User:Oberiko/World War II framework

Useful links:

• List of military engagements of World War II

Background (X - 6 July 1937)

Main battles / campaigns 1

Action	Campaign	Europe/Asia	Start date	End date	Combatant 1	Combatant 2
Chinese Civil War	N/A	Asia	1927-08-011 Aug 1927	1936-12-2424 Dec 1936	Nationalist Party of China	Communist Party of China
Invasion of Manchuria	N/A	Asia	1931-09-1919 Sep 1931	1932-02-1818 Feb 1932	China	Japan
January 28 Incident	N/A	Asia	1932-01-2828 Jan 1932	1932-03-033 Mar 1932	China	Japan
Operation Nekka	N/A	Asia	1933-01-011 Jan 1933	1933-05-3131 May 1933	China	Japan
Second Italo-Abyssinian War	N/A	Europe	1935-10-033 Oct 1935	1936-03-077 May 1936	Ethiopia	Italy
Spanish Civil War	N/A	Europe	1936-07-1717 Jul 1936	1939-04-011 Apr 1939	Nationalist Spain supported by Soviet Union	Spanish Republic supported by Germany and Italy

Political arrangements 1

Declaration	Date	Participants	Directed against
Mussolini comes to power	1922-10-2727 Oct 1922	National Fascist Party	N/A
Treaty on the Creation of the USSR	1922-12-2929 Dec 1922	Soviet Union	N/A
Hirohito becomes emporer	1926-12-2525 Dec 1926	Soviet Union	N/A
Stalin takes full power	1928-01-011928	Soviet Union	N/A
Tanggu Truce	1933-05-3131 May 1933	China, Japan	N/A
Hitler comes to power	1934-08-022 Aug 1934	Germany	N/A
Franco–Italian Agreement	1935-01-077 Jan 1935	France, Italy	Ethiopia
Saar reunites with Germany	1935-01-1313 Jan 1935	Germany	N/A
Hitler openly repudiates the Treaty of Versailles	1935-03-1616 Mar 1935	Germany	N/A
Stresa Front	1935-04-1414 Apr 1935	United Kingdom, France, Italy	Germany
Franco-Soviet Pact of Mutual Assistance	1935-05-022 May 1935	France, Soviet Union
Czechoslovak-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance	1935-05-1616 May 1935	Soviet Union, Czechoslavakia
Anglo-German Naval Agreement	1935-06-1818 Jun 1935	Germany	N/A
Neutrality Acts	1936-03-0731 Aug 1935	United States	N/A
Mussolini backs out of Stresa Front	1936-01-066 Jan 1936	Italy, Germany	N/A
Remilitarization of the Rhineland	1936-03-077 Mar 1936	Germany	N/A
Rome-Berlin Axis	1936-10-2525 Oct 1936	Germany, Italy	N/A
Anti-Comintern Pact	1936-11-2525 Nov 1936	Germany, Japan	Comintern
Second United Front (China)	1936-12-2424 Dec 1936	Nationalist and Communist parties of China	Japan

War breaks out (7 July 1937 - 6 Oct 1939)

Main battles / campaigns 2

Action	Campaign	Europe/Asia	Start date	End date	Combatant 1	Combatant 2
Spanish Civil War	N/A	Europe	1936-07-1717 Jul 1936	1939-04-011 Apr 1939	Nationalist Spain supported by Soviet Union	Spanish Republic supported by Germany and Italy
Japanese capture of eastern China	Sino-Japanese War	Asia	1937-07-077 Jul 1937	1938-06-0927 Oct 1938	China	Japan
Battle of Lake Khasan	N/A	Asia	1938-07-2929 Jul 1938	1938-08-1111 Aug 1938	USSR	Japan
Italian invasion of Albania	N/A	Europe	1939-04-077 Apr 1939	1939-04-1212 Apr 1939	Albania	Italy
Battle of Khalkhin Gol	N/A	Asia	1939-05-1111 May 1939	1939-11-1616 Sep 1939	USSR	Japan
German invasion of Poland	N/A	Europe	1939-09-011 Sep 1939	1939-10-066 Oct 1939	Poland	Germany
Saar Offensive	N/A	Europe	1939-09-077 Sep 1939	1939-09-1212 Sep 1939	France	Germany
Battle of Changsha (1939)	Sino-Japanese War	Asia	1939-09-1717 Sep 1939	1939-10-088 Oct 1939	China	Japan
Soviet invasion of Poland	N/A	Europe	1939-09-1717 Sep 1939	1939-10-066 Oct 1939	Poland	Soviet Union

