History of World War II in Timeline
World War II (1939-1945) was a global conflict between the Allied and Axis powers, involving nearly all countries. Characterized by total war, it saw the extensive use of tanks, aircraft, and strategic bombing, including the deployment of the first nuclear weapons. It remains the deadliest conflict in history, causing 70-85 million deaths, with the majority being civilians. Millions perished through genocide, massacres, starvation, and disease. The Allied victory led to the occupation of Germany, Austria, Japan, and Korea. German and Japanese leaders faced trials for war crimes.
1917: Bolshevik Seizure of Power
In 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia, leading to the founding of the Soviet Union.
1918: German Revolution
The German Empire was dissolved in the German revolution of 1918–1919, and a democratic government, later known as the Weimar Republic, was created.
1919: German Revolution
The German Empire was dissolved in the German revolution of 1918–1919, and a democratic government, later known as the Weimar Republic, was created.
1920: Establishment of the League of Nations
In 1920, the League of Nations was established by the Paris Peace Conference to prevent future world wars.
1922: Fascists Seize Power in Italy
From 1922 to 1925, the Fascist movement led by Benito Mussolini seized power in Italy.
1923: Hitler's Attempted Overthrow
In 1923, Adolf Hitler made an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the German government.
1925: Fascists Seize Power in Italy
From 1922 to 1925, the Fascist movement led by Benito Mussolini seized power in Italy.
September 1931: Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
On September 19, 1931, the Japanese invasion of Manchuria occurred.
1931: Mukden Incident
The Japanese false flag Mukden incident happened in 1931.
1933: Hitler Becomes Chancellor
In 1933, Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany.
1934: Hitler Declares Himself Führer
Following Hindenburg's death in 1934, Hitler proclaimed himself Führer of Germany and abolished democracy.
1935: Enslavement of Chinese Civilians
Between 1935 and 1941, at least five million Chinese civilians from northern China and Manchukuo were enslaved by the East Asia Development Board for work in mines and war industries.
1935: Territory of the Saar Basin reunited with Germany
In early 1935, the Territory of the Saar Basin was legally reunited with Germany, and Hitler repudiated the Treaty of Versailles and accelerated his rearmament programme.
March 1936: Remilitarization of the Rhineland
In March 1936, Hitler defied the Versailles and Locarno Treaties by remilitarising the Rhineland.
1936: Xi'an Incident
After the 1936 Xi'an Incident, the Kuomintang and CCP forces agreed on a ceasefire to present a united front to oppose Japan.
July 1937: Second Sino-Japanese War Begins
The start of the Second Sino-Japanese War occurred on July 7, 1937.
December 1937: Fall of Nanking
In December 1937, the Japanese captured the capital Nanking. After the fall of Nanking, tens or hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and disarmed combatants were murdered by the Japanese.
1937: Germany's Pre-War Territory
In 1937, Germany had a defined territory before the war, which would be significantly altered due to the war's outcome.
1937: Shelling of USS Panay
In 1937, the Japanese shelled the American gunboat USS Panay, contributing to deteriorating relations with the United States.
1937: Second Sino-Japanese War
In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out. This event was one of the key events that preceded World War II.
March 1938: Nationalist Chinese Victory at Taierzhuang
In March 1938, Nationalist Chinese forces won their first major victory at Taierzhuang.
June 1938: Chinese Forces Flood the Yellow River
In June 1938, Chinese forces stalled the Japanese advance by flooding the Yellow River.
1938: Allies Advantages in Population and Economics
In 1938, the Western Allies had a larger population and a higher gross domestic product than the European Axis powers.
1938: Nanjing Massacre
The Nanjing Massacre happened in 1937-1938, further straining Japanese-American relations.
January 1939: Hitler orders build-up of German Navy
In January 1939, Hitler secretly ordered a major build-up of the German navy to challenge British naval supremacy. This followed his anger over British interference preventing him from seizing all of Czechoslovakia.
March 1939: Germany invades Czechoslovakia
In March 1939, Germany invaded the remainder of Czechoslovakia and split it into the German Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and a pro-German client state, the Slovak Republic. Hitler also forced Lithuania to concede the Klaipėda Region.
April 1939: Italy conquers Albania; UK and France guarantee Romania and Greece
In April 1939, Italy conquered Albania. The United Kingdom and France extended their guarantee of support to the Kingdoms of Romania and Greece. Shortly after, Germany and Italy formalized their alliance with the Pact of Steel.
