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List of World War II battles

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

USS Lexington explodes during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
A formation of Spitfires shortly before World War II.

This is a list of World War II battles encompassing land, naval, and air engagements as well as campaigns, operations, defensive lines and sieges. Campaigns generally refer to broader strategic operations conducted over a large bit of territory and over a long period. Battles generally refer to short periods of intense combat localised to a specific area and over a specific period. However, use of the terms in naming such events is not consistent. For example, the Battle of the Atlantic was more or less an entire theatre of war, and the so-called battle lasted for the duration of the entire war. Another misnomer is the Battle of Britain, which by all rights should be considered a campaign, not a mere battle.

Battle Campaign Theatre Start End Allies Axis Victory
Westerplatte Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-09-07  Poland  Germany
 Danzig
Axis
Chojnice Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01  Poland  Germany Axis
Danzig Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01  Poland  Danzig Axis
Danzig Bay Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01  Poland  Germany Axis
Krojanty Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01  Poland  Germany Axis
Lasy Królewskie Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01  Poland  Germany Allies
Mokra Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01  Poland  Germany Allies
Mikołów Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-09-02  Poland  Germany Axis
Pszczyna Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-09-02  Poland  Germany Axis
Częstochowa Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-09-03  Poland  Germany Axis
Mława Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-09-03  Poland  Germany Axis
Jordanów Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-09-03  Poland  Germany Axis
Węgierska Górka Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-09-03  Poland  Germany Axis
Grudziądz Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-09-04  Poland  Germany Axis
Tuchola Forest Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-09-05  Poland  Germany Axis
Slovak invasion of Poland Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-09-16  Poland  Slovakia Axis
Hel Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-01 1939-10-02  Poland  Germany Axis
Fraustadt Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-02  Poland  Germany Allies
Borowa Góra Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-02 1939-09-06  Poland  Germany Axis
Bukowiec Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-03  Poland  Germany Axis
Katowice Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-03 1939-09-04  Poland  Germany Axis
Piotrków Trybunalski Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-04 1939-09-06  Poland  Germany Axis
Różan Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-04 1939-09-06  Poland  Germany Axis
Tomaszów Mazowiecki Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-06  Poland  Germany Axis
Pułtusk Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-06 1939-09-07  Poland  Germany Axis
Łódź Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-06 1939-09-08  Poland  Germany Axis
Barak Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-07 1939-09-08  Poland  Germany Allies
Łomża Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-07 1939-09-10  Poland  Germany Axis
Wizna Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-07 1939-09-10  Poland  Germany Axis
Saar Offensive Phoney War Western Front 1939-09-07 1939-10-16  France  Germany Axis
Wola Cyrusowa Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-08  Poland  Germany Allies
Radom Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-08 1939-09-09  Poland  Germany Axis
Gdynia Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-08 1939-09-14  Poland  Germany Axis
Warsaw Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-08 1939-09-28  Poland  Germany Axis
Bzura Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-09 1939-09-19  Poland  Germany Axis
Kampinos Forest Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-09 1939-09-20  Poland  Germany Axis
Jarosław Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-10 1939-09-11  Poland  Germany Axis
Kępa Oksywska Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-10 1939-09-19  Poland  Germany Axis
Kałuszyn Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-11 1939-09-12  Poland  Germany Allies
Przemyśl Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-11 1939-09-14  Poland  Germany Axis
Lwów Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-12 1939-09-22  Poland  Germany
 Soviet Union
Axis
Modlin Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-13 1939-09-29  Poland  Germany Axis
Jaworów Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-14 1939-09-16  Poland  Germany Allies
Brześć Litewski Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-14 1939-09-17  Poland  Germany Axis
Kobryń Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-14 1939-09-18  Poland  Germany Inconclusive
Tomaszów Lubelski Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-17 1939-09-26  Poland  Germany Axis
Wilno Soviet invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-18 1939-09-19  Poland  Soviet Union Soviet
Wólka Węglowa Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-19  Poland  Germany Allies
Krasnystaw Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-19 1939-09-20  Poland  Germany Axis
Grodno Soviet invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-20 1939-09-22  Poland  Soviet Union Soviet
Cześniki Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-21 1939-09-22  Poland  Germany Allies
Łomianki Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-22  Poland  Soviet Union Axis
Krasnobród Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-23  Poland  Germany Allies
Husynne Soviet invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-24  Poland  Soviet Union Soviet
Władypol Soviet invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-27  Poland  Soviet Union Soviet
Szack Soviet invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-09-28  Poland  Soviet Union Allies
Wytyczno Soviet invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-10-01  Poland  Soviet Union Soviet
Kock Invasion of Poland Eastern Front 1939-10-02 1939-10-05  Poland  Germany Axis
Suomussalmi Winter War Eastern Front 1939-11-30 1940-01-08  Finland  Soviet Union Finnish
Petsamo Winter War Eastern Front 1939-11-30 1940-03-13  Finland  Soviet Union Soviet
Salla Winter War Eastern Front 1939-11-30 1940-03-13  Finland  Soviet Union Finnish
Ilomantsi (1939) Winter War Eastern Front 1939-12-10 1939-12-16  Finland  Soviet Union Stalemate
River Plate Battle of the Atlantic 1939-12-13  United Kingdom
 New Zealand
