Leaders and Political Developments
his timeline highlights key political events and the roles of major leaders during World War II.
30 January 1933
Hitler Becomes Chancellor
Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, marking the beginning of the Nazi regime.
10 May 1940
Churchill Becomes Prime Minister
Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister, providing strong leadership during Britain's darkest hours.
22 June 1941
Hitler's Invasion of the Soviet Union
Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, a massive invasion of the Soviet Union, which would prove to be a critical mistake.
7 December 1941
Pearl Harbor and U.S. Entry into the War
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor drew the United States into the war, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt playing a crucial role in rallying the nation
January 1943
Casablanca Conference
The Allies, including Roosevelt, Churchill, and Charles de Gaulle, met to discuss strategy and declare that only unconditional surrender would be accepted from the Axis powers.
November 1943
Tehran Conference
The first meeting of the 'Big Three' (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin) to coordinate Allied strategy and post-war plans.
30 April 1945
Hitler's Death
As Allied forces closed in on Berlin, Adolf Hitler committed suicide, marking the end of the Nazi regime.
7 May 1945
German Surrender
Germany surrendered unconditionally, ending the war in Europe. This was followed by the Potsdam Conference where the Allies discussed post-war reorganization.
