World War II Battles

The global scope of World War II meant that something was going on every day from the mid-1930s to the end in September 1945. From the great Theaters of the Pacific, Europe, Mediterranean and the Eastern Front down to individual battles that changed the course of the war, the scope was truly worldwide. While no source can cover everyting that happened in WW II, all the important events, battles and campaigns are here in this section.

Explosions aboard destroyer USS Shaw (DD-373) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 7 December 1944
Explosions aboard destroyer USS Shaw (DD-373) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 7 December 1944.
Click photo for larger image.

Today in WW II: 6 Jul 1939 All remaining Jewish enterprises in Germany are closed by the Nazis.  More 
6 Jul 1942 Anne Frank's Jewish family goes into hiding in an attic above her father's office in an Amsterdam warehouse.
6 Jul 1942 Flying Tigers in Burma and China integrated into the US Army Air Forces as the China Air Task Force with Gen. Claire Chennault commanding the new unit.
6 Jul 1943 US and Japanese naval forces fight the Battle of Kula Gulf off Kolombangara, in the New Georgia Islands group of the Solomon Islands.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

World War II Operations, Campaigns and Battles

This section of the Olive-Drab.com history of World War II contains pages that focus on the most important battles and operations, events that will be long remembered from the war. For a day-by-day chronological listing of events, use the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline. The Olive-Drab.com page of World War II Maps will be helpful to follow the action. The page on Recommended Books about World War II provides sources for in-depth history as do books recommended on the pages for individual topics.

Directory of World War II Operations and Battles

Recommended Books About World War II

Find More Information on the Internet

There are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there.

For good results, try entering this: world war ii battle or campaign or operation. Then click the Search button.