Break down of Japanese conquest of eastern China

Action	Start date	End date
Marco Polo Bridge Incident	1937-07-077 Jul 1937	1937-07-077 Jul 1937
Battle of Shanghai	1937-08-1313 Aug 1937	1937-11-2626 Nov 1937
Battle of Taiyuan	1937-09-011 Sep 1937	1937-11-099 Nov 1937
Battle of Xinkou	1937-10-0913 Sep 1937	1937-12-1311 Nov 1937
Battle of Nanjing	1937-10-099 Oct 1937	1937-12-1313 Dec 1937
Battle of Xuzhou	1938-06-09Dec 1937	1938-06-09May 1938
1938 Yellow River flood	1938-06-099 Jun 1938	1938-06-099 Jun 1938
Battle of Wuhan	1938-06-0911 Jun 1938	1938-06-0927 Oct 1938

Political arrangements 2

Declaration	Date	Participants	Directed against
Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact	1937-08-2121 Aug 1937	Soviet Union, China	N/A
Italy joins Anti-Comintern Pact	1937-10-066 Nov 1937	Italy, Germany, Japan	Soviet Union
Anschluss	1938-03-1212 Mar 1938	Germany, Austria	N/A
Munich Agreement	1938-09-2929 Sep 1938	Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy	Czechoslovakia
German occupation of Czechoslovakia	1939-03-1515 Mar 1939	Germany	Czechoslovakia
Franco-British guarantee to Poland of military assistance	1939-03-3030 Mar 1939	France, United Kingdom, Poland	Germany
Franco-Polish Military Alliance	1939-05-1919 May 1939	France, Poland	Germany
Pact of Steel	1939-05-2222 May 1939	Italy, Germany	N/A
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact	1939-08-2424 Aug 1939	Soviet Union, Germany	N/A
Polish-British Common Defence Pact	1939-08-2525 Aug 1939	United Kingdom, Poland	Germany
Japanese-Soviet Armistice	1939-09-1616 Sep 1939	Soviet Union, Japan	N/A
German-Soviet Boundary and Friendship Treaty	1939-09-2828 Sep 1939	Soviet Union, Germany	N/A

Axis advance (6 October 1939 - 21 June 1941)

Main battles / campaigns 3

Action	Campaign	Europe/Asia	Start date	End date	Combatant 1	Combatant 2
Phoney War	Western Front (1939-1940)	Europe	1939-09-033 Sep 1939	1940-05-1010 May 1940	Commonwealth France	Germany
1939-40 Winter Offensive	Sino-Japanese War	Asia	1939-11-011 Nov 1939	1940-05-20March 1940	China	Japan
Winter War	N/A	Europe	1939-11-3030 Nov 1939	1940-03-1313 Mar 1940	Finland	Soviet Union
Battle of the River Plate	Battle of the Atlantic	Europe	1939-12-1313 Dec 1939	1939-12-1313 Dec 1939	Commonwealth	Germany
Norwegian Campaign	Western Front (1939-1940)	Europe	1940-04-099 Apr 1940	1940-06-1010 Jun 1940	Commonwealth France Norway	Germany
Battle of France	Western Front (1939-1940)	Europe	1940-05-1010 May 1940	1940-06-2222 Jun 1940	Commonwealth France	Germany
First Happy Time	Battle of the Atlantic	Europe	1940-06-2525 Jun 1940	1941-03-01Mar 1941	Commonwealth	Germany
Attack on Mers-el-Kébir	Battle of the Mediterranean	Europe	1940-07-033 Jul 1940	1940-07-033 Jul 1940	Commonwealth	France
Battle of Calabria	Battle of the Mediterranean	Europe	1940-07-099 Jul 1940	1940-07-099 Jul 1940	Commonwealth	Italy
Battle of Britain	Western Front (1939-1940)	Europe	1940-07-1010 Jul 1940	1940-10-3131 Oct 1940	Commonwealth	Germany
Italian conquest of British Somaliland	Middle East	Europe	1940-08-033 August 1940	1940-08-1717 August 1940	Commonwealth	Italy
Hundred Regiments Offensive	Sino-Japanese War	Asia	1940-08-2020 Aug 1940	1940-12-055 Dec 1940	People's Liberation Army	Japan
Italian invasion of Egypt	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1940-09-1313 Sep 1940	1940-09-1717 Sep 1940	Commonwealth	Italy
Invasion of French Indochina	N/A	Asia	1940-09-2222 Sep 1940	1940-09-2626 Sep 1940	Vichy France	Japan
Battle of Dakar	Africa	Europe	1940-09-2323 Sep 1940	1940-09-2525 Sep 1940	Commonwealth Free France	Vichy France
French-Thai War	N/A	Asia	1940-10-15Mid Oct 1940	1941-01-2828 Jan 1941	Vichy France	Thailand
Greco-Italian War	Balkans Campaign	Europe	1940-10-2828 Oct 1940	1941-04-2323 Apr 1941	Greece	Italy
Battle of Gabon	Africa	Europe	1940-11-088 Nov 1940	1940-11-1212 Nov 1940	Commonwealth Free France	Vichy France
Battle of Taranto	Battle of the Mediterranean	Europe	1940-11-1212 Nov 1940	1940-11-1212 Nov 1940	Commonwealth	Italy
Operation Compass	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1940-12-088 Dec 1940	1941-02-099 Feb 1941	Commonwealth	Italy
New Fourth Army Incident	N/A	Asia	1941-01-077 Jan 1941	1941-01-1313 Jan 1941	Kuomintang	Communists
British capture of Italian East Africa	Middle East	Europe	1941-01-1818 Jan 1941	1941-05-1818 May 1941	Commonwealth	Italy
Operation Lustre	Mediterranean	Europe	1941-03-066 Mar 1941	1941-04-022 Apr 1941	Commonwealth	Germany Italy
Rommel's first desert offensive	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1941-03-2424 Mar 1941	1941-04-1515 Apr 1941	Commonwealth	Germany Italy
Battle of Cape Matapan	Battle of the Mediterranean	Europe	1941-03-2727 Mar 1941	1941-03-2929 Mar 1941	Commonwealth	Italy
Invasion of Yugoslavia	Balkans Campaign	Europe	1941-04-066 Apr 1941	1941-04-1717 Apr 1941	Yugoslavia	Germany Italy
Battle of Greece	Balkans Campaign	Europe	1941-04-066 Apr 1941	1941-04-3030 Apr 1941	Commonwealth Greece	Germany Italy
Siege of Tobruk	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1941-04-1010 Apr 1941	1941-11-2727 Nov 1941	Commonwealth	Germany Italy
Anglo-Iraqi War	Middle East	Europe	1941-04-1818 Apr 1941	1941-05-3030 May 1941	Commonwealth	Iraq
Operation Brevity	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1941-05-1515 May 1941	1941-05-2626 May 1941	Commonwealth	Germany Italy
Battle of Crete	Balkans Campaign	Europe	1941-05-2020 May 1941	1941-06-011 Jun 1941	Commonwealth Greece	Germany Italy
Sinking of Bismarck	Battle of the Atlantic	Europe	1941-05-2626 May 1941	1941-05-2727 May 1941	Commonwealth	Germany
Syria-Lebanon Campaign	Middle East	Europe	1941-06-088 Jun 1941	1941-07-1414 Jul 1941	Commonwealth Free France	Vichy France
Operation Battleaxe	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1941-06-1515 Jun 1941	1941-06-1717 Jun 1941	Commonwealth	Germany Italy