April 1939: Nationalists Win Spanish Civil War
In April 1939, the Nationalists won the Spanish Civil War, and Franco remained dictator.
September 1939: Germany invades Poland
In September 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, leading the United Kingdom and France to declare war on Germany, thus marking the start of World War II. Poland was divided between Germany and the Soviet Union under the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.
September 1939: Germany invades Poland, triggering declarations of war
On 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, staging false flag border incidents as a pretext. On 3 September, after Germany ignored an ultimatum to cease military operations, Britain and France declared war on Germany, starting World War II.
September 1939: German troops reach Warsaw; Soviet Union invades Poland
On 8 September 1939, German troops reached the suburbs of Warsaw. On 17 September 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland. On 27 September, the Warsaw garrison surrendered to the Germans.
September 1939: Start of World War II
World War II started in September 1939 and lasted until September 1945. It was a global conflict between the Allies and the Axis powers with nearly all of the world's countries participating.
October 1939: Soviet Union establishes military bases in Baltic countries
In October 1939, the Soviet Union forced Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to sign pacts allowing the creation of Soviet military bases in these countries, and significant Soviet military contingents were moved there.
November 1939: Soviet Union invades Finland
In November 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland after Finland refused to cede territory. The Soviet Union was subsequently expelled from the League of Nations for this aggression.
November 1939: United States assists Allies with "cash and carry" policy
In November 1939, the United States was assisting China and the Western Allies, and had amended the Neutrality Act to allow "cash and carry" purchases by the Allies.
1939: Soviet Union occupied countries
During 1942–43, the Soviet Gulag became a de facto system of deadly camps during 1942–43, when wartime privation and hunger caused numerous deaths of inmates, including foreign citizens of Poland and other countries occupied in 1939–40 by the Soviet Union
1939: Japanese defeat at Khalkin Gol
In 1939, Japan was defeated at Khalkin Gol. This defeat, along with the ongoing Second Sino-Japanese War and Nazi Germany's neutrality with the Soviets, made it difficult for Japan to maintain its policy of northward expansion (Hokushin-ron).
1939: Territorial Loss and Political Shift in Romania
In 1939, Romania experienced a significant loss of territory, which led to a coup against King Carol II. This turned Romania into a fascist dictatorship under Marshal Ion Antonescu, aligning the country with the Axis powers.
1939: US Notifies Japan on Trade Treaty and Economic Sanctions
In 1939, the United States notified Japan that it would not be extending its trade treaty and imposed economic sanctions, including export bans on chemicals, minerals, and military parts.
March 1940: End of the Winter War
In March 1940, the Finno-Soviet Winter War ended with some Finnish concessions of territory to the Soviet Union.
May 1940: Churchill replaces Chamberlain as Prime Minister
In May 1940, British discontent over the Norwegian campaign led to the resignation of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who was replaced by Winston Churchill on 10 May 1940.
June 1940: Soviet Union occupies Baltic states and Romanian territories
In June 1940, the Soviet Union occupied the territories of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as the Romanian regions of Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and the Hertsa region.
June 1940: Italian Regia Aeronautica attacks Malta
In early June 1940, the Italian Regia Aeronautica attacked and besieged Malta, a British possession, marking the beginning of Italian involvement in the Mediterranean theatre.
July 1940: Hitler decides to eliminate the Soviet Union
On 31 July 1940, Hitler decided that the Soviet Union should be eliminated and aimed for the conquest of Ukraine, the Baltic states and Byelorussia.
August 1940: Hitler imposes the Second Vienna Award on Romania
In August 1940, Hitler imposed the Second Vienna Award on Romania, leading to the transfer of Northern Transylvania to Hungary.
September 1940: Tripartite Pact unites Axis powers
At the end of September 1940, the Tripartite Pact formally united Japan, Italy, and Germany as the Axis powers. The pact stipulated that any country attacking an Axis Power would be forced to go to war against all three (excluding the Soviet Union).
September 1940: Romania cedes Southern Dobruja to Bulgaria
In September 1940, Bulgaria demanded Southern Dobruja from Romania with German and Italian support, leading to the Treaty of Craiova.
November 1940: Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania join the Axis
In November 1940, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania joined the Axis powers, expanding the alliance.
November 1940: Negotiations for the Soviet Union to join the Tripartite Pact
In November 1940, negotiations took place to determine if the Soviet Union would join the Tripartite Pact. The Soviets showed some interest but asked for concessions that Germany considered unacceptable.
