World War 2: Key Events
World War 2 was the deadliest conflict in human history, killing an estimated 70-85 million people between 1939 and 1945. It was fought across six continents and reshaped the entire political map of the world. This guide covers the key events and turning points you need to know for GCSE History.
How It Started
After World War 1, the Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh terms on Germany: territorial losses, military restrictions, and crippling reparation payments. The humiliation and economic hardship fuelled the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, who promised to restore German greatness.
Throughout the 1930s, Hitler broke the terms of the treaty: he rebuilt the military, reoccupied the Rhineland in 1936, annexed Austria in 1938, and took the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. Britain and France pursued a policy of appeasement, hoping to avoid another war. But when Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, Britain and France declared war two days later.
Timeline: 1939-1945
- 1 September 1939: Germany invades Poland. Britain and France declare war on 3 September.
- April-June 1940: Germany conquers Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and France in rapid succession (Blitzkrieg).
- May-June 1940: Dunkirk evacuation. Over 338,000 Allied soldiers rescued from the beaches by military and civilian boats.
- July-October 1940: Battle of Britain. The RAF defends Britain against the Luftwaffe. Hitler abandons his invasion plan (Operation Sea Lion).
- June 1941: Germany invades the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), opening the Eastern Front.
- 7 December 1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. The USA enters the war.
- August 1942-February 1943: Battle of Stalingrad. A devastating Soviet victory that marks the turning point on the Eastern Front.
- 6 June 1944: D-Day. Allied forces land on the beaches of Normandy, France, in the largest seaborne invasion in history.
- 8 May 1945: VE Day (Victory in Europe). Germany surrenders.
- 6 and 9 August 1945: Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- 15 August 1945: VJ Day (Victory over Japan). Japan surrenders. WW2 ends.
Key Turning Points
Dunkirk (May-June 1940)
After the fall of France, over 338,000 British and Allied soldiers were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk. A fleet of warships, fishing boats, pleasure cruisers and lifeboats crossed the English Channel to rescue them. Militarily, it was a defeat: equipment was abandoned and France fell. But it saved the army and became a symbol of British defiance. Churchill called it a "miracle of deliverance" while warning that "wars are not won by evacuations."
Battle of Britain (1940)
Hitler needed to destroy the RAF before invading Britain. The Luftwaffe launched massive bombing raids on airfields, radar stations and eventually cities (the Blitz). RAF pilots, though outnumbered, fought back using radar technology and sheer determination. Germany failed to achieve air superiority and shelved its invasion plans. It was the first major defeat for Nazi Germany and proved that Hitler was not invincible.
Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943)
Often considered the single most important battle of WW2. German forces attempted to capture the Soviet city of Stalingrad. The fighting was brutal: street by street, building by building, sometimes room by room. The Soviet Union launched a counter-attack that encircled the German 6th Army. Around 800,000 Axis soldiers were killed, wounded or captured. It was a catastrophic defeat for Germany and the moment the war on the Eastern Front turned decisively in favour of the Soviet Union.
D-Day (6 June 1944)
Operation Overlord was the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France. Over 156,000 troops landed on five beaches in Normandy: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Despite fierce German resistance, especially at Omaha Beach, the Allies established a foothold and began liberating Western Europe. Paris was freed by August 1944. D-Day opened a second front that squeezed Germany from the west while the Soviets advanced from the east.
The Atomic Bombs (August 1945)
After Germany's surrender, Japan continued fighting. US President Harry Truman authorised the use of atomic weapons. On 6 August 1945, "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima, killing an estimated 80,000 people instantly and many more from radiation. Three days later, "Fat Man" was dropped on Nagasaki. Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945. The use of atomic bombs remains one of the most debated decisions in history: supporters argue it ended the war quickly, while critics point to the devastating civilian casualties.
Key Fact Box: WW2 by Numbers
- Duration: 6 years (1939-1945)
- Countries involved: over 30
- Total deaths: estimated 70-85 million
- Holocaust victims: approximately 6 million Jewish people murdered
- D-Day troops: over 156,000 on the first day alone
- Atomic bomb casualties (Hiroshima): approximately 80,000 killed instantly
Practice Questions
- Explain why Dunkirk was both a military failure and a morale victory for Britain.
- Why is the Battle of Stalingrad often described as the turning point of WW2?
- Was the USA justified in dropping atomic bombs on Japan? Give arguments for and against.
- Describe how the policy of appeasement in the 1930s contributed to the outbreak of WW2.