Political arrangements 3

Declaration	Date	Participants	Directed against
Neutrality Act revised (cash-and-carry)	1939-11-044 Nov 1939	United States	United Kingdom, France
Norway Debate	1940-05-077 May 1940	United Kingdom	N/A
Two-Ocean Navy Act	1940-07-1919 Jul 1940	United States	Germany, Japan
Destroyers for Bases Agreement	1940-09-022 Sep 1940	United Kingdom, United States	N/A
Tripartite Pact	1940-09-2727 Sep 1940	Germany, Japan, Italy	Western Allies
Lend-Lease Act	1941-03-1111 Mar 1941	United States, United Kingdom	N/A
1941 Iraqi coup d'état	1941-04-033 Apr 1941	Iraq	United Kingdom
Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact	1941-04-1313 Apr 1941	Soviet Union, Japan	N/A

The war becomes global (22 June 1941 - May 2 1942)

Main battles / campaigns 4

Action	Campaign	Europe/Asia	Start date	End date	Combatant 1	Combatant 2
Operation Barbarossa	Soviet-German War	Europe	1941-06-2222 Jun 1941	1941-12-022 Dec 1941	Soviet Union	Germany
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran	N/A	Europe	1941-08-2525 Aug 1941	1941-09-0717 Sep 1941	Soviet Union, United Kingdom	Iran
Battle of Changsha (1941)	N/A	Asia	1941-09-066 Sep 1941	1942-10-088 Oct 1941	China	Japan
Battle of Moscow	Soviet-German War	Europe	1941-10-022 Oct 1941	1942-01-077 Jan 1942	Soviet Union	Germany
Operation Crusader	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1941-11-1818 Nov 1941	1941-12-3030 Dec 1941	Commonwealth	Germany Italy
Soviet Winter Offensive	Soviet-German War	Europe	1941-12-066 Dec 1941	1942-05-077 May 1942	Soviet Union	Germany
Japanese expansion (1941-1942)	Pacific War	Asia	1941-12-077 Dec 1941	1942-05-2626 May 1942	Commonwealth United States Dutch	Japan
Battle of Changsha (1942)	N/A	Asia	1941-12-2424 Dec 1941	1942-01-1515 Jan 1942	China	Japan
Second Happy Time	Battle of the Atlantic	Europe	1942-01-1814 Jan 1942	1942-04-1414 Apr 1942	United States	Germany
Rommel's advance to the Gazala line	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1942-01-2121 Jan 1942	1942-02-066 Feb 1942	Commonwealth	Germany Italy
St. Nazaire Raid	Western Front	Europe	1942-03-2828 Mar 1942	1942-03-2828 Mar 1942	United Kingdom	Germany

