List of World War II battles explained

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
WesterplatteInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-09-07
Axis
ChojniceInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-01Axis
DanzigInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-01Axis
Danzig BayInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-01Axis
KrojantyInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-01Axis
Lasy KrólewskieInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-01Allies
MokraInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-01Allies
MikołówInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-09-02Axis
PszczynaInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-09-02Axis
CzęstochowaInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-09-03Axis
MławaInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-09-03Axis
JordanówInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-09-03Axis
Węgierska GórkaInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-09-03Axis
GrudziądzInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-09-04Axis
Tuchola ForestInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-09-05Axis
Slovak invasion of PolandInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-09-16Axis
HelInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-011939-10-02Axis
FraustadtInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-02Allies
Borowa GóraInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-021939-09-06Axis
BukowiecInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-03Axis
KatowiceInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-031939-09-04Axis
Piotrków TrybunalskiInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-041939-09-06Axis
RóżanInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-041939-09-06Axis
Tomaszów MazowieckiInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-06Axis
PułtuskInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-061939-09-07Axis
ŁódźInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-061939-09-08Axis
BarakInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-071939-09-08Allies
ŁomżaInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-071939-09-10Axis
WiznaInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-071939-09-10Axis
Saar OffensivePhoney WarWestern Front1939-09-071939-10-16Axis
Wola CyrusowaInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-08Allies
RadomInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-081939-09-09Axis
GdyniaInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-081939-09-14Axis
WarsawInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-081939-09-28Axis
BzuraInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-091939-09-19Axis
Kampinos ForestInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-091939-09-20Axis
JarosławInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-101939-09-11Axis
Kępa OksywskaInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-101939-09-19Axis
KałuszynInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-111939-09-12Allies
PrzemyślInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-111939-09-14Axis
LwówInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-121939-09-22
Axis
ModlinInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-131939-09-29Axis
JaworówInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-141939-09-16Allies
Brześć LitewskiInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-141939-09-17Axis
KobryńInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-141939-09-18Inconclusive
Tomaszów LubelskiInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-171939-09-26Axis
WilnoSoviet invasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-181939-09-19Soviet
Wólka WęglowaInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-19Allies
KrasnystawInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-191939-09-20Axis
GrodnoSoviet invasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-201939-09-22Soviet
CześnikiInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-211939-09-22Allies
ŁomiankiInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-22Axis
KrasnobródInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-23Allies
HusynneSoviet invasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-24Soviet
WładypolSoviet invasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-27Soviet
SzackSoviet invasion of PolandEastern Front1939-09-28Allies
WytycznoSoviet invasion of PolandEastern Front1939-10-01Soviet
KockInvasion of PolandEastern Front1939-10-021939-10-05Axis
SuomussalmiWinter WarEastern Front1939-11-301940-01-08Finnish
PetsamoWinter WarEastern Front1939-11-301940-03-13Soviet
SallaWinter WarEastern Front1939-11-301940-03-13Finnish
Ilomantsi (1939)Winter WarEastern Front1939-12-101939-12-16Stalemate
River PlateBattle of the Atlantic1939-12-13
Allies
TaipaleWinter WarEastern Front1939-12-061939-12-27Finnish
KollaaWinter WarEastern Front1939-12-071940-03-13Finnish
Varolampi PondWinter WarEastern Front1939-12-101939-12-11Finnish
TolvajärviWinter WarEastern Front1939-12-12Finnish
Summa (first)Winter WarEastern Front1939-12-161939-12-22Finnish
KeljaWinter WarEastern Front1939-12-251939-12-27Finnish
Raate RoadWinter WarEastern Front1940-01-011940-01-07Finnish
KuhmoWinter WarEastern Front1940-01-281940-03-13Stalemate
Summa (second)Winter WarEastern Front1940-02-011940-02-15Soviet
AltmarkPhoney WarWestern Front1940-02-16Allies
HonkaniemiWinter WarEastern Front1940-02-251940-02-27Soviet
Vyborg Bay (1940)Winter WarEastern Front1940-03-021940-03-13Ceasefire
OslofjordNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-08Axis
German invasion of DenmarkOperation WeserübungWestern Front1940-04-09Axis
Drøbak SoundNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-09Allies
FornebuNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-09Axis
Horten HarbourNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-09Axis
KristiansandNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-09Axis
LofotenNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-09Allies
NarvikNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-091940-06-08 Norway