December 1940: Roosevelt calls for United States to become an "arsenal of democracy"
In December 1940, President Roosevelt accused Hitler of planning world conquest and called for the United States to become an "arsenal of democracy", promoting Lend-Lease programs to support the British war effort.
December 1940: Hitler issues directive to prepare for invasion of Soviet Union
On 18 December 1940, Hitler issued the directive to prepare for an invasion of the Soviet Union, codenamed Operation Barbarossa, signaling the end of cooperation between Germany and the Soviet Union.
1940: Oil production rate in Dutch East Indies
By 1943, Japan was able to get production in the Dutch East Indies up to 50 million barrels of oil, 76 percent of its 1940 output rate.
1940: Hitler makes a peace overture
In 1940, on 6 October, Hitler made a public peace overture to the United Kingdom and France but said that the future of Poland was to be determined exclusively by Germany and the Soviet Union. The proposal was rejected.
1940: Chinese Counter-Offensive and Communist Offensive
In early 1940, Chinese nationalist forces launched a large-scale counter-offensive. In August, Chinese communists launched an offensive in Central China, leading to harsh Japanese measures in occupied areas.
January 1941: Armed Clashes End Chinese Cooperation
In January 1941, continued antipathy between Chinese communist and nationalist forces culminated in armed clashes, effectively ending their cooperation.
March 1941: Rommel's Afrika Korps launches offensive in North Africa
At the end of March 1941, Rommel's Afrika Korps launched an offensive in North Africa, driving back Commonwealth forces and advancing to western Egypt to besiege Tobruk.
March 1941: Bulgaria and Yugoslavia sign the Tripartite Pact
In March 1941, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia signed the Tripartite Pact, aligning themselves with the Axis powers.
April 1941: Japan and Soviet Union sign Neutrality Pact
In April 1941, Japan and the Soviet Union signed a Neutrality Pact. This led Japan to adopt the doctrine of Nanshin-ron, which focused on southward expansion and eventual war with the United States and Western Allies.
April 1941: Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact signed
In April 1941, the Soviet Union and Japan signed the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact, as both powers were preparing for potential conflicts and sought to secure their positions.
May 1941: End of the Blitz
In May 1941, The German strategic bombing offensive, the Blitz, largely ended in May 1941 after failing to significantly disrupt the British war effort.
May 1941: Sinking of the Bismarck
On 27 May 1941, the British Home Fleet scored a significant victory by sinking the German battleship Bismarck.
June 1941: Negotiations between Dutch Government and Japan Ends in Failure
In June 1941 negotiations between the Dutch government and Japan for additional access to resources ended in failure.
June 1941: Germany invades the Soviet Union
In June 1941, Germany led an invasion of the Soviet Union, opening the Eastern Front. Germany initially made large territorial gains.
July 1941: Japan Sends Troops to Southern Indochina
In July 1941, Japan sent troops to southern Indochina, which threatened British and Dutch possessions in the Far East. The United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western governments reacted by freezing Japanese assets and imposing a total oil embargo.
November 1941: Commonwealth Forces Launch Operation Crusader
By November 1941, Commonwealth forces had launched a counter-offensive in North Africa, Operation Crusader, and reclaimed all the gains the Germans and Italians had made.
December 1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor
In December 1941, Japan attacked American and British territories in Asia and the Pacific, including Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, leading the United States to enter the war against Japan and Germany.
December 1941: Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor and Southeast Asia
On December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Asian time zones), Japan launched near-simultaneous offensives against Southeast Asia and the Central Pacific. This included an attack on the American fleets at Pearl Harbor and the Philippines, as well as invasions of Guam, Wake Island, Malaya, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
1941: Enslavement of Chinese Civilians
Between 1935 and 1941, at least five million Chinese civilians from northern China and Manchukuo were enslaved by the East Asia Development Board for work in mines and war industries.
1941: Start of mass killings
Between 1941 and 1945, more than 200,000 ethnic Serbs, along with Roma and Jews, were persecuted and murdered by the Axis-aligned Croatian Ustaše in Yugoslavia.
1941: Wars Converge Into WWII
In 1941, the Sino-Japanese War and the war in Europe and its colonies became World War II, according to some historians.
1941: Strategic Planning by the United States
In 1941, the United States started strategic planning to prepare for a full-scale offensive against Germany, demonstrating a growing commitment to the Allied cause.