Break down of Japanese offensive

Action	Location	Start date	End date	Opponent
Attack on Pearl Harbor	Pacific Ocean	1941-12-077 Dec 1941	1941-12-077 Dec 1941	United States
Battle of Wake Island	Pacific Ocean	1941-12-088 Dec 1941	1941-12-2323 Dec 1941	United States
Japanese Invasion of Thailand	Southeast Asia	1941-12-088 Dec 1941	1941-12-2323 Dec 1941	United States
Battle of Hong Kong	Southeast Asia	1941-12-088 Dec 1941	1941-12-2525 Dec 1941	Commonwealth
Battle of Malaya	Southeast Asia	1941-12-088 Dec 1941	1942-01-3131 Jan 1942	Commonwealth
Battle of the Philippines (1941–42)	Pacific Ocean	1941-12-088 Dec 1941	1942-05-088 May 1942	United States
Conquest of Dutch East Indies	Southeast Asia	1942-01-1210 Jan 1941	1942-05-2626 May 1942	Commonwealth
Capture of Burma	Southeast Asia	1942-01-1212 Jan 1941	1942-05-2626 May 1942	Commonwealth
Battle of Singapore	Southeast Asia	1942-01-3131 Jan 1942	1942-02-1515 Feb 1942	Commonwealth
Bombing of Darwin	Pacific Ocean	1942-02-1919 Feb 1942	1942-02-1919 Feb 1942	Australia
Battle of the Java Sea	Pacific Ocean	1942-02-2727 Feb 1942	1942-02-2727 Feb 1942	United States, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia
Doolittle Raid	Pacific Ocean	1942-04-1818 Apr 1942	1942-04-1818 Apr 1942	United States

Political arrangements 4

Declaration	Date	Participants	Directed against
Atlantic Charter	1941-08-1414 Aug 1941	United Kingdom, United States	N/A
Declaration by United Nations	1942-01-011 Jan 1942	United Kingdom, United States, Soviet Union, China	N/A

The balance shifts (3 May 1942 - 14 May 1943)

Main battles / campaigns 5

Action	Campaign	Europe/Asia	Start date	End date	Combatant 1	Combatant 2
Operation Mo	Pacific Ocean	Asia	1942-05-033 May 1942	1942-05-088 May 1942	United States	Japan
Battle of the Coral Sea	Pacific Ocean	Asia	1942-05-044 May 1942	1942-05-088 May 1942	United States	Japan
Battle of Madagascar	N/A	Europe	1942-05-055 May 1942	1942-11-066 Nov 1942	Commonwealth	Vichy France
Battle of the Kerch Peninsula	Soviet-German War	Europe	1942-05-088 May 1942	1942-05-1818 May 1942	Soviet Union	Germany
Second Battle of Kharkov	Soviet-German War	Europe	1942-05-1212 May 1942	1942-05-2828 May 1942	Soviet Union	Germany
Battle of Gazala	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1942-05-2626 May 1942	1942-06-2121 Jun 1942	Commonwealth	Germany Italy
Battle of Midway	Pacific Ocean	Asia	1942-06-044 Jun 1942	1942-06-077 Jun 1942	United States	Japan
Aleutian Islands Campaign	Pacific Ocean	Asia	1942-06-066 Jun 1942	1943-08-1515 Aug 1943	United States	Japan
Case Blue	Soviet-German War	Europe	1942-06-2828 Jun 1942	1942-11-1818 Nov 1942	Soviet Union	Germany
First Battle of El Alamein	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1942-07-011 Jul 1942	1942-07-2727 Jul 1942	Commonwealth	Germany Italy
Kokoda Track campaign	South East Asia	Asia	1942-08-0721 Jul 1942	1943-01-2222 Jan 1943	United States	Japan
Guadalcanal Campaign	South East Asia	Asia	1942-08-077 Aug 1942	1943-02-077 Feb 1943	United States	Japan
Dieppe Raid	Western Front	Europe	1942-08-1919 Aug 1942	1942-08-1919 Aug 1942	Commonwealth	Germany
Battle of Stalingrad	Soviet-German War	Europe	1942-08-2121 Aug 1942	1943-02-022 Feb 1943	Soviet Union	Germany
Battle of Alam el Halfa	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1942-08-3030 Aug 1942	1942-09-055 Sep 1942	Commonwealth	Germany Italy
Second Battle of El Alamein	Western Desert Campaign	Europe	1942-10-2323 Oct 1942	1942-11-055 Nov 1942	Commonwealth	Germany Italy
Operation Torch	North African Campaign	Europe	1942-11-088 Nov 1942	1942-11-088 Nov 1942	Western Allies	Germany Italy
Tunisia Campaign	North African Campaign	Europe	1942-11-1717 Nov 1942	1943-05-1313 May 1943	Western Allies	Germany Italy
Second Soviet Winter Offensive	Soviet-German War	Europe	1942-11-1818 Nov 1942	1943-03-01March 1943	Soviet Union	Germany
First Arakan Campaign	Burma Campaign	Asia	1942-12-2121 Dec 1942	1943-05-066 May 1943	Commonwealth	Japan
Operation Longcloth	Burma Campaign	Asia	1943-02-088 Feb 1942	1943-04-30Late April 1943	Commonwealth	Japan
Third Battle of Kharkov	Soviet-German War	Europe	1943-02-1616 Feb 1943	1943-03-1515 Mar 1943	Soviet Union	Germany