 Germany Allies
Taipale Winter War Eastern Front 1939-12-06 1939-12-27  Finland  Soviet Union Finnish
Kollaa Winter War Eastern Front 1939-12-07 1940-03-13  Finland  Soviet Union Finnish
Varolampi Pond Winter War Eastern Front 1939-12-10 1939-12-11  Finland  Soviet Union Finnish
Tolvajärvi Winter War Eastern Front 1939-12-12  Finland  Soviet Union Finnish
Summa (first) Winter War Eastern Front 1939-12-16 1939-12-22  Finland  Soviet Union Finnish
Kelja Winter War Eastern Front 1939-12-25 1939-12-27  Finland  Soviet Union Finnish
Raate Road Winter War Eastern Front 1940-01-01 1940-01-07  Finland  Soviet Union Finnish
Kuhmo Winter War Eastern Front 1940-01-28 1940-03-13  Finland  Soviet Union Stalemate
Summa (second) Winter War Eastern Front 1940-02-01 1940-02-15  Finland  Soviet Union Soviet
Altmark Phoney War Western Front 1940-02-16  United Kingdom  Germany Allies
Honkaniemi Winter War Eastern Front 1940-02-25 1940-02-27  Finland  Soviet Union Soviet
Vyborg Bay (1940) Winter War Eastern Front 1940-03-02 1940-03-13  Finland  Soviet Union Ceasefire
Oslofjord Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-08  Norway  Germany Axis
German invasion of Denmark Operation Weserübung Western Front 1940-04-09  Denmark  Germany Axis
Drøbak Sound Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-09  Norway  Germany Allies
Fornebu Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-09  Norway  Germany Axis
Horten Harbour Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-09  Norway  Germany Axis
Kristiansand Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-09  Norway  Germany Axis
Lofoten Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-09  United Kingdom  Germany Allies
Narvik Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-09 1940-06-08  Norway
 France
 United Kingdom
Poland
 Germany Allies
Narvik (naval Norwegian) Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-09  Norway  Germany Axis
Midtskogen Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-10  Norway  Germany Allies
Narvik (first naval) Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-10  United Kingdom  Germany Allies
Narvik (second naval) Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-13  United Kingdom  Germany Allies
Dombås Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-14 1940-04-19  Norway  Germany Allies
Hegra Fortress Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-15 1940-05-05  Norway  Germany Axis
Namsos Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04 1940-05  United Kingdom
 France
 Norway
 Germany Axis
Åndalsnes Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-19 1940-05  United Kingdom
 Norway
 Germany Axis
Gratangen Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-23 1940-04-25  Norway  Germany Axis
Høljarast Bridge Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-24  Norway  Germany Axis
Kvam Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-04-25 1940-04-26  United Kingdom
 Norway
 Germany Axis
Vinjesvingen Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-05-03 1940-05-05  Norway  Germany Axis
Nordland Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-05-08 1940-06-01  United Kingdom
 Norway
 Germany Axis
The Hague German invasion of the Netherlands Western Front 1940-05-10  Netherlands  Germany Allies
Invasion of Iceland Allied occupation of Iceland Western Front 1940-05-10  United Kingdom  Iceland Allies
German invasion of Luxembourg Western Front 1940-05-10  Luxembourg  Germany Axis
Maastricht German invasion of the Netherlands Western Front 1940-05-10  Netherlands  Germany Axis
Fort Ében-Émael German invasion of Belgium Western Front 1940-05-10 1940-05-11  Belgium  Germany Axis
Mill German invasion of the Netherlands Western Front 1940-05-10 1940-05-11  Netherlands  Germany Axis
Rotterdam German invasion of the Netherlands Western Front 1940-05-10 1940-05-14  Netherlands  Germany Axis
Zeeland German invasion of the Netherlands Western Front 1940-05-10 1940-05-18  Netherlands
 France
 United Kingdom
 Germany Axis
Grebbeberg German invasion of the Netherlands Western Front 1940-05-11 1940-05-13  Netherlands  Germany Axis
Afsluitdijk German invasion of the Netherlands Western Front 1940-05-12 1940-05-14  Netherlands  Germany Axis
Hannut German invasion of Belgium Western Front 1940-05-12 1940-05-14  Belgium  Germany Axis
Sedan Battle of France Western Front 1940-05-12 1940-05-17  France
 United Kingdom
 Germany Axis
Gembloux German invasion of Belgium Western Front 1940-05-14 1940-05-15  France  Germany Allies
Montcornet Battle of France Western Front 1940-05-17  France  Germany Allies
Arras Battle of France Western Front 1940-05-21  France
 United Kingdom
 Germany Axis
Boulogne Battle of France Western Front 1940-05-22 1940-05-25  France
 United Kingdom
 Belgium
 Germany Axis
Calais Battle of France Western Front 1940-05-22 1940-05-26  France
 United Kingdom
 Belgium
 Germany Axis
Lys German invasion of Belgium Western Front 1940-05-24 1940-05-28  Belgium
 France
 United Kingdom
 Germany Axis
Ypres–Comines Canal German invasion of Belgium Western Front 1940-05-26 1940-05-28  United Kingdom
 Belgium
 Germany Allies
Dunkirk Battle of France Western Front 1940-05-26 1940-06-04  France
 United Kingdom
 Belgium
 Canada
 Netherlands
 Germany Axis
Abbeville Battle of France Western Front 1940-05-27 1940-06-04  France
 United Kingdom
 Germany Axis
Lille Battle of France Western Front 1940-05-28 1940-05-31  France  Germany Axis
Fall Rot Battle of France Western Front 1940-06-05 1940-06-25  France
 United Kingdom
 Germany Axis
Operation Juno Norwegian campaign Western Front 1940-06-08  United Kingdom  Germany Axis
Italian invasion of France Battle of France Western Front 1940-06-10 1940-06-25  France
 United Kingdom
 Italy Axis
Siege of Malta Mediterranean Front 1940-06-11 1942-11-20  United Kingdom
 Canada
 South Africa
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Free France
Greece
Poland
Norway
 United States
 Italy
 Germany
Allies
Lagarde Battle of France Western Front 1940-06-17 1940-06-18  Poland  Germany Axis
Saumur Battle of France Western Front 1940-06-18 1940-06-20  France  Germany Axis
Espero Convoy Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1940-06-28  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Italy Inconclusive
Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina 1940-06-28 1940-07-03 Romania  Soviet Union
 Germany
Soviets
Mers-el-Kébir Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1940-07-03  United Kingdom  France Allies
Kassala East African campaign African Front 1940-07-04  United Kingdom  Italy Axis
Kanalkampf Battle of Britain Western Front 1940-07-04 1940-08-11  United Kingdom
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Canada
Poland Poland
 Belgium
 Germany Inconclusive
Calabria Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1940-07-09  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Italy Inconclusive
Cape Spada Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1940-07-19  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Italy Allies