January 1942: Chinese Victory at Changsha
In January 1942, the only Allied success against Japan was a Chinese victory at Changsha.
January 1942: Declaration by United Nations
On January 1, 1942, the Allied Big Four (the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and 22 smaller or exiled governments issued the Declaration by United Nations, affirming the Atlantic Charter and agreeing not to sign a separate peace with the Axis powers.
April 1942: Japan Conquers Burma, Malaya, Dutch East Indies, Singapore, and Rabaul
By the end of April 1942, Japan and its ally Thailand had almost conquered Burma, Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, Singapore, and Rabaul, inflicting severe losses on Allied troops and taking a large number of prisoners.
May 1942: British Invade Madagascar
Concerns that the Japanese might use bases in Vichy-held Madagascar caused the British to invade the island in early May 1942.
May 1942: Fall of the Philippines
In May 1942, despite resistance by Filipino and U.S. forces, the Philippine Commonwealth was captured by Japan, forcing its government into exile.
June 1942: Battle of Midway
In June 1942, Japan's advances in the Pacific were halted at the Battle of Midway.
June 1942: German Summer Offensive Against Southern Russia
In June 1942, the Germans launched their main summer offensive against southern Russia, aiming to seize the oil fields of the Caucasus and occupy the Kuban steppe, while maintaining positions on the northern and central areas of the front.
August 1942: Allies Repel Second Attack Against El Alamein
In August 1942, the Allies succeeded in repelling a second attack against El Alamein and, at a high cost, managed to deliver desperately needed supplies to the besieged Malta.
1942: Increased Enslavement of Chinese Civilians
After 1942, the number of enslaved Chinese civilians reached 10 million.
1942: Allies Demand Unconditional Surrender
At the Casablanca Conference in early 1943, the Allies reiterated the statements issued in the 1942 Declaration and demanded the unconditional surrender of their enemies.
1942: Turning Point: Allies' Economic and Population Advantages Become Decisive
By 1942, after the United States and Soviet Union joined the Allies, their economic and population advantages became the decisive factor in the war.
1942: Allied Grand Strategy Debates
During 1942, Allied officials debated on the appropriate grand strategy to pursue. All agreed that defeating Germany was the primary objective.
1942: Soviet Gulag as Deadly Camp System
During 1942–43, the Soviet Gulag became a de facto system of deadly camps due to wartime privation and hunger, causing numerous deaths of inmates.
1942: Disastrous Offensive into the Arakan Region
In Burma, Commonwealth forces mounted a disastrous offensive into the Arakan region in late 1942 that forced a retreat back to India by May 1943.
February 1943: German Attack on Kharkov
In mid-February 1943, after the Soviet push had tapered off, the Germans launched another attack on Kharkov, creating a salient in their front line around the Soviet city of Kursk.
May 1943: German Submarine Losses
By May 1943, Allied counter-measures became increasingly effective, resulting in sizeable German submarine losses that forced a temporary halt of the German Atlantic naval campaign.
May 1943: Commonwealth Forces Retreat in Burma
In Burma, Commonwealth forces mounted a disastrous offensive into the Arakan region in late 1942 that forced a retreat back to India by May 1943.
May 1943: Allies Eliminate Japanese Forces from Aleutians
In May 1943, as part of the Allied operations against Japan in the Pacific, Canadian and U.S. forces were sent to eliminate Japanese forces from the Aleutians.
May 1943: Allies Commit to Invade France in 1944
In May 1943, the Americans extracted a British commitment to limit Allied operations in the Mediterranean to an invasion of the Italian mainland, and to invade France in 1944.
June 1943: Allies Begin Strategic Bombing Campaign Against Germany
In June 1943, the British and Americans began a strategic bombing campaign against Germany with a goal to disrupt the war economy, reduce morale, and "de-house" the civilian population.
July 1943: Soviet Counter-Offensives
On 12 July 1943, the Soviets launched their own counter-offensives, dispelling any chance of German victory. The Soviet victory at Kursk marked the end of German superiority, giving the Soviet Union the initiative on the Eastern Front.
July 1943: Germany attacks Soviet forces around the Kursk Bulge
On 5 July 1943, Germany initiated an attack on Soviet forces around the Kursk Bulge. By 9 July 1943, due to the Western Allies' invasion of Sicily, combined with previous Italian failures, resulted in the ousting and arrest of Mussolini later that month, Hitler cancelled the operation before it had achieved tactical or operational success.