Political arrangements 5

Declaration	Date	Participants	Directed against
Casablanca Conference	1943-01-1414 Jan 1943	United Kingdom, United States, Free French	N/A

Allies gain momentum (15 May 1943 - 5 June 1944)

Main battles / campaigns 6

Action	Campaign	Europe/Asia	Start date	End date	Combatant 1	Combatant 2
Operation Cartwheel	Pacific Ocean	Asia	43-06-2020 Jun 43	44-05-1818 May 44	United States	Japan
Battle of Kursk	Soviet-German War	Europe	43-07-044 Jul 43	43-07-2020 Jul 43	Soviet Union	Germany
Battle of Smolensk (1943)	Soviet-German War	Europe	43-08-077 Aug 43	43-10-022 Oct 43	Soviet Union	Germany
Allied invasion of Sicily	Italian Campaign	Europe	43-07-099 Jul 43	43-08-1717 Aug 43	Western Allies	Germany Italy
Allied invasion of Italy	Italian Campaign	Europe	43-09-033 Sep 43	43-09-1616 Sep 43	Western Allies	Germany Italy
Dodecanese Campaign	Italian Campaign	Europe	43-09-088 Sep 43	43-11-2222 Nov 43	Western Allies	Germany Italy
Battle of the Dnieper	Soviet-German War	Europe	43-09-1515 Sep 43	43-12-2323 Dec 43	Soviet Union	Germany
Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign	Pacific Ocean	Asia	43-11-2020 Nov 43	44-02-2323 Feb 44	United States	Japan
Battle of Monte Cassino	Italian Campaign	Europe	44-01-1717 Jan 44	44-05-1919 May 44	Western Allies	Germany
Operation Shingle	Italian Campaign	Europe	44-01-2222 Jan 44	44-06-055 Jun 44	Western Allies	Germany
Operation Hailstone	Pacific Ocean	Asia	44-02-1717 Feb 44	44-02-1818 Feb 44	United States	Japan
Big Week	N/A	Europe	44-02-2020 Feb 44	44-02-2525 Feb 44	Western Allies	Germany
Operation U-Go	Burma Campaign	Asia	44-03-088 Mar 44	44-07-044 Jul 44	Commonwealth	Japan
Battle of Henan	Operation Ichi-Go	Asia	44-04-1717 Apr 44	44-05-2525 May 44	China	Japan
Western New Guinea campaign	Pacific Ocean	Asia	44-04-2121 Apr 44	45-08-1515 Aug 45	United States	Japan
Siege of Myitkyina	Burma Campaign	Asia	44-06-022 Jun 44	44-08-033 Aug 44	Commonwealth, China	Japan

Breakdown of Cartwheel

Action	Start date	End date
Battle of New Georgia	43-06-2020 Jun 43	44-03-2025 Aug 43
Salamaua-Lae campaign	43-06-2030 Jun 43	44-09-1515 Sep 43
New Britain Campaign	43-12-1515 Dec 43	45-08-2121 Aug 45
Admiralty Islands campaign	44-02-2929 Feb 44	44-04-1818 May 44

Breakdown of Japanese offensive in Burma

Action	Start date	End date
Operation Ha-Go	44-02-055 Feb 44	44-02-2323 Feb 44
Battle of Imphal	44-03-088 Mar 44	44-07-033 Jul 44
Battle of Kohima	44-04-044 Apr 44	44-06-2222 Jun 44

Political arrangements 6

Declaration	Date	Participants	Directed against
Mussolini removed from office and arrested	1943-07-2323 Jul 1943	Italy	N/A
Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces	1943-09-088 Sep 1943	Western Allies, Italy	N/A
Operation Achse	1943-09-088 Sep 1943	Germany	Italy
Gran Sasso raid	1943-09-1212 Sep 1943	Germany	N/A
Establishment of the RSI	1943-09-2323 Sep 1943	Germany	N/A
Cairo Conference	1943-11-2222 Nov 1943	United Kingdom, United States, China	N/A
Tehran Conference	1943-11-2828 Nov 1943	United Kingdom, United States, Soviet Union	N/A
Capture of Rome	1944-06-044 Jun 1944	United Kingdom, United States	N/A