Poland
Allies
Narvik (naval Norwegian)Norwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-09Axis
MidtskogenNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-10Allies
Narvik (first naval)Norwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-10Allies
Narvik (second naval)Norwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-13Allies
DombåsNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-141940-04-19Allies
Hegra FortressNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-151940-05-05Axis
NamsosNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-041940-05

Norway
Axis
ÅndalsnesNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-191940-05
Norway
Axis
GratangenNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-231940-04-25Axis
Høljarast BridgeNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-24Axis
KvamNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-04-251940-04-26
Norway
Axis
VinjesvingenNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-05-031940-05-05Axis
NordlandNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-05-081940-06-01
Norway
Axis
The HagueGerman invasion of the NetherlandsWestern Front1940-05-10Allies
Invasion of IcelandAllied occupation of IcelandWestern Front1940-05-10Allies
German invasion of LuxembourgWestern Front1940-05-10Axis
MaastrichtGerman invasion of the NetherlandsWestern Front1940-05-10Axis
Fort Ében-ÉmaelGerman invasion of BelgiumWestern Front1940-05-101940-05-11Axis
MillGerman invasion of the NetherlandsWestern Front1940-05-101940-05-11Axis
German invasion of the NetherlandsWestern Front1940-05-101940-05-14Axis
ZeelandGerman invasion of the NetherlandsWestern Front1940-05-101940-05-18 Netherlands

Axis
GrebbebergGerman invasion of the NetherlandsWestern Front1940-05-111940-05-13Axis
AfsluitdijkGerman invasion of the NetherlandsWestern Front1940-05-121940-05-14Axis
HannutGerman invasion of BelgiumWestern Front1940-05-121940-05-14Axis
SedanBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-05-121940-05-17
Axis
GemblouxGerman invasion of BelgiumWestern Front1940-05-141940-05-15Allies
MontcornetBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-05-17Allies
ArrasBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-05-21
Axis
BoulogneBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-05-221940-05-25

Belgium
Axis
CalaisBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-05-221940-05-26

Belgium
Axis
LysGerman invasion of BelgiumWestern Front1940-05-241940-05-28 Belgium

Axis
Ypres–Comines CanalGerman invasion of BelgiumWestern Front1940-05-261940-05-28
Allies
DunkirkBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-05-261940-06-04



Axis
AbbevilleBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-05-271940-06-04
Axis
LilleBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-05-281940-05-31Axis
Fall RotBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-06-051940-06-25
Axis
Operation JunoNorwegian campaignWestern Front1940-06-08Axis
Italian invasion of FranceBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-06-101940-06-25
Axis
Siege of MaltaMediterranean Front1940-06-111942-11-20





Greece
Poland
Norway

Allies
LagardeBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-06-171940-06-18Axis
SaumurBattle of FranceWestern Front1940-06-181940-06-20Axis
Espero ConvoyBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1940-06-28
Inconclusive
Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina1940-06-281940-07-03 Romania
Soviets
Mers-el-KébirBattle of the Mediterranean1940-07-03Allies
KassalaEast African campaignAfrican Front1940-07-04Axis
KanalkampfBattle of BritainWestern Front1940-07-041940-08-11