Tug Argan East African campaign African Front 1940-08-11 1940-08-15  United Kingdom  Italy Axis
Adlertag Battle of Britain Western Front 1940-08-13  United Kingdom  Germany Allies
The Hardest Day Battle of Britain Western Front 1940-08-18  United Kingdom  Germany Inconclusive
Battle of Britain Day Battle of Britain Western Front 1940-09-15  United Kingdom  Germany Allies
Graveney Marsh Battle of Britain Western Front 1940-09-27  United Kingdom  Germany Allies
Italian invasion of British Somaliland East African campaign African Front 1940-08-03 1940-08-19  United Kingdom
 Australia
 South Africa
 Italy Axis
The Blitz Battle of Britain Western Front 1940-09-07 1941-05-11  United Kingdom  Germany
 Italy
Inconclusive
Italian invasion of Egypt Western Desert campaign African Front 1940-09-09 1940-09-16  United Kingdom
 Free France
 Italy Axis
Lạng Sơn Japanese invasion of French Indochina South-East Asian Front 1940-09-22 1940-09-26  Vichy France  Japan Axis
Dakar West African campaign African Front 1940-09-23 1940-09-25  United Kingdom
 Free France
 Australia
 Vichy France Vichy
Franco-Thai War South-East Asian Front 1940-10 1941-01-28  Vichy France  Thailand Thai
Cape Passero Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1940-10-12  United Kingdom  Italy Allies
Convoy BN 7 East African campaign African Front 1940-10-20 1940-10-21  United Kingdom
 New Zealand
 Australia
 Italy Allies
Gabon West African campaign African Front 1940-10-27 1940-11-12  Free France
 United Kingdom
 Vichy France Allies
Pindus Greco–Italian War Mediterranean Front 1940-10-28 1940-11-13  Greece  Italy Allies
Elaia–Kalamas Greco–Italian War Mediterranean Front 1940-11-02 1940-11-08  Greece  Italy Allies
Taranto Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1940-11-11 1940-11-12  United Kingdom  Italy Allies
Morava–Ivan Greco–Italian War Mediterranean Front 1940-11-14 1940-11-23  Greece  Italy
Albania
Allies
Korytsa Greco–Italian War Mediterranean Front 1940-11-16 1940-11-22  Greece  Italy Allies
Cape Spartivento Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1940-11-27  United Kingdom  Italy Inconclusive
Saranda Greco–Italian War Mediterranean Front 1940-12 1940-12  Greece  Italy Allies
Nibeiwa Western Desert campaign African Front 1940-12-09  United Kingdom  Italy Allies
Sidi Barrani Western Desert campaign African Front 1940-12-10 1940-12-11  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Free France
 Italy Allies
Himara Greco–Italian War Mediterranean Front 1940-12-13 1940-12-22  Greece  Italy Allies
Giarabub Western Desert campaign African Front 1940-12-25 1941-03-21  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Italy Allies
Bardia Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-01-03 1941-01-05  Australia
 United Kingdom
 Free France
 Italy Allies
Klisura Pass Greco–Italian War Mediterranean Front 1941-01-06 1941-01-11  Greece  Italy Allies
Operation Excess Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1941-01-10 1941-01-11  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Italy
 Germany
Allies
Operation Berlin (Atlantic) Battle of the Atlantic 1941-01-22 1941-03-22  United Kingdom  Germany Axis
Mechili Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-01-24  United Kingdom  Italy Allies
Agordat East African campaign African Front 1941-01-26 1941-01-31  United Kingdom  Italy Allies
Trebeshina Greco–Italian War Mediterranean Front 1941-01-29 1941-02-17  Greece  Italy Allies
Kufra Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-01-31 1941-03-01  Free France
 United Kingdom
 Italy Allies
Keren East African campaign African Front 1941-02-03 1941-03-27  United Kingdom
 Free France
 Italy Allies
Beda Fomm Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-02-06 1941-02-07  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Italy Allies
Operation Sonnenblume Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-02-06 1941-05-25  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Germany
 Italy
Axis
Action of 27 February 1941 Indian Ocean 1941-02-27  New Zealand  Italy Allies
Hill 731 Greco–Italian War Mediterranean Front 1941-03-09 1941-03-24  Greece  Italy Allies
Saïo East African campaign African Front 1941-03-25 1941-07-06 Belgium Belgium
 United Kingdom
 Ethiopian Empire
 South Africa
 Italy Allies
Souda Bay Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1941-03-26  United Kingdom
 Norway
 Italy Axis
Cape Matapan Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1941-03-27 1941-03-29  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Italy Allies
4 April 1941 Battle of the Atlantic 1941-04-04  United Kingdom  Germany Axis
Operation Retribution (1941) Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-04-06 1941-04-08  Yugoslavia  Germany Axis
Metaxas Line Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-04-06 1941-04-09  Greece  Germany Axis
Invasion of Yugoslavia Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-04-06 1941-04-18  Yugoslavia  Germany
 Hungary
 Italy
Axis
Tobruk Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-04-10 1941-11-27  Australia
 United Kingdom
 New Zealand
Poland Poland
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
 Germany
 Italy
Allies
Vevi Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-04-11 1941-04-12  Australia
 Greece
 New Zealand
 United Kingdom
 Germany Axis
Ptolemaida Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-04-13  United Kingdom
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Germany Axis
Kleisoura Pass Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-04-13 1941-04-14  Greece  Germany Axis
Lake Kastoria Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-04-15  Greece  Germany Axis
Tarigo Convoy Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1941-04-16  United Kingdom  Italy Allies
Tempe Gorge Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-04-18  Australia
 New Zealand
 Germany Allies
Bardia Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-04-19 1941-04-20  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Germany
 Italy
Allies
Athens Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-04-20  United Kingdom  Germany Axis
Thermopylae Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-04-24 1941-04-25  Australia
 New Zealand
 Germany Axis
Anglo-Iraqi War Middle Eastern Front 1941-05-02 1941-05-31  United Kingdom
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Greece
 Iraq
 Germany
 Italy
 Vichy France
Allies
Amba Alagi East African campaign African Front 1941-05-04 1941-05-19  United Kingdom
 South Africa
 Ethiopian Empire
 Italy Allies
Convoy OB 318 Battle of the Atlantic 1941-05-07 1941-05-10  United Kingdom  Germany Allies
Action of 8 May 1941 Indian Ocean 1941-05-08  United Kingdom  Germany Allies
Operation Brevity Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-05-15 1941-05-16  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Germany
 Italy
Inconclusive
Last battle of Bismarck Battle of the Atlantic 1941-05-18 1941-05-27  United Kingdom
Poland Poland
 Germany Allies