Paragraphs 6

Following the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Allies initiated several operations against Japan. In May, 1943, American forces were sent to eliminate Japanese forces from the Aleutians, and in June the Allies began a major operation to isolate Rabaul by capturing points in the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and other surrounding islands. By mid-August, the Japanese had withdrawn from the Aleutians and in November Allied forces began to attack the Japanese perimeter in the Gilbert and Marshall islands. By the end of March, 1944, the Allies had isolated Rabaul, neutralized another major Japanese base in the Caroline Islands, and completed their invasions of the Gilbert and Marshall islands. In April, the Allies then launched an operation to retake Western New Guinea.

In mainland Asia, the Japanese launched two major offensives in the spring of 1944: the first was against British positions in Assam, India, while the second was in China with the goal of linking Japanese-held territory in Indochina, Hong Kong and Manchuria. The Chinese had also gone on the offensive in the spring, invading northern Burma from Yunnan. By the start of June, Japanese forces were besieging Commonwealth positions at Imphal and Kohima, and were being besieged by the Chinese in Myitkyina; in China, the Japanese had conquered the province of Henan and begun a renewed attack against Changsha.

In the Mediterranean, Allied forces launched an invasion of Sicily in early July, 1943. The attack on Italian soil, compounded with previous failures, resulted in the ousting and arrest of Mussolini on July 23rd. The Allies soon followed up with an invasion of the Italian mainland in early September, prompting the Italians to agree to an armistice with the Allies. When this armistice was made public on September 8th, Germany responded by disarming Italian forces, seizing military control of Italian areas, and setting up a series of defensive lines. On September 12th, German special forces further rescued Mussolini who then soon established a new client state in German occupied Italy. The Allies fought through several lines until reaching the main German defensive line in mid-November. In January, the Allies launched a series of attacks against the line at Monte Cassino and attempted to outflank it with landings at Anzio. By late May both of these offensives had succeeded and, at the expense of allowing several German divisions to retreat, on June 4th Rome was captured.

In the Soviet Union, the Germans spent the spring and early summer of 1943 making preparations for a large offensive in the region of Kursk; the Soviet's anticipated such an action though and spent their time fortifying the area. On July 4th, the Germans launched their attack, though by July 17th, following the Western Allied invasion of Sicily, Hitler canceled the operation. The Soviet's were then able to mount a massive counter-offensive which, by June 1944, had largely expelled Axis forces from the Soviet Union, reclaimed Ukraine and pushed into Poland.

In November, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met with Chiang Kai-shek in Cairo and then with Joseph Stalin in Tehran. At the former conference, the post-war return of Japanese territory was determined and in the latter, it was agreed that the Western Allies would invade Europe in 1944 and that the Soviet Union would declare war on Japan within three months of Germany's defeat.

Allies close in (6 June 1944 - 15 December 1944)

Main battles / campaigns 7

Action	Campaign	Europe/Asia	Start date	End date	Combatant 1	Combatant 2
Battle of Imphal	Burma Campaign	Asia	1944-03-088 Mar 1944	1944-07-033 Jul 1944	Commonwealth	Japan
Battle of Kohima	Burma Campaign	Asia	1944-04-044 Apr 1944	1944-06-2222 Jun 1944	Commonwealth	Japan
Battle of Hengyang-Changsha	Operation Ichi-Go	Asia	1944-05-2626 May 1944	1944-8-88 Aug 1944	China	Japan
Siege of Myitkyina	Burma Campaign	Asia	1944-06-022 Jun 1944	1944-08-033 Aug 1944	Commonwealth, China	Japan
Operation Overlord	Western European Campaign	Europe	1944-06-066 Jun 1944	1945-08-2525 Aug 1944	Western Allies	Germany
Mariana and Palau Islands campaign	Pacific Ocean	Asia	1944-06-1515 Jun 1944	1944-11-2525 Nov 1944	United States	Japan
Battle of the Philippine Sea	Pacific Ocean	Asia	1944-06-1919 Jun 1944	1944-06-2020 Jun 1944	United States	Japan
Operation Bagration	Soviet-German War	Europe	1944-06-2222 Jun 1944	1944-08-1919 Aug 1944	Soviet Union	Germany
Allies retake Burma	Burma Campaign	Asia	1944-07-044 Aug 1944	1945-08-1515 Aug 1945	Commonwealth	Japan
Operation Dragoon	Western European Campaign	Europe	1944-08-1515 Aug 1944	1944-08-1515 Aug 1944	Western Allies	Germany
Battle of Romania (1944)	Soviet-German War	Europe	1944-08-2020 Aug 1944	1944-09-77 Sep 1944	Soviet Union	Romania, Germany
Operation Market Garden	Western European Campaign	Europe	1944-0-1517 Sep 1944	1944-08-1525 Sep 1944	Western Allies	Germany
Battle of Aachen	Western European Campaign	Europe	1944-10-011 Oct 1944	1944-10-2222 Oct 1944	Western Allies	Germany
Operation Hurricane (1944)	Western European Campaign	Europe	1944-10-1414 Oct 1944	1944-10-1414 Oct 1944	Western Allies	Germany
Battle of Leyte	Philippines campaign (1944–45)	Asia	1944-10-2320 Oct 1944	1944-12-3131 Dec 1944	United States	Japan
Battle of Leyte Gulf	Philippines campaign (1944–45)	Asia	1944-10-2323 Oct 1944	1944-10-2626 Oct 1944	United States	Japan
Battle of Guangxi	Operation Ichi-Go	Asia	1944-11-011 Nov 1944	1944-12-1010 Dec 1944	China	Japan