Poland
Inconclusive
CalabriaBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1940-07-09
Inconclusive
Cape SpadaBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1940-07-19
Allies
Tug ArganEast African campaignAfrican Front1940-08-111940-08-15Axis
AdlertagBattle of BritainWestern Front1940-08-13Allies
The Hardest DayBattle of BritainWestern Front1940-08-18Inconclusive
Battle of Britain DayBattle of BritainWestern Front1940-09-15Allies
Graveney MarshBattle of BritainWestern Front1940-09-27Allies
Italian invasion of British SomalilandEast African campaignAfrican Front1940-08-031940-08-19

Axis
The BlitzBattle of BritainWestern Front1940-09-071941-05-11
Inconclusive
Italian invasion of EgyptWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1940-09-091940-09-16
Axis
Lạng SơnSouth-East Asian Front1940-09-221940-09-26Axis
DakarWest African campaignAfrican Front1940-09-231940-09-25

Vichy
Franco-Thai WarSouth-East Asian Front1940-101941-01-28Thai
Cape PasseroBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1940-10-12Allies
Convoy BN 7East African campaignAfrican Front1940-10-201940-10-21

Allies
GabonWest African campaignAfrican Front1940-10-271940-11-12
Allies
PindusGreco–Italian WarMediterranean Front1940-10-281940-11-13Allies
Elaia–KalamasGreco–Italian WarMediterranean Front1940-11-021940-11-08Allies
TarantoBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1940-11-111940-11-12Allies
Morava–IvanGreco–Italian WarMediterranean Front1940-11-141940-11-23
Albania
Allies
KorytsaGreco–Italian WarMediterranean Front1940-11-161940-11-22Allies
Cape SpartiventoBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1940-11-27Inconclusive
SarandaGreco–Italian WarMediterranean Front1940-121940-12Allies
NibeiwaWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1940-12-09 United KingdomAllies
Sidi BarraniWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1940-12-101940-12-11 United Kingdom
Australia
Allies
HimaraGreco–Italian WarMediterranean Front1940-12-131940-12-22Allies
GiarabubWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1940-12-251941-03-21 United Kingdom
Australia
Allies
BardiaWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-01-031941-01-05 Australia
United Kingdom
Allies
Klisura PassGreco–Italian WarMediterranean Front1941-01-061941-01-11Allies
Operation ExcessBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1941-01-101941-01-11 United Kingdom
Australia

Allies
Operation Berlin (Atlantic)Battle of the Atlantic1941-01-221941-03-22 United KingdomAxis
MechiliWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-01-24 United KingdomAllies
AgordatEast African campaignAfrican Front1941-01-261941-01-31 United KingdomAllies
TrebeshinaGreco–Italian WarMediterranean Front1941-01-291941-02-17Allies
KufraWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-01-311941-03-01
Allies
KerenEast African campaignAfrican Front1941-02-031941-03-27
Allies
Beda FommWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-02-061941-02-07
Allies
Operation SonnenblumeWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-02-061941-05-25

Axis
Action of 27 February 1941Indian Ocean1941-02-27Allies
Hill 731Greco–Italian WarMediterranean Front1941-03-091941-03-24Allies
SaïoEast African campaignAfrican Front1941-03-251941-07-06 Belgium
United Kingdom

Allies
Souda BayBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1941-03-26
Norway
Axis
Cape MatapanBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1941-03-271941-03-29
Allies
4 April 1941Battle of the Atlantic1941-04-04Axis
Operation Retribution (1941)Balkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-04-061941-04-08Axis
Metaxas LineBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-04-061941-04-09Axis
Invasion of YugoslaviaBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-04-061941-04-18

Axis
TobrukWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-04-101941-11-27


Poland
Czechoslovakia

Allies
VeviBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-04-111941-04-12


Axis
PtolemaidaBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-04-13

Axis
Kleisoura PassBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-04-131941-04-14Axis
Lake KastoriaBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-04-15Axis
Tarigo ConvoyBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1941-04-16Allies
Tempe GorgeBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-04-18
Allies
BardiaWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-04-191941-04-20