Rethymno Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-05-20 1941-05-29  Australia
 Greece
 Germany Axis
Crete Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-05-20 1941-06-01  New Zealand
 Greece
 United Kingdom
 Australia
 Germany
 Italy
Axis
Denmark Strait Battle of the Atlantic 1941-05-24  United Kingdom  Germany Axis
Operation Skorpion Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-05-26 1941-05-27  United Kingdom  Germany Axis
42nd Street Balkans campaign Mediterranean Front 1941-05-27  Australia
 New Zealand
 Germany Allies
Litani River Syria–Lebanon campaign Middle Eastern Front 1941-06-09  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Vichy France Allies
Jezzine Syria–Lebanon campaign Middle Eastern Front 1941-06-13 1941-06-14  Australia  Vichy France Allies
Sidon Syria–Lebanon campaign Middle Eastern Front 1941-06-13 1941-06-15  Australia  Vichy France Allies
Operation Battleaxe Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-06-15 1941-06-17  United Kingdom
Poland Poland
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
 Germany
 Italy
Axis
Kissoué Syria–Lebanon campaign Middle Eastern Front 1941-06-15 1941-06-17  United Kingdom
 Free France
 Vichy France Allies
Damascus Syria–Lebanon campaign Middle Eastern Front 1941-06-18 1941-06-21  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Free France
 Vichy France Allies
Merdjayoun Syria–Lebanon campaign Middle Eastern Front 1941-06-19 1941-06-24  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Vichy France Allies
Palmyra Syria–Lebanon campaign Middle Eastern Front 1941-06-21 1941-07-02  United Kingdom  Vichy France Allies
Operation Rentier Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-06-22  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Brest Fortress Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-06-22 1941-06-29  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Białystok–Minsk Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-06-22 1941-07-09  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Gulf of Riga Baltic Sea campaigns Eastern Front 1941-06-22 1941-08  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Soviet submarine campaign (1941) Baltic Sea campaigns Eastern Front 1941-06-22 1941-11  Soviet Union  Germany Inconclusive
Hanko Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-06-22 1941-12-02  Soviet Union  Finland Axis
German-Soviet air war 22 June 1941 Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-06-22  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Raseiniai Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-06-23 1941-06-27  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Brody Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-06-23 1941-06-30  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Operation Platinum Fox Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-06-29 1941-09-21  Soviet Union  Germany
 Finland
Allies
Finnish invasion of Ladoga Karelia Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-07 1941-08  Soviet Union  Finland
 Germany
Axis
Operation Arctic Fox Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-07-01 1941-11-17  Soviet Union  Germany
 Finland
Stalemate
Operation München Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-07-02 1941-07-26  Soviet Union Romania
 Germany
Axis
Deir ez-Zor Syria–Lebanon campaign Middle Eastern Front 1941-07-03  United Kingdom  Vichy France Allies
Damour Syria–Lebanon campaign Middle Eastern Front 1941-07-05 1941-07-09  Australia  Vichy France Allies
Smolensk (1941) Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-07-10 1941-09-10  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Kiev (1941) Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-07-07 1941-09-26  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Finnish invasion of East Karelia Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-07-10 1941-12-06  Soviet Union  Finland
 Germany
Axis
Beirut Syria–Lebanon campaign Middle Eastern Front 1941-07-12  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Free France
 Vichy France Allies
Operation Substance Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1941-07-13 1941-07-28  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Italy Allies
Uman Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-07-15 1941-08-08  Soviet Union  Germany
Romania
 Hungary
Slovakia
Axis
Twin Pimples Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-07-17 1941-07-18  United Kingdom
 Australia
 Italy Allies
Bengtskär Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-07-26  Soviet Union  Finland Axis
Operation EF Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-07-30  United Kingdom  Germany
 Finland
Axis
Finnish invasion of the Karelian Isthmus Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-07-31 1941-09-05  Soviet Union  Finland Axis
Culqualber East African campaign African Front 1941-08-06 1941-11-21  United Kingdom
 South Africa
 Ethiopian Empire
 Italy Allies
Odessa (1941) Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-08-08 1941-10-16  Soviet Union Romania
 Germany
 Italy
Axis
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran Middle Eastern Front 1941-08-25 1941-08-31  Soviet Union
 United Kingdom
 Australia
 Iran Allies
Soviet evacuation of Tallinn Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-08-27 1941-08-31  Soviet Union  Finland
 Germany
Axis
Porlampi Continuation War Eastern Front 1941-08-30 1941-09-01  Soviet Union  Finland Axis
Loznica Uprising in Serbia Mediterranean Front 1941-08-31 Chetniks  Germany Yugoslavs
Leningrad Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-09-08 1944-01-27  Soviet Union  Germany
 Finland
 Italy
Allies
Operation Beowulf Baltic Sea campaigns Eastern Front 1941-09-09 1941-10-21  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Šabac Uprising in Serbia Mediterranean Front 1941-09-21 1941-09-26 Chetniks
Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans
 Germany
 Croatia
Axis
Kruševac Uprising in Serbia Mediterranean Front 1941-09-23 1941-09-27 Chetniks
Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans
 Germany Axis
Sea of Azov Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-09-26 1941-10-11  Soviet Union  Germany
Romania
Axis
Operation Halberd Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1941-09-27  United Kingdom
Netherlands
Poland
 Italy Allies
Petrikowka Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-09-27 1941-09-30  Soviet Union  Italy Axis
Operation Uzice Uprising in Serbia Mediterranean Front 1941-09-27 1941-11-29 Chetniks
Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans
 Germany
 Croatia
Axis
Bryansk Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-09-30 1941-10-21  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Moscow Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-09-30 1942-01-07  Soviet Union  Germany Allies
Kraljevo Uprising in Serbia Mediterranean Front 1941-10-09 1941-10-31 Chetniks
Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans
 Germany Axis