Breakdown of Overlord

Action	Start date	End date
Invasion of Normandy	1944-06-066 Jun 1944	1945-07-2424 Jul 1944
Breakout from Normandy	1944-07-2525 Jul 1944	1945-07-3125 Aug 1944
Liberation of Paris	1944-08-1919 Aug 1944	1944-08-2525 Aug 1944

Political arrangements 7

Declaration	Date	Participants	Directed against
Moscow Armistice	1944-09-1919 Sep 1944	Finland, USSR	Germany

Paragraphs 7

On June 6th, 1944, the Western Allies invaded northern France. In August several Allied divisions in Italy were re-assigned for a secondary invasion of southern France and by the 19th, the Allies had liberated Paris. During the autumn, the Western Allies continued to push back German forces in western Europe and ran into the last major defensive line in Italy.

On the Germans eastern front, they continued to be pressed back by Soviet forces. In early June the Soviets launched a large offensive against Finland and another major operation to retake Belorussia later that month. In July, Soviet forces invaded Ukraine and eastern Poland, prompting Polish resistance forces to initiate several uprisings in Poland, though the largest of these, in Warsaw, was conducted without Soviet assistance and put down by German forces. In mid-August the Soviets invaded eastern Romania, prompting the country to switch alliance from Germany to the Soviets in early September. In mid-September, Finland also signed an armistice with the Soviet Union, and entered conflict against Germany. In October, the Soviets initiated an operation to clear Hungary of German forces.

By the start of July, Commonwealth forces had repelled the Japanese sieges in Assam, pushing the Japanese back to the Chindwin River. In August, Chinese forces had taken Myitkyina. In China, the Japanese were having greater successes, having finally captured Changsha in mid-June and the remainder of the Hengyang province by early August. Soon after, they futher invaded the province of Guangxi, winning major engagements against Chinese forces at Guilin and Liuzhou by the end of November and successfully linking up their forces in China and Indochina by the middle of December.

In the Pacific, American forces continued to press back the Japanese perimeter. In the middle of June, 1944, they began their offensive against the Mariana and Palau islands, scoring a decisive victory against Japanese forces in the Philippine Sea within a few days. By the end of September, American forces had conquered the Mariana and Palau islands and in late October, invaded the Filipino island of Leyte; soon after, Allied naval forces scored another large victory against the Japanese in the Leyte Gulf.

Axis collapse, Allied victory (16 December 1944 - 15 August 1945)

Main battles / campaigns 8

Action	Campaign	Europe/Asia	Start date	End date	Combatant 1	Combatant 2
Allies retake Burma	Burma Campaign	Asia	1944-07-044 Aug 1944	1945-08-1515 Aug 1945	Commonwealth	Japan
Battle of Leyte	Philippines campaign (1944–45)	Asia	1944-10-2320 Oct 1944	1944-12-3131 Dec 1944	United States	Japan
Battle of the Bulge	Western European Campaign	Europe	1944-12-1616 Dec 1944	1945-01-2525 Jan 1945	Western Allies	Germany
Battle of Luzon	Philippines campaign (1944–45)	Asia	1945-01-099 Jan 1945	1945-05-2828 Jun 1945	United States	Japan
Vistula-Oder Offensive	Soviet-German War	Europe	1945-01-1212 Jan 1945	1945-02-022 Feb 1945	Soviet Union	Germany
Western Allied invasion of Germany	Western European Campaign	Europe	1945-01-2626 Jan 1945	1945-05-088 May 1945	Western Allies	Germany
Battle of Iwo Jima	Pacific Ocean	Asia	1945-02-1919 Feb 1945	1945-03-2626 Mar 1945	United States	Japan
Operation Frühlingserwachen	Soviet-German War	Europe	1945-03-066 March 1945	1945-03-1616 March 1945	Soviet Union	Germany
Second French Indochina Campaign	N/A	Asia	1945-03-099 Mar 1945	1945-05-022 May 1945	Vichy France	Japan
Battle of Mindanao	Philippines campaign (1944–45)	Asia	1945-03-1010 Mar 1945	1945-08-1515 Aug 1945	United States	Japan
Battle of Okinawa	Pacific Ocean	Asia	1945-04-011 Apr 1945	1945-06-2121 Jun 1945	United States	Japan
Chihchiang Campaign	Sino-Japanese War	Asia	1945-04-088 Apr 1945	1945-06-077 Jun 1945	China United States	Japan
Battle of Berlin	Soviet-German War	Europe	1945-04-1616 Apr 1945	1945-05-022 May 1945	Soviet Union	Germany
Prague Offensive	Soviet-German War	Europe	1945-05-055 May 1945	1945-05-1111 May 1945	Soviet Union	Germany
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki	Pacific Ocean	Asia	1945-08-066 Aug 1945	1945-08-099 Aug 1945	United States	Japan
Operation August Storm	N/A	Asia	1945-08-088 Aug 1945	1945-09-022 Sep 1945	Soviet Union	Japan

