saw limited direct military engagements between German and Britain and France.
• 1940 - 1941
  The Dowding System of integrated air defence is in operation protecting Britain against German air attacks.
• 26 May 1940 - 4 Jun 1940
  The Dunkirk evacuation ferries 340,000 Allied troops to the safety of Britain.
• 19 Jun 1940
  The port of Cherbourg surrenders to Erwin Rommel.
• 10 Jul 1940 - 31 Oct 1940
  The Battle of Britain (official Air Ministry dates).
• 24 Aug 1940
  German Heinkel He 111 bombers accidentally bomb London when aiming for an oil refinery.
• 25 Aug 1940
  RAF bombers attack Berlin in retaliation for the Luftwaffe's bombing of London the previous night.
• Sep 1940 - May 1941
  The London Blitz when the British capital was repeatedly hit by Axis bombers of Germany and Italy.
• 17 Sep 1940
  Adolf Hitler indefinitely postpones Operation Sea Lion, his planned invasion of Britain.
• 9 Dec 1940 - 7 Feb 1941
  The Allied Operation Compass, which defeated Italian forces during the Western Desert Campaigns.
• Apr 1941 - Dec 1941
  The failed siege of Tobruk by Axis forces commanded by Erwin Rommel.
• 10 May 1941
  Rudolf Hess flies to Scotland to try and make peace with Britain.
• 27 May 1942
  Czech Resistance fighters attempt to assassinate the top Nazi Reinhard Heydrich in Prague.
• Aug 1942
  Bernard Montgomery is given command of the British Eight Army in North Africa.
• 8 Nov 1942
  Beginning of Operation Torch, the Allied North Africa landings.
• 16 May 1943
  Lancaster bombers carry out Operation Chastise, the 'Dambusters' raid on Ruhr dams in Germany.
• Jul 1943 - Aug 1943
  The combined RAF and USAAF bombing of Hamburg (Operation Gomorrah) resulting in 46,000 deaths.
• May 1945
  Filed Marshal Montgomery is appointed the commander of the British Army of Occupation in Germany.
• Nov 1945 - Oct 1946
  The Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals is held.