This Day In History

  • 1944: World War II: The Allies commence Operation Shingle, an assault on Anzio and Nettuno, Italy.
  • 1943: World War II: Australian and American forces defeat Japanese army and navy units in the bitterly fought Battle of Buna–Gona.
  • 1941: World War II: British and Commonwealth troops capture Tobruk from Italian forces during Operation Compass.

Quote of the Day

It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.

— Douglas MacArthur

Invasion of Poland

Germany invades Poland, marking the beginning of WWII.

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Battle of the Atlantic

Longest continuous military campaign in WWII.

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Winter War

Soviet Union invades Finland.

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Battle of France

Germany invades France and the Low Countries.

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Battle of Britain

Air campaign waged by the German Luftwaffe against the UK.

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Operation Barbarossa

Germany invades the Soviet Union.

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Siege of Leningrad

One of the longest and most destructive sieges.

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Pearl Harbor Attack

Japan attacks the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor.

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Battle of Midway

Turning point in the Pacific War.

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Guadalcanal Campaign

First major Allied offensive in the Pacific.

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Battle of Stalingrad

Major turning point in Europe as Soviets halt Germans.

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Battle of El Alamein

Turning point in North Africa.

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Battle of Kursk

Largest tank battle in history.

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Allied Invasion of Sicily

Allies invade Italy via Sicily.

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D-Day

Allied invasion of Normandy.

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Warsaw Uprising

Polish resistance uprising against Germany.

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Liberation of Paris

Allies liberate the French capital.

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Battle of the Bulge

Germany's last major offensive in the west.

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Battle of Iwo Jima

Critical Pacific battle between U.S. and Japan.

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Battle of Okinawa

One of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific.

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Battle of Berlin

Final major offensive in Europe.

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Germany Surrenders

Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

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Hiroshima Bombing

First use of atomic bomb in warfare.

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Nagasaki Bombing

Second atomic bomb dropped by U.S.

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Japan Surrenders

Victory over Japan (VJ) Day.

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