Borodino Field Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-10-13 1942-01-18  Soviet Union  Germany Allies
Rogatica (1941) Yugoslavia Mediterranean Front 1941-10-13 1941-10-24 Chetniks
Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans
 Croatia Yugoslavs
Tikhvin Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-10-16 1941-12-31  Soviet Union  Germany Allies
Crimean campaign Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-10-18 1944-07-04  Soviet Union  Germany
Romania
 Italy
Axis
Kharkov (first) Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-10-20 1941-10-24  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Sevastopol Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-10-30 1942-07-04  Soviet Union  Germany
Romania
 Italy
Axis
Novi Pazar Uprising in Serbia Mediterranean Front 1941-11 1941-12 Chetniks
Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans
Albania
Sandžaks
Axis
Olovo Yugoslavia Mediterranean Front 1941-11-01 1941-12-17 Chetniks
Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans
 Croatia Yugoslavs
Trešnjica Uprising in Serbia Mediterranean Front 1941-11-02 Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans Chetniks Partisans
Duisburg Convoy Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1941-11-08 1941-11-09  United Kingdom  Italy Allies
Gondar East African campaign African Front 1941-11-13 1941-11-27  United Kingdom
 South Africa
 Ethiopian Empire
 Italy Allies
Operation Crusader Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-11-18 1941-12-30  United Kingdom
 New Zealand
 South Africa
 Australia
Poland Poland
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
 Italy
 Germany
Allies
Bir el Gubi Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-11-19  United Kingdom  Italy Axis
Point 175 Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-11-29 1941-12-01  New Zealand  Italy Axis
Pljevlja Uprising in Montenegro Mediterranean Front 1941-12-01 1941-12-02 Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans  Italy Axis
Bir el Gubi Western Desert campaign African Front 1941-12-04 1941-12-07  United Kingdom  Italy
 Germany
Axis
Operation Mihailovic Uprising in Serbia Mediterranean Front 1941-12-04 1941-12-09 Chetniks  Germany Axis
Pearl Harbor Pacific Front 1941-12-07  United States  Japan Axis
Midway bombardment (first) Pacific Front 1941-12-07  United States  Japan Axis
Clark Field Philippines campaign (Axis) Pacific Front 1941-12-08  United States  Japan Axis
Batan Island Philippines campaign (Axis) Pacific Front 1941-12-08  United States  Japan Axis
Hong Kong Pacific Front 1941-12-08 1941-12-25  United Kingdom
 Canada
 China
 Free France
 Japan Axis
Kota Bharu Malayan campaign Pacific Front 1941-12-08  United Kingdom
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Japan Axis
Japanese invasion of Thailand Pacific Front 1941-12-08  Thailand  Japan Axis
Singapore (1941) Malayan campaign Pacific Front 1941-12-08  United Kingdom  Japan Inconclusive
Guam (1941) Pacific Front 1941-12-08 1941-12-10  United States  Japan Axis
Wake Island Pacific Front 1941-12-08 1941-12-23  United States  Japan Axis
Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse Malayan campaign Pacific Front 1941-12-10  United Kingdom  Japan Axis
Vigan Philippines campaign (Axis) Pacific Front 1941-12-10  United States  Japan Axis
Aparri Philippines campaign (Axis) Pacific Front 1941-12-10  United States  Japan Axis
Jitra Malayan campaign Pacific Front 1941-12-10 1941-12-13  United Kingdom  Japan Axis
Legazpi Philippines campaign (Axis) Pacific Front 1941-12-12  United States  Japan Axis
Cape Bon Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1941-12-13  United Kingdom
Netherlands
 Italy Allies
Japanese invasion of Burma Burma campaign South-East Asian Front 1941-12-14 1942-05-28  United Kingdom
 China
 United States
 Japan
 Thailand
Axis
Gurun Malayan campaign Pacific Front 1941-12-14 1941-12-16  United Kingdom  Japan Axis
Kerch Peninsula Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1941-12-16 1942-05-19  Soviet Union  Germany
Romania
Axis
Sirte (first) Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1941-12-17  United Kingdom
 Australia
Netherlands
 Italy Inconclusive
Alexandria Battle of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Front 1941-12-19  United Kingdom  Italy Axis
Davao Philippines campaign (Axis) Pacific Front 1941-12-19 1941-12-25  United States  Japan Axis
Lingayen Gulf Philippines campaign (Axis) Pacific Front 1941-12-21 1941-12-23  United States  Japan Axis
Lamon Bay Philippines campaign (Axis) Pacific Front 1941-12-21 1941-12-23  United States  Japan Axis
Sjenica Uprising in Serbia Mediterranean Front 1941-12-22 Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans Sandžaks
 Italy
 Germany
Axis
Kampar Malayan campaign Pacific Front 1941-12-30 1942-01-02  United Kingdom  Japan Stalemate
Kuala Lumpur Malayan campaign Pacific Front 1942-01-11  United Kingdom  Japan Axis
Suursaari Continuation War Eastern Front 1942-03-26 1942-04-02  Soviet Union  Finland Axis
Adzhimushkay quarry Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front 1942-05-16 1942-10-30  Soviet Union  Germany Axis
Soviet submarine campaign (1942) Baltic Sea campaigns Eastern Front 1942-06 1942-10  Soviet Union  Germany
 Finland
 Sweden
Allies
Someri Continuation War Eastern Front 1942-07-08 1942-07-10  Soviet Union  Finland
 Germany
Axis
Sinyavino Operation Nordlicht (1942) Eastern Front 1942-08-19 1942-10-10  Soviet Union  Germany Stalemate
Sukho Island Baltic Sea campaigns Eastern Front 1942-10-22  Soviet Union  Germany Allies
Soviet submarine campaign (1943) Baltic Sea campaigns Eastern Front 1943-04 1943-08  Soviet Union  Germany
 Finland
Axis
Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensive Continuation War Eastern Front 1944-06-10 1944-08-09  Soviet Union  Finland
 Germany
Allies
Nerva Island Continuation War Eastern Front 1944-06-19 1944-06-20  Soviet Union  Germany Allies
Tienhaara Continuation War Eastern Front 1944-06-22  Soviet Union  Finland Axis
Kaprolat and Hasselmann Continuation War Eastern Front 1944-06-25 1944-06-26  Soviet Union  Germany Allies
Tali–Ihantala Continuation War Eastern Front 1944-06-25 1944-07-09  Soviet Union  Finland
 Germany
Axis
Gulf of Finland U-boat campaign Baltic Sea campaigns Eastern Front 1944 (summer) 1945 (spring)  Soviet Union
 Finland
 Germany
 Finland
Allies w/ Finland
Vyborg Bay Continuation War Eastern Front 1944-06-30 1944-07-10  Soviet Union  Finland
 Germany
Inconclusive
Vuosalmi Continuation War Eastern Front 1944-07-04 1944-07-17  Soviet Union  Finland Inconclusive
Nietjärvi Continuation War Eastern Front 1944-07-15 1944-07-17  Soviet Union  Finland Axis
Ilomantsi (1944) Continuation War Eastern Front 1944-07-26 1944-08-13  Soviet Union  Finland Axis
Operation Hokki Continuation War Eastern Front 1944-07-31 1944-08-31  Soviet Union  Finland Axis
Soviet submarine campaign (1944) Baltic Sea campaigns Eastern Front 1944-10 1944-12  Soviet Union  Germany Allies
Soviet naval campaign (1945) Baltic Sea campaigns Eastern Front 1945-01 1945-05-09  Soviet Union  Germany Allies