Allies
AthensBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-04-20Axis
ThermopylaeBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-04-241941-04-25
Axis
Anglo-Iraqi WarMiddle Eastern Front1941-05-021941-05-31





Allies
Amba AlagiEast African campaignAfrican Front1941-05-041941-05-19 United Kingdom

Allies
Convoy OB 318Battle of the Atlantic1941-05-071941-05-10Allies
Action of 8 May 1941Indian Ocean1941-05-08Allies
Operation BrevityWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-05-151941-05-16

Inconclusive
Last battle of BismarckBattle of the Atlantic1941-05-181941-05-27 United Kingdom
Poland
Allies
RethymnoBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-05-201941-05-29
Axis
CreteBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-05-201941-06-01



Axis
Denmark StraitBattle of the Atlantic1941-05-24 United KingdomAxis
Operation SkorpionWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-05-261941-05-27 United KingdomAxis
42nd StreetBalkans campaignMediterranean Front1941-05-27
Allies
Litani RiverSyria–Lebanon campaignMiddle Eastern Front1941-06-09 United Kingdom
Australia
Allies
JezzineSyria–Lebanon campaignMiddle Eastern Front1941-06-131941-06-14 AustraliaAllies
SidonSyria–Lebanon campaignMiddle Eastern Front1941-06-131941-06-15 AustraliaAllies
Operation BattleaxeWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-06-151941-06-17
Poland
Czechoslovakia

Axis
KissouéSyria–Lebanon campaignMiddle Eastern Front1941-06-151941-06-17
Allies
DamascusSyria–Lebanon campaignMiddle Eastern Front1941-06-181941-06-21 United Kingdom
Australia
Allies
MerdjayounSyria–Lebanon campaignMiddle Eastern Front1941-06-191941-06-24 United Kingdom
Australia
Allies
PalmyraSyria–Lebanon campaignMiddle Eastern Front1941-06-211941-07-02Allies
Operation RentierContinuation WarEastern Front1941-06-22Axis
Brest FortressOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-06-221941-06-29Axis
Białystok–MinskOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-06-221941-07-09Axis
Gulf of RigaBaltic Sea campaignsEastern Front1941-06-221941-08Axis
Soviet submarine campaign (1941)Baltic Sea campaignsEastern Front1941-06-221941-11Inconclusive
HankoContinuation WarEastern Front1941-06-221941-12-02Axis
German-Soviet air war 22 June 1941Operation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-06-22Axis
RaseiniaiOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-06-231941-06-27Axis
BrodyOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-06-231941-06-30Axis
Operation Platinum FoxContinuation WarEastern Front1941-06-291941-09-21
Allies
Finnish invasion of Ladoga KareliaContinuation WarEastern Front1941-071941-08
Axis
Operation Arctic FoxContinuation WarEastern Front1941-07-011941-11-17
Stalemate
Operation MünchenOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-07-021941-07-26 Romania
Axis
Deir ez-ZorSyria–Lebanon campaignMiddle Eastern Front1941-07-03Allies
DamourSyria–Lebanon campaignMiddle Eastern Front1941-07-051941-07-09 AustraliaAllies
Smolensk (1941)Operation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-07-101941-09-10Axis
Kiev (1941)Operation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-07-071941-09-26Axis
Finnish invasion of East KareliaContinuation WarEastern Front1941-07-101941-12-06
Axis
BeirutSyria–Lebanon campaignMiddle Eastern Front1941-07-12 United Kingdom
Australia
Allies
Operation SubstanceBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1941-07-131941-07-28 United Kingdom
Australia
Allies
UmanOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-07-151941-08-08
Romania

Slovakia
Axis
Twin PimplesWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-07-171941-07-18 United Kingdom
Australia
Allies
BengtskärContinuation WarEastern Front1941-07-26Axis
Operation EFContinuation WarEastern Front1941-07-30
Axis
Finnish invasion of the Karelian IsthmusContinuation WarEastern Front1941-07-311941-09-05Axis
CulqualberEast African campaignAfrican Front1941-08-061941-11-21 United Kingdom

