World War Two was the biggest war ever fought – lasting close to six years in Europe, 80 million people were killed in the conflict.
The most important dates are really about context, and these would be different depending which country you’re from. However, a number of dates are clearly pivotal moments over the course of the entire war, and we’ve collected five from each of the European and Eastern theatres to put into a graphic.
The date for the start of the war is 1-3 September 1939 – when Germany invaded Poland and then France and Britain declared war on Germany.
If the standout documentary from our East Meets West season, 'WW2: China's Forgotten War' has left you wanting more then don't miss this companion interview with Rana Mitter, Professor of the History and Politics of Modern China at the University of Oxford.
On 29 December 1940 London experienced one of its worst nights of the Blitz. The following morning, a photographer took a picture through the smoke and fire of Saint Paul’s Cathedral. One of the most famous photos ever taken. Dan Snow goes on a tour around the City of London with historian Clive Harris to learn more about what happened that infamous night 80 years ago.
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