Battles from 1941

[edit]

1941

[edit]
Attack on Pearl Harbor Surprise Japanese attack destroys almost all the US Pacific Fleet.
Second Battle of Changsha Failure of Japan's second attempt to take Changsha in China.
Battle of Shanggao Japanese 11th Army attacked the headquarters of the Chinese 19th Army
Battle of Thailand Japan invades and occupies Thailand.
Battle of Hong Kong Japan captures the British colony of Hong Kong.
Battle of Guam (1941) Japan captures the American territory of Guam.
Battle of Wake Island Japan captures the atoll of Wake Island.
Malayan Campaign
Japanese Invasion of Malaya
Operation Krohcol
Bombing of Singapore
Battle of Jitra
Battle of Kampar
Battle of Slim River
Battle of Muar
Battle of Gemas
Battle off Endau
Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse Japanese defeat British naval forces.

1942

[edit]
Battle of Bataan
Battle of Dražgoše First direct engagement between Slovenian partisans and German occupying forces.
Battle of Makassar Strait Japanese aircraft raid an American and Dutch convoy.
Battle of Singapore
Battle of Sarimbun Beach
Battle of Kranji
Battle of Bukit Timah
Battle of Pasir Panjang
Battle of the Java Sea Japanese forces destroy an Allied naval squadron.
Battle of Badung Strait Outnumbered Japanese forces defeat an Allied night-time naval attack.
Battle of Java Japanese forces invade the island of Java
Indian Ocean raid Allied naval forces and shipping suffer many losses during Japan's Fast Carrier Strike Force sortie.
Battle of Christmas Island The Japanese occupy Christmas Island unopposed.
Battle of Corregidor Philippines lost to Japan.
Japanese capture of Burma Burma lost to Japan.
Battle of Nanos Eight hundred Italian soldiers lay siege to fifty Slovene partisans.
Doolittle Raid First air raid on Tokyo.
Battle of the Coral Sea First aircraft-carrier vs. aircraft-carrier battle
Battle of Gazala German offensive in the desert south of Tobruk anticipated and nearly defeated but ends with many losses to British armour, forcing a withdrawal. In a surprise strike, Tobruk was taken in a day. Rommel exploited the success by pursuing the British into Egypt, denying them time to recover from the defeat but was checked at El Alamein.
Battle of Midway Defeat of Japanese naval forces in the Pacific; the Japanese lose four aircraft-carriers.
Convoy PQ 17 A convoy of thirty-five ships leaves Iceland on June 17, bound for Murmansk. Eleven arrive on July 5.
Battle of the Aleutian Islands Japanese invade and occupy two islands of Alaska's Aleutian archipelago as part of a feint to cover the Imperial Fleet's intended trap at Midway
Attack on Sydney Harbour Japanese midget submarines attack Sydney harbour.
First Battle of El Alamein British Eighth Army stops Rommel's Axis forces invading Egypt.
Second Battle of El Alamein Montgomery's Eighth Army forces Rommel out of Egypt.
Battle of Sevastopol Captured by Germans after eight-month siege.
Battle of Changsha (1942) Chinese claim victory over Japanese.
Kokoda Track Campaign Australians and U.S. for the first time in World War II stop a Japanese offensive (against Port Moresby)
Battle of Guadalcanal Beginning of Allied action in Solomon Islands.
Battle of Savo Island Japanese sink four US cruisers.
Battle of Dieppe Operation Jubilee was an Allied amphibious raid on the German-occupied port of Dieppe in France. A tactical disaster for the Allies. Lessons learned applied to later amphibious operations including D-Day.
Battle of Stalingrad City besieged by Paulus' German Sixth Army; from November 23 the Sixth Army is surrounded and destroyed by Soviets; bloodiest battle in history, 1.8 million dead approx.
Battle of the Eastern Solomons Japanese aircraft carrier Ryūjō sunk.
Battle of Milne Bay First time Japanese landing force had been driven back into sea.
Battle of Buna-Gona Australians and U.S. defeat Japanese on north coast of New Guinea.
Battle of Cape Esperance near Guadalcanal
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands near Guadalcanal, USS Hornet (CV-8) sunk.
Operation Torch Allied landings in North Africa and putsch by French Resistance in Algiers to prevent Vichy forces opposition.
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal US defeats Japan, a turning point.
Battle of Tassafaronga off Guadalcanal
Second Battle of Kharkov Failed Soviet attempt to retake Kharkov.
Battle of Changsha (1942) Second Sino-Japanese War
Battle of Madagascar Allies capture Madagascar from Vichy France.