Allies
Odessa (1941)Operation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-08-081941-10-16 Romania

Axis
Anglo-Soviet invasion of IranMiddle Eastern Front1941-08-251941-08-31

Australia
Allies
Soviet evacuation of TallinnContinuation WarEastern Front1941-08-271941-08-31
Axis
PorlampiContinuation WarEastern Front1941-08-301941-09-01Axis
LoznicaUprising in SerbiaMediterranean Front1941-08-31 ChetniksYugoslavs
LeningradOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-09-081944-01-27

Allies
Operation BeowulfBaltic Sea campaignsEastern Front1941-09-091941-10-21Axis
ŠabacUprising in SerbiaMediterranean Front1941-09-211941-09-26 Chetniks
Yugoslav Partisans

Axis
KruševacUprising in SerbiaMediterranean Front1941-09-231941-09-27 Chetniks
Yugoslav Partisans
Axis
Sea of AzovOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-09-261941-10-11
Romania
Axis
Operation HalberdBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1941-09-27
Netherlands
Poland
Allies
PetrikowkaOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-09-271941-09-30Axis
Operation UziceUprising in SerbiaMediterranean Front1941-09-271941-11-29 Chetniks
Yugoslav Partisans

Axis
BryanskOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-09-301941-10-21Axis
MoscowOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-09-301942-01-07Allies
KraljevoUprising in SerbiaMediterranean Front1941-10-091941-10-31 Chetniks
Yugoslav Partisans
Axis
Borodino FieldOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-10-131942-01-18Allies
Rogatica (1941)YugoslaviaMediterranean Front1941-10-131941-10-24 Chetniks
Yugoslav Partisans
Yugoslavs
TikhvinOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-10-161941-12-31Allies
Crimean campaignOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-10-181944-07-04
Romania
Axis
Kharkov (first)Operation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-10-201941-10-24Axis
SevastopolOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-10-301942-07-04
Romania
Axis
Novi PazarUprising in SerbiaMediterranean Front1941-111941-12 Chetniks
Yugoslav Partisans
Albania
Sandžaks
Axis
OlovoYugoslaviaMediterranean Front1941-11-011941-12-17 Chetniks
Yugoslav Partisans
Yugoslavs
TrešnjicaUprising in SerbiaMediterranean Front1941-11-02 Yugoslav Partisans ChetniksPartisans
Duisburg ConvoyBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1941-11-081941-11-09 United KingdomAllies
GondarEast African campaignAfrican Front1941-11-131941-11-27 United Kingdom

Allies
Operation CrusaderWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-11-181941-12-30



Poland
Czechoslovakia

Allies
Bir el GubiWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-11-19Axis
Point 175Western Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-11-291941-12-01Axis
PljevljaUprising in MontenegroMediterranean Front1941-12-011941-12-02 Yugoslav PartisansAxis
Bir el GubiWestern Desert campaignAfrican Front1941-12-041941-12-07
Axis
Operation MihailovicUprising in SerbiaMediterranean Front1941-12-041941-12-09 ChetniksAxis
Pearl HarborPacific Front1941-12-07Axis
Midway bombardment (first)Pacific Front1941-12-07Axis
Clark FieldPhilippines campaign (Axis)Pacific Front1941-12-08Axis
Batan IslandPhilippines campaign (Axis)Pacific Front1941-12-08Axis
Hong KongPacific Front1941-12-081941-12-25