September 1943: Allies Invade Italian Mainland
On 3 September 1943, the Western Allies invaded the Italian mainland, following Italy's armistice with the Allies and the ensuing German occupation of Italy. Germany responded by disarming Italian forces, seizing military control, and creating defensive lines. German special forces then rescued Mussolini, who then soon established a new client state causing an Italian civil war.
November 1943: Battle of Changde
From November 1943, during the seven-week Battle of Changde, the Chinese awaited allied relief as they forced Japan to fight a costly war of attrition.
November 1943: Cairo and Tehran Conferences
In November 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met with Chiang Kai-shek in Cairo to plan the Burma campaign, and then with Joseph Stalin in Tehran, agreeing 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.
1943: Oil production in Dutch East Indies increased
By 1943, Japan was able to get production in the Dutch East Indies up to 50 million barrels of oil, 76 percent of its 1940 output rate.
1943: Start of Volhynia massacres
From 1943 to 1945, more than 100,000 Poles were massacred by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in the Volhynia massacres.
1943: Axis Forces Retreat
In 1943, Axis forces faced continued defeats on the Eastern Front, an Allied invasion of Italy, and Allied offensives in the Pacific, forcing them into retreat on all fronts.
1943: Resistance Groups began to hamper German operations
Until late 1943, resistance groups did not significantly hamper German operations in either the East or the West.
January 1944: Allied Attacks in Italy
In January 1944, the Allies launched a series of attacks in Italy against the line at Monte Cassino and tried to outflank it with landings at Anzio.
January 1944: Soviet Offensive Ends Leningrad Siege
On 27 January 1944, Soviet troops launched a major offensive that expelled German forces from the Leningrad region, thereby ending the most lethal siege in history.
March 1944: Japanese Invasions in India
In March 1944, the Japanese launched an operation against Allied positions in Assam, India, and soon besieged Commonwealth positions at Imphal and Kohima.
May 1944: Soviets Liberate Crimea
By late May 1944, the Soviets had liberated Crimea, largely expelled Axis forces from Ukraine, and made incursions into Romania, which were repulsed by the Axis troops.
May 1944: Allied Counter-Offensive in Burma
In May 1944, British and Indian forces mounted a counter-offensive that drove Japanese troops back to Burma by July, and Chinese forces that had invaded northern Burma in late 1943 besieged Japanese troops in Myitkyina.
June 1944: U.S. Offensive Against Mariana and Palau Islands
In mid-June 1944, U.S. forces began their offensive against the Mariana and Palau islands and decisively defeated Japanese forces in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. These defeats led to the resignation of the Japanese Prime Minister, Hideki Tojo, and provided the United States with air bases to launch intensive heavy bomber attacks on the Japanese home islands.
June 1944: D-Day Invasion of Normandy
On 6 June 1944, the Western Allies invaded northern France after three years of Soviet pressure. They also attacked southern France, leading to the defeat of German Army units in France.
July 1944: Commonwealth Forces Repel Japanese Sieges
By the start of July 1944, Commonwealth forces in Southeast Asia had repelled the Japanese sieges in Assam, pushing the Japanese back to the Chindwin River while the Chinese captured Myitkyina.
July 1944: Bretton Woods Conference
In July 1944, the Allied nations drew up an economic framework for the post-war world at the Bretton Woods Conference.
September 1944: Chinese Forces Reopen Burma Road
In September 1944, Chinese forces captured Mount Song and reopened the Burma Road.
September 1944: Soviet Advance into Yugoslavia
In September 1944, Soviet troops advanced into Yugoslavia, forcing the withdrawal of German Army Groups E and F. The Partisans under Josip Broz Tito controlled much of Yugoslavia and engaged in delaying efforts against German forces. The Soviet Red Army assisted the Partisans in liberating Belgrade on 20 October.
December 1944: German Counter-Offensive in the Ardennes
On 16 December 1944, Germany launched a massive counter-offensive in the Ardennes, hoping to split the Allies on the Western Front. By 16 January 1945, this offensive had been repulsed with no strategic objectives fulfilled.
1944: Agreement to Invade France
At the Casablanca Conference in early 1943, the Allies agreed to invade France in 1944.
1944: Allied Invasion of Normandy
In 1944, the Western Allies invaded France at Normandy, the Soviet Union recaptured its pre-war territory, and the U.S. crippled Japan's navy and captured key Pacific islands.
