World War II in Colour

The activities of nations after World War I that lead to World War II.

Country after European country falls before the unstoppable German blitzkrieg.

The German invasion of Russia from Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941 to Kursk on July 5, 1943.

Japan attacks the USA on December 7, 1941. For the next 6 months, they continue to have successful attacks.

Italy's failed attacks in the Mediterranean region draw in the Germans.

Allies turn the tide in the Atlantic, where initially German U-Boats harass freely convoys to supply Britain. The route to bring American soldiers who will land on D-Day is clear.

Their attack on the Soviet Union having failed, the German Army suffers a series of counter-offensives on the Eastern Front. Wehrmacht's losses are huge as the Soviets advance West.

After a careful campaign of disinformation that throws the German defenders off-guard, the Western Allies finally land on Normandy.France is liberated.

The Western Allies secure supply routes that will allow them to enter Germany, and the Ardennes counter-offensive fails. The Red Army advances rapidly. The SS implements the Holocaust.

The Marines succeed in the "island hopping" strategy against suicidal resistance. The US Navy establishes supremacy, cutting off Japan.

In 1945, Germany is crumbly on both fronts. The Western Allies cross the Rhine and take most of Germany, while the Red Army quickly advances into Berlin. After Hitler's suicide, Germany surrenders and is divided among the allied powers.

Japan continues its suicidal resistance, and invading it looks costly. After 2 atomic bombs, the Emperor intervenes and stops the War. Stalin grabs territory in East Asia. The War is over, and the Atomic Era and the Cold War start.