Axis
Kota BharuMalayan campaignPacific Front1941-12-08

Axis
Japanese invasion of ThailandPacific Front1941-12-08Axis
Singapore (1941)Malayan campaignPacific Front1941-12-08Inconclusive
Guam (1941)Pacific Front1941-12-081941-12-10Axis
Wake IslandPacific Front1941-12-081941-12-23Axis
Sinking of Prince of Wales and RepulseMalayan campaignPacific Front1941-12-10Axis
ViganPhilippines campaign (Axis)Pacific Front1941-12-10Axis
AparriPhilippines campaign (Axis)Pacific Front1941-12-10Axis
JitraMalayan campaignPacific Front1941-12-101941-12-13Axis
LegazpiPhilippines campaign (Axis)Pacific Front1941-12-12Axis
Cape BonBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1941-12-13
Netherlands
Allies
Japanese invasion of BurmaBurma campaignSouth-East Asian Front1941-12-141942-05-28


Axis
GurunMalayan campaignPacific Front1941-12-141941-12-16Axis
Kerch PeninsulaOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1941-12-161942-05-19
Romania
Axis
Sirte (first)Battle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1941-12-17 United Kingdom
Australia
Netherlands
Inconclusive
AlexandriaBattle of the MediterraneanMediterranean Front1941-12-19Axis
DavaoPhilippines campaign (Axis)Pacific Front1941-12-191941-12-25Axis
Lingayen GulfPhilippines campaign (Axis)Pacific Front1941-12-211941-12-23Axis
Lamon BayPhilippines campaign (Axis)Pacific Front1941-12-211941-12-23Axis
SjenicaUprising in SerbiaMediterranean Front1941-12-22 Yugoslav PartisansSandžaks

Axis
KamparMalayan campaignPacific Front1941-12-301942-01-02Stalemate
Kuala LumpurMalayan campaignPacific Front1942-01-11Axis
SuursaariContinuation WarEastern Front1942-03-261942-04-02Axis
Adzhimushkay quarryOperation BarbarossaEastern Front1942-05-161942-10-30Axis
Soviet submarine campaign (1942)Baltic Sea campaignsEastern Front1942-061942-10

Allies
SomeriContinuation WarEastern Front1942-07-081942-07-10
Axis
SinyavinoOperation Nordlicht (1942)Eastern Front1942-08-191942-10-10Stalemate
Sukho IslandBaltic Sea campaignsEastern Front1942-10-22Allies
Soviet submarine campaign (1943)Baltic Sea campaignsEastern Front1943-041943-08
Axis
Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensiveContinuation WarEastern Front1944-06-101944-08-09
Allies
Nerva IslandContinuation WarEastern Front1944-06-191944-06-20Allies
TienhaaraContinuation WarEastern Front1944-06-22Axis
Kaprolat and HasselmannContinuation WarEastern Front1944-06-251944-06-26Allies
Tali–IhantalaContinuation WarEastern Front1944-06-251944-07-09
Axis
Gulf of Finland U-boat campaignBaltic Sea campaignsEastern Front1944 (summer)1945 (spring)

Allies w/ Finland
Vyborg BayContinuation WarEastern Front1944-06-301944-07-10
Inconclusive
VuosalmiContinuation WarEastern Front1944-07-041944-07-17Inconclusive
NietjärviContinuation WarEastern Front1944-07-151944-07-17Axis
Ilomantsi (1944)Continuation WarEastern Front1944-07-261944-08-13Axis
Operation HokkiContinuation WarEastern Front1944-07-311944-08-31Axis
Soviet submarine campaign (1944)Baltic Sea campaignsEastern Front1944-101944-12Allies
Soviet naval campaign (1945)Baltic Sea campaignsEastern Front1945-011945-05-09Allies

Battles from 1941

1941

Surprise Japanese attack destroys almost all the US Pacific Fleet.
Failure of Japan's second attempt to take Changsha in China.
Japanese 11th Army attacked the headquarters of the Chinese 19th Army
Japan invades and occupies Thailand.
Japan captures the British colony of Hong Kong.
Japan captures the American territory of Guam.
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

Japanese defeat British naval forces.