1943

[edit]
Battle of Osankarica About 2,000 Germans massacred all 69 men and women of the Pohorje Battalion. Germans lost 19 men dead and had 31 wounded.
Battle of Rennell Island Japanese bombers sink a cruiser.
Third Battle of Kharkov Germans retake Kharkov.
Battle of the Kasserine Pass Battle between US and German armored forces in Tunisia.
Battle of Neretva German Army offensive in southern Bosnia. Offensive launched to encircle and destroy Yugoslavian Communist Partisan forces. Supporting the German forces in this effort were Italian, Ustaše and Serbian Royalist Chetnik units. The partisans were badly mauled but managed to escape encirclement.
Battle of the Komandorski Islands Naval engagement between US and Japan in the Bering Sea.
Battle of the Ruhr British strategic bombing of the industrial Ruhr Area, which had coke plants, steelworks and ten synthetic oil plants. Targets included the Krupp armament works (Essen), the Nordstern synthetic-oil plant (Gelsenkirchen), and the Rheinmetal–Borsig plant in Düsseldorf.
Battle of the Bismarck Sea U.S. and Royal Australian Air Force planes attack and sink most of a Japanese convoy carrying troops to reinforce Lae, New Guinea.
Battle of the Bering Sea United States and Japanese navies fight an inconclusive battle.
Operation Cartwheel Operation to neutralize the Japanese base at Rabaul.
Battle of Attu United States troops defeat and drive the Japanese off the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 5,000 Jews and 2,000 Germans die, Jews confined.
Battle of Sutjeska Another attempt by German forces in Yugoslavia, this time supported by Italian, Bulgarian, and Serbian units, to encircle and destroy the Yugoslavian Communist Partisan forces in southern Bosnia. Again, the partisans were mauled but escaped.
Battle of Castle Turjak Slovene partisans took the castle guarded by the Slovene village sentries.
Battle of Kursk Germans attack Kursk salient at Orel and Belgorod, Russians drive them back. A very big tank battle.
Allied invasion of Sicily Allies take Sicily from the Italians and German armies.
Allied invasion of Italy Landings at Calabria, Taranto and Salerno.
Dodecanese Campaign
Battle of Kos
Battle of Leros
Allied and German scramble to occupy the Dodecanese Islands.
German amphibious and airborne operation to capture Kos.
German amphibious and airborne operation to capture Leros.
Battle of Smolensk The Soviets attack 850,000 German troops near Smolensk Fortified Region, drive them back inflicting severe losses.
Battle of Kiev (1943) Kiev retaken by Soviets.
Raid on Schweinfurt milestone air battle between the Luftwaffe and the USAAF known as "Black Thursday"
Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission another big daylight air battle, first shuttle mission.
Battle of Berlin Germany defend Berlin from the British.
Battle of Tarawa First major American amphibious landing in the Pacific.
Battle of Makin Americans capture the atoll of Makin Atoll.
Salamaua-Lae campaign Australian and U.S. forces capture two major Japanese bases at Lae and at Salamaua.
Battle of Wau Australians defeat Japanese attempts to capture Wau, New Guinea.
Battle of the Bernhardt Line U.S. 5th Army sustains 16,000 casualties fighting through the Mignano Gap to reach the Cassino defenses.
Moro River Campaign
Battle of Ortona

