1939 – The Battle of the Atlantic Intensifies
British anti-submarine efforts continue to bear fruit as two additional U-boats
are reported destroyed. The Admiralty’s campaign goal—eliminating three German
submarines each week—remains aggressive, but early December brings encouraging
results for Allied shipping lanes.
1940 – Operation Compass Takes Shape in North Africa
General Wavell’s Western Desert Force completes its concentration for
Operation Compass, the first major British offensive against Italian
forces in North Africa.
In the Mediterranean world, Spain’s Francisco Franco declares the nation
“unprepared” to enter the war, while Italy’s Naval Chief resigns and is replaced
by Admiral Campioni.
Greek forces continue their successful advance in Albania, capturing
Argyrokastro and Delvino.
1941 – A World at War
America Enters the Conflict
Following President Franklin Roosevelt’s address to Congress, the United States
formally declares war on Japan. The vote is nearly unanimous—except for
Representative Jeannette Rankin, who had also opposed U.S. entry into World War I.
Britain and the Commonwealth declare war on Japan.
Soviet Offensive on the Eastern Front
The Red Army’s winter counteroffensive breaks German lines in multiple sectors.
Ill-equipped and frostbitten Wehrmacht units withdraw hastily, abandoning heavy
equipment immobilized in sub-zero temperatures.
The Holocaust Expands: Chelmno Extermination Camp Opens
In occupied Poland, the Chelmno extermination camp becomes operational.
Victims are murdered in mobile gas vans, including 5,000 Roma/Gypsies deported
from the Reich to Lodz, marking a brutal escalation in Nazi killing operations.
Japan Strikes Across the Pacific
- Singapore suffers its first major air raid, with nearly 200 civilian casualties.
- Thailand surrenders following Japanese landings at Singora and Patani.
- At Kota Bharu, Indian troops resist fiercely, though confusion forces a night withdrawal.
- Japanese forces attack the New Territories of Hong Kong and overrun U.S. garrisons in Shanghai and Tientsin.
- General Yamashita’s attack on Singapore destroys 60 of 110 defending Allied aircraft.
The British battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse
sail to engage Japanese landing forces, while the RAF damages three enemy transports.
Japan also attacks Guam, Wake Island, and the
Philippine islands of Luzon and Mindanao.
In North Africa, the Eighth Army officially relieves Tobruk, ending the
long and celebrated siege.
1942 – Axis Forces Seize Bizerte
German troops occupy the strategic port of Bizerte in Tunisia,
strengthening Axis control during the early battles of the North African campaign.
1943 – Shifts Across the Global Battlefield
- Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz becomes commander of U.S. strategic air forces in Europe.
- Australian forces capture Wareo in New Guinea.
- U.S. carrier aircraft strike the Marshall Islands, sinking two cruisers and downing 72 Japanese planes.
1944 – Encirclement and Evacuation
- German forces evacuate Jülich on the Roer River.
- The Red Army launches a massive offensive aimed at encircling Budapest.
- A second Japanese airborne counterattack on Leyte damages U.S. airfields.
- The USAAF begins a 72-day bombardment of Iwo Jima in preparation for future invasion.