January 1945: American Forces Land on Luzon
In January 1945, American forces landed on Luzon and recaptured Manila in March. Fighting continued on Luzon, Mindanao, and other islands of the Philippines until the end of the war.
February 1945: Fall of Budapest
The Soviet assault against German-occupied Hungary, which began in September 1944, lasted until the fall of Budapest in February 1945.
April 1945: American Forces Clear Leyte
In the Pacific theatre, American forces accompanied by the forces of the Philippine Commonwealth advanced in the Philippines, clearing Leyte by the end of April 1945.
May 1945: Australian Troops Land in Borneo
In May 1945, Australian troops landed in Borneo, overrunning the oilfields there. British, American, and Chinese forces defeated the Japanese in northern Burma in March, and the British pushed on to reach Rangoon by 3 May.
May 1945: Germany's Surrender
In May 1945, the war in Europe concluded with the liberation of German-occupied territories, invasions of Germany, and Germany's unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945.
June 1945: US Forces Take Okinawa
American naval and amphibious forces also moved towards Japan, taking Iwo Jima by March, and Okinawa by the end of June 1945.
August 1945: Atomic Bombs Dropped on Japan and Soviet Invasion of Manchuria
In early August 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Between the two bombings, the Soviets declared war on Japan, invaded Manchuria, and quickly defeated the Kwantung Army. On 15 August 1945, Japan surrendered.
August 1945: Armistice of 15 August 1945
The war was generally accepted to have ended with the armistice of August 15, 1945 (V-J Day).
September 1945: Japan's Formal Surrender
In September 1945, Japan signed a surrender document on September 2, 1945. This marked Japan's formal surrender.
September 1945: Formal Surrender of Japan
The formal surrender of Japan occurred on September 2, 1945, officially ending the war in Asia.
October 1945: United Nations Officially Formed
In October 1945, the United Nations officially came into existence, aiming to maintain world peace after World War II.
1945: End of mass killings
Between 1941 and 1945, more than 200,000 ethnic Serbs, along with Roma and Jews, were persecuted and murdered by the Axis-aligned Croatian Ustaše in Yugoslavia.
1945: Industrial Disarmament in Western Germany
From 1945 to 1948, Allied occupational authorities pursued a policy of industrial disarmament in Western Germany.
1945: Division of Korea
In 1945, Korea, formerly under Japanese colonial rule, was divided and occupied by the Soviet Union in the North and the United States in the South.
June 1946: Resumption of Chinese Civil War
In June 1946, nationalist and communist forces resumed the civil war in China.
1946: Scheduled Independence of the Philippines
Roosevelt reinforced the Philippines (an American protectorate scheduled for independence in 1946).
1948: Industrial Disarmament in Western Germany
From 1945 to 1948, Allied occupational authorities pursued a policy of industrial disarmament in Western Germany.
1948: Emergence of Separate Republics in Korea
In 1948, separate republics emerged on both sides of the 38th parallel in Korea, each claiming to be the legitimate government for all of Korea.
1948: Universal Declaration of Human Rights Adopted
In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted as a common standard for all member nations of the United Nations.
1948: Currency Reform in Western Germany
Recovery from the war began with the mid-1948 currency reform in Western Germany.
1949: Division of Germany
In 1949, the western and eastern occupation zones in Germany controlled by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union officially ended, with the respective zones becoming separate countries, West Germany and East Germany.
1950: US Dominance in World Economy
By 1950, the United States' gross domestic product per person was much higher than that of any of the other powers, and it dominated the world economy.
1951: Peace Treaty Signed
A peace treaty between Japan and the Allies was signed in 1951.
1951: Marshall Plan Economic Aid
The U.S. Marshall Plan economic aid (1948–1951) sped up recovery in Europe.
1952: China Returns to Pre-War Industrial Production
By 1952, China returned to its pre-war industrial production levels.
1955: Reunification of Austria
In Austria, occupation continued until 1955, when a joint settlement between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union permitted the reunification of Austria as a democratic state officially non-aligned with any political bloc.
1956: Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration
In 1956, the Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration terminated the state of war between the two countries and restored full diplomatic relations between them.
1971: Seat Change in UN Security Council
In 1971, there was a seat change between the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China in the UN's Security Council.
1973: End of the Bretton Woods System
The Bretton Woods system, established in July 1944, lasted until 1973.
1991: Seat Change in UN Security Council after Dissolution of Soviet Union
In 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, there was a seat change between the Soviet Union and its successor state, the Russian Federation, in the UN Security Council.