1944

[edit]
Battle of Meiktila
Battle of Monte Cassino Four battles in Italy Jan - May. Allies finally breakthrough towards Rome.
Battle of Monte Castelo An unsuccessful attempt to break through the Northern Apennines. The battle marked the Brazilian Expeditionary Force's entry into the land war in Europe.
Battle of Anzio
Battle of Cisterna
Battle of Kwajalein American forces assault the islands of Kwajalein and Roi-Namur.
Battle of the Admin Box Japanese attempt a local counter-attack against an Allied offensive.
Battle of Eniwetok Battle between American and Japanese on Eniwetok Atoll.
Battle of Imphal and Battle of Kohima Attempted Japanese invasion of India fails with heavy losses.
U Go offensive Allied successfully defend Manipur from the Axis
Operation Ichi-Go Successful Japanese campaign to capture American air bases in China capable of sending bombers to Japan.
Operation Rösselsprung German attempt to capture Tito using airborne troops.
Battle of Normandy Allies invade northern France (Operation Overlord), hard fighting from Cherbourg to Caen, Germans surrounded and destroyed at Falaise.
Battle of Saipan The battle was fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands and resulted disastrous for Japanese forces since most died.
Second Battle of Guam American forces capture back Guam.
Battle of Tinian American forces capture Tinian.
Operation Bagration Soviet offensive destroys German Army Group Center on the Eastern Front.
Battle of Philippine Sea Major carrier battle; US lose 123 planes and destroy 315 Japanese planes.
Battle of Tali-Ihantala Finnish stop Soviet offensive.
Warsaw Uprising 20,000 armed Poles against 55,000 Wehrmacht and SS. 90% of city destroyed, more than 250,000 casualties.
Operation Dragoon Allied invasion of Southern France.
Battle of Debrecen Soviets gain ground in Hungary but German and Hungarian forces manage to withdraw relatively intact after both sides suffer similar losses.
Gothic Line offensive British 8th Army and U.S. 5th Army attempt unsuccessfully to break into the north Italian plains.
Battle of Arnhem The major battle of Operation Market Garden; Allies reach but fail to cross the Rhine; British First Airborne Division destroyed.
Battle of Peleliu A fight to capture an airstrip on a speck of coral in the western Pacific.
Battle of Aachen Aachen was the first major German city to face invasion during World War II.
Battle of the Scheldt Decisive Canadian victory, solved the logistical problems of the Allies, and opened the port of Antwerp for supplies directly to the front.
Battle of Crucifix Hill The 18th Infantry, U.S. 1st Infantry Division take Crucifix Hill, a crucial position to help surround Aachen. Cpt. Bobbie E. Brown is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics.
Battle of Angaur American forces capture an island in Palau.
Battle of Hurtgen Forest Stubborn German defense, appalling losses to US army.
Battle of Leyte American and Filipino guerrillas forces capture Leyte.
Battle of Leyte Gulf The largest air-sea battle in history.
Operation Queen was a joint British-American operation during World War II at the Western Front between Aachen and the Rur river.
Battle of Mindoro
Battle of Vianden The only major open battle fought between the Luxembourgish Resistance against German forces.
Battle of the Bulge German counterattack in Ardennes; General McAuliffe says "NUTS" at Bastogne.

1945

[edit]
Operation Elephant Allied offensive against a German bridgehead at Kapelsche Veer in the Netherlands.
Raid at Cabanatuan US Army Rangers rescue Bataan and Corregidor POWs from Japanese prison camp.
Prague Offensive 1st, 4th, and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts of the Soviet Army crushed the last concentration of German troops (over 1,000,000 men in two army groups) in southeastern Germany and Czechoslovakia. These troops were Army Group Centre and the remnants of Army Group Ostmark.
Operation Spring Awakening The last German offensive of the war, launched around Lake Balaton, in Hungary.
Battle of Bataan U.S. and Philippine Forces retake the historic Bataan Peninsula.
Battle of Manila City totally devastated after month-long battle between the American, Filipino and Japanese forces; 100,000 civilians killed.
Battle of Luzon The battle where Mexico entered World War II, contributing pilots to help the United States and the Philippines defeat Japan in the South Pacific, with a loss of 37,870 Allied soldiers and 217,000 Japanese soldiers; an Allied victory
Battle of Corregidor Spectacular combined U.S. and Philippine assault retakes island bastion from Japanese forces.
Raid at Los Baños U.S. Airborne Task Force rescues more than 2,000 Allied POWs and civilian internees held by Japanese.
Battle of Mindanao U.S. Eighth Army together with the Philippine Commonwealth troops completes the recapture of Southern Philippines.
Operation Varsity 134 Allied gliders land troops in Weisel.
Battle of the Visayas U.S. Eighth Army together with the Philippine Commonwealth troops retakes central Philippine islands.
Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay Japanese defeated in Central Burma
Battle of Iwo Jima After a month, U.S. Forces take main offshore Japanese island.
Operation Encore 10th Mountain Division and the Brazilian Expeditionary Force forced the German LI Mountain Corps from their positions in the Northern Apennines, leading to the start of the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy
Battle of West Henan–North Hubei Indecisive battle between China and Japan. Japan controls airbases after battle.
Battle of Halbe Part of Battle of Berlin, Germans unable to break out.
Battle of Berlin Soviet forces encircle and capture German capital; Hitler commits suicide.
Battle of Hamburg British forces capture German city.
Battle for Castle Itter Troops of the 23rd Tank Battalion of the 12th Armored Division, Wehrmacht, SS-Hauptsturmführer Kurt Siegfried Schrader, and recently freed French prisoners of war defended Itter Castle against an attacking force from the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division.
Battle of Trieste British army and Yugoslav Partisans capture the city.
Battle of Tarakan Allied attack as part of the Borneo campaign.
Battle of Poljana (14–15 May 1945) Battle between Yugoslav partisans and HOS (Croatia), German Wehrmacht, Slovene Home Guard...
Battle of Odžak Last battle of World War II in Europe. Between Yugoslav partisans and HOS (Croatia) from 19 April to 25 May 1945.
Battle of West Hunan Chinese victory in final battle to expel Japan.
Battle of Okinawa US takes Japanese Island in the Ryūkyūs; many casualties to both sides.
Battle of North Borneo Australian victory during final stages of World War II in the Pacific.
Battle of Balikpapan Allied victory over Japan.
Battle of Manchuria Soviet forces liberate Manchuria.
Battle of Groningen Canadian forces capture Dutch city from SS troops
Battle of Otterlo German forces attempt to break an encirclement by attacking Canadian and British forces

African Front

[edit]

Mediterranean Front

[edit]

Western Front

[edit]

Atlantic Ocean

[edit]

Eastern Front

[edit]

Indian Ocean

[edit]

Pacific Front

[edit]

China Front

[edit]

Southeast Asia Front

[edit]

Military engagements during occupations

[edit]

Resistances

[edit]
[edit]

General

Specific

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

Major bombing campaigns

[edit]

General

Specific

Operations

[edit]

Raids

[edit]

Small to medium-sized raiding operations were carried out by both Allied and Axis armies during World War II. The modus operandi used included guerrilla attacks by partisans in occupied territory and/or combined operations involving the landing and removal of specialised light infantry, such as commandos, by means of small boats.

Raiding units

Defensive lines

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Contemporaneous wars

[edit]

References

[edit]

See also

[edit]