Breakdown of Western invasion of Germany

Action	Start date	End date
Operation Veritable	1945-02-088 Feb 1945	1945-03-1111 Mar 1945
Operation Grenade	1945-02-099 Feb 1945	1945-02-2323 Feb 1945
Bombing of Dresden	1945-02-1313 Feb 1945	1945-02-1515 Feb 1945
Operation Plunder	1945-03-2424 Mar 1945	1945-03-2525 Mar 1945
Ruhr Pocket	1945-04-011 Apr 1945	1945-04-2121 Apr 1945

Political arrangements 8

Declaration	Date	Participants	Directed against
Yalta Conference	1945-02-044 Feb 1945	United Kingdom, United States, Soviet Union	N/A
Death of Roosevelt, Truman becomes president	1945-04-1212 Apr 1945	United States	N/A
RSI overthrown	1945-04-2525 Apr 1945	N/A	N/A
Mussolini executed	1945-04-2828 Apr 1945	N/A	N/A
Death of Adolf Hitler	1945-04-2830 Apr 1945	N/A	N/A
Victory in Europe Day	1945-05-088 May 1945	Western Allies, Soviet Union	N/A
Potsdam Declaration	1945-07-2626 July 1945	United Kingdom, United States, China	Japan
Churchill replaced by Atlee	1945-07-2727 July 1945	United Kingdom	N/A
Potsdam Agreement	1945-08-022 Aug 1945	United Kingdom, United States, Soviet Union	Germany
Surrender of Japan	1945-08-1515 Aug 1945	Japan, Western Allies	N/A

Paragraphs 8

On the 16th of December, the Germans launched a large offensive in the Ardennes. In mid-January, the Soviets launched a major offensive themselves. By the start of February, the Western Allies had defeated the German offensive and the Soviets had progressed up to the Oder river in Germany. On February 4th, the leaders of the United States, United Kingdom and Soviet Union met in Yalta and came to agreement regarding Soviet assistance against Japan and the partitioning of post-war Germany. In February, soon after the Yalta Conference, Western Allied forces crossed the Rur river. In early March, German forces initiated their last major offensive against Soviet forces, but it was defeated within ten days. In late March, the Western Allies then crossed the Rhine river and quickly encircled a large number of German divisions. By mid-April Soviet forces were able to attack Berlin itself and near the end of the month, Mussolini's remnant fascist government in Italy was overthrown.

During this period there were several changes in leadership. On April 12th, American President Roosevelt died, succeeded by Harry Truman. On the 28th, Mussolini, having been captured by Allied Italian partisans, was executed. Two days later, with the Soviets fast approaching, Hitler committed suicide.

On May 8th, the Allies accepted Germany's surrender, essentially ending the war in Europe. Sporadic fighting continued for a few days though, notably in Prague.

In mainland Asia, Commonwealth and Chinese forces continued to press back the Japanese in Burma, steadily retaking the country. In early March the Japanese overthrew the Vichy government in Indochina, creating the short lived Empire of Vietnam.

In the Pacific, American forces captured Leyte by the end of the year and invaded Luzon and Iwo Jima in January and February of 1945. In March, American forces continued their campaign in the Philippines, invading Mindanao. By the beginning of April, American forces had captured Iwo Jima and moved on to invade Okinawa, which they captured by late June.

In late July, Allied leaders met in Potsdam, Germany, and concluded agreements of Germany occupation and reconstruction as well as the terms of Japanese surrender; it was specifically stated in the latter that the alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction. During the conference, the United Kingdom held its general election and Churchill was replaced by Clement Attlee.

In early August, after Japan's refusal to the terms of Potsdam, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In the short period between the bombings, the Soviets fulfilled their part of the agreements at Yalta and invaded Japanese-held Manchuria. By mid-August Japan surrendered, thus bringing the war to an end.