1942

Battle of Bataan
First direct engagement between Slovenian partisans and German occupying forces.
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

Japanese forces destroy an Allied naval squadron.
Outnumbered Japanese forces defeat an Allied night-time naval attack.
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.
The Japanese occupy Christmas Island unopposed.
Philippines lost to Japan.
Burma lost to Japan.
Battle of Nanos Eight hundred Italian soldiers lay siege to fifty Slovene partisans.
Doolittle Raid First air raid on Tokyo.
First aircraft-carrier vs. aircraft-carrier battle
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 IslandsJapanese 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
Japanese midget submarines attack Sydney harbour.
British Eighth Army stops Rommel's Axis forces invading Egypt.
Montgomery's Eighth Army forces Rommel out of Egypt.
Captured by Germans after eight-month siege.
Chinese claim victory over Japanese.
Australians and U.S. for the first time in World War II stop a Japanese offensive (against Port Moresby)
Beginning of Allied action in Solomon Islands.
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.
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 SolomonsJapanese aircraft carrier Ryūjō sunk.
Battle of Milne Bay First time Japanese landing force had been driven back into sea.
Australians and U.S. defeat Japanese on north coast of New Guinea.
near Guadalcanal
near Guadalcanal, sunk.
Operation Torch Allied landings in North Africa and putsch by French Resistance in Algiers to prevent Vichy forces opposition.
US defeats Japan, a turning point.
off Guadalcanal
Failed Soviet attempt to retake Kharkov.
Second Sino-Japanese War
Battle of Madagascar Allies capture Madagascar from Vichy France.

1943

About 2,000 Germans massacred all 69 men and women of the Pohorje Battalion. Germans lost 19 men dead and had 31 wounded.
Japanese bombers sink a cruiser.
Germans retake Kharkov.
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.
Naval engagement between US and Japan in the Bering Sea.
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.
U.S. and Royal Australian Air Force planes attack and sink most of a Japanese convoy carrying troops to reinforce Lae, New Guinea.
United States and Japanese navies fight an inconclusive battle.
Operation Cartwheel Operation to neutralize the Japanese base at Rabaul.
United States troops defeat and drive the Japanese off the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
5,000 Jews and 2,000 Germans die, Jews confined.
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.
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.
Allies take Sicily from the Italians and German armies.
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.

The Soviets attack 850,000 German troops near Smolensk Fortified Region, drive them back inflicting severe losses.
Kiev retaken by Soviets.
Raid on Schweinfurt milestone air battle between the Luftwaffe and the USAAF known as "Black Thursday"
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.
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

Battle of Meiktila
Four battles in Italy Jan - May. Allies finally breakthrough towards Rome.
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.
Japanese attempt a local counter-attack against an Allied offensive.
Battle of Eniwetok Battle between American and Japanese on Eniwetok Atoll.
Attempted Japanese invasion of India fails with heavy losses.
U Go offensive Allied successfully defend Manipur from the Axis
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.
Major carrier battle; US lose 123 planes and destroy 315 Japanese planes.
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 offensiveBritish 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.
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.
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

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.
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.
The last German offensive of the war, launched around Lake Balaton, in Hungary.
U.S. and Philippine Forces retake the historic Bataan Peninsula.
City totally devastated after month-long battle between the American, Filipino and Japanese forces; 100,000 civilians killed.
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
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.
Japanese defeated in Central Burma
Battle of Iwo Jima After a month, U.S. Forces take main offshore Japanese island.
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
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.
British army and Yugoslav Partisans capture the city.
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.
Allied victory over Japan.
Battle of Manchuria Soviet forces liberate Manchuria.
Battle of GroningenCanadian forces capture Dutch city from SS troops
Battle of OtterloGerman forces attempt to break an encirclement by attacking Canadian and British forces

African Front

See main article: Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II.

Mediterranean Front

See main article: Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II.

Western Front

See main article: Western Front (World War II).

Eastern Front

See main article: Eastern Front (World War II).

Pacific Front

See main article: Pacific War.

Naval engagements

General

Specific

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

Major bombing campaigns

General

Specific

Operations

See main article: List of World War II military operations.

Raids

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

Contemporaneous wars

See also