Steps that led to D-Day on June 6, 1944 March-October 1938: Hitler initiates plan to create greater Germany, seizing Austria by force, then annexing Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia with agreement of Britain and France September 1939: German armies invade Poland. Britain and France declare war on Germany Winter 1939-40: “Phoney war”. Most of Europe remains neutral, little fighting takes place April 1940: Germany invades Norway and Denmark May: Winston Churchill heads new coalition government in Britain. Germany occupies Belgium and Holland. France defeated within days. 224,000 British forces and 95,000 French forces evacuated from Dunkirk June: France surrenders and signs armistice with Germany July: Operation Sealion – Hitler prepares to invade Britain July 10-October 31: Battle of Britain. Germany assembles over 2,300 aircraft. RAF has only 650 fighter aircraft available to defend nation September 7: Hitler orders Blitz of London September 15: More than 1,000 Nazi aircraft attack London to deliver Luftwaffe’s final blow before planned invasion RAF pilots successfully repulse attacks in what Churchill calls Britain’s “finest hour” October: Hitler abandons plans to invade Britain Spring 1941: Germany overruns Yugoslavia and Greece, including Crete. Italy and Germany threaten to take Suez Canal, cutting Britain’s supply lines from her Empire. President Roosevelt pushes Lend-Lease bill through U.S. Congress, appropriating over $7 billion for military support – mostly to Britain – to be repaid after war ends June: Germany invades Soviet Union. After fierce fighting advance is halted at Leningrad and Moscow 1941-43: Battle of Atlantic escalates. U-boats attack convoys bound for Britain December 1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbour. America enters World War II January 1942: Churchill and Roosevelt agree defeat of Germany is vital. Planning starts to produce enough ships, planes, tanks and guns to mount a direct assault on “Fortress Europe” November 1942 to May 1943: Operation Torch – North African campaign results in Allied victory, boosting morale November 1943: Stalin pressures Churchill and Roosevelt to mount second European front. They agree to invasion of France in May or June 1944 June 6, 1944: Operation Overlord – 176,000 British, Canadian and U.S. troops take part in Normandy landings on D-Day March-October © GRAPHIC NEWS Pictures: Associated Press