The world in
What happened in 1945?
41 events across 6 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
German-Soviet WarOn 22 June 1941, Germany and its Axis allies launched Operation Barbarossa, invading the Soviet Union, marking the start of the German-Soviet War. This war was a massive military confrontation between the European Axis powers and the Soviet Union and its allies during World War II, spanning Central, Eastern, Northern, and Southeastern Europe.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / CC BY-SA 3.0 de ↗
Potsdam ConferenceFrom 17 July to 2 August 1945, the three leading Allies met in Potsdam, in the Soviet occupation zone. The United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union gathered to decide how to administer Germany after its unconditional surrender and to shape the postwar order.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author or not provided / Public domain ↗
Battle of BerlinOne of the last major offensives in the European theatre of World War II, the Battle of Berlin began on 16 April 1945 and ended on 2 May with the surrender of the city’s German garrison to Soviet forces. It culminated in the Soviet capture of Nazi Germany’s capital.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Carl Weinrother / CC BY-SA 3.0 de ↗
- End of World War II in Europe
From late April to early May 1945, fighting in Europe drew to a close. After Adolf Hitler’s suicide on 30 April, leadership passed to Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz and the Flensburg Government. On 8 May, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signed the German Instrument of Surrender in Karlshorst, Berlin, marking the end of the war in Europe.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Battle of the AtlanticThe Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, running from 1939 to the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. At its core was the Allied naval blockade of Germany and Germany's counter-blockade, with the campaign peaking from mid-1940 to the end of 1943.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Edward W. Dinsmore / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Public domain ↗
Outbreak of World War IIIn 1939, World War II erupted as a global conflict involving nearly all nations divided into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Axis. Characterized by total war, it mobilized entire economies and industries, becoming the deadliest conflict in history and involving large-scale massacres, starvation, disease, and genocide.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: User:Staberinde / CC BY-SA 3.0 de ↗
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The HolocaustDuring World War II, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically perpetrated genocide against the Jewish people, resulting in the murder of approximately two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population.
Cold WarAfter World War II, the Western Bloc led by the United States and the Eastern Bloc led by the Soviet Union engaged in a nearly half-century-long political, economic, and military confrontation. Although the two superpowers never fought directly, they competed globally through proxy wars, an arms race, and the Space Race. The Cold War began in the late 1940s and ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: U.S. Army photo Photo Credit: USAMHI / Public domain ↗
Signing of the Treaty on the Creation of the USSROn December 30, 1922, the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR was signed at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, officially establishing the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Plenipotentiary delegates from the Russian, Transcaucasian, Ukrainian, and Byelorussian Soviet republics signed the treaty, along with a declaration serving as its preamble. The treaty legally formalized the political union of the Soviet republics that had existed since 1919, creating a new federal government with centralized functions in Moscow. Legislative power was vested in the Congress of Soviets and the Central Executive Committee, while executive power lay with the Council of People's Commissars.
Death of Adolf HitlerOn 30 April 1945, Adolf Hitler killed himself by gunshot in the Führerbunker in Berlin. His wife, Eva Braun, committed suicide alongside him using cyanide. Later that afternoon, in accordance with his prior instructions, their bodies were carried out of the bunker and cremated in the garden of the Reich Chancellery.
- Potsdam Declaration
On July 26, 1945, Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, and Chiang Kai-shek issued the Potsdam Declaration during the Potsdam Conference, setting terms for Japan’s surrender and warning of “prompt and utter destruction” if it refused. Joseph Stalin, neutral toward Japan at the time, was not listed; after the USSR declared war on August 8, his name was added.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Siege of BudapestNear the end of World War II, Soviet and Romanian forces besieged Budapest, defended by German and Hungarian troops, as part of the Budapest Offensive. After roughly 50 days, the city surrendered unconditionally on 13 February 1945, a strategic victory for the Allies. About 38,000 civilians died during the siege from starvation and combat, and in mass killings of Jews by the Arrow Cross.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: fotoreporter sovietico sconosciuto / Public domain ↗
Battle of Hürtgen ForestThe Battle of Hürtgen Forest was a series of fierce battles fought between US and German forces on German soil during World War II, lasting from September 1944 to February 1945. It was the longest battle on German ground in WWII and one of the longest single battles in US Army history, taking place across a forested area of about 129 to 140 square kilometers near the Belgian-German border.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
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Battle of Castle ItterIn May 1945, during the final days of World War II, a unique battle took place at Castle Itter in Austria. French prisoners held there sought American help, leading to a temporary alliance of U.S. soldiers, Wehrmacht troops, and a Waffen-SS officer against an attacking Waffen-SS force. Outnumbered roughly five to one, the defenders held out until U.S. reinforcements arrived. Often called the 'strangest battle of WWII,' it marked the only time American and German forces fought side by side in the war.
Nazi Germany Launches Operation NorthwindOn 31 December 1944, Nazi Germany launched Operation Northwind, its last major offensive on the Western Front, in the Alsace and Lorraine regions of northeastern France. The offensive aimed to support the faltering Ardennes campaign but failed to achieve its main objectives, ending on 25 January 1945.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: US Army Military History Institute / Public domain ↗
Operation Bodenplatte LaunchedOn 1 January 1945, the German Luftwaffe launched Operation Bodenplatte, a surprise attack on Allied airfields in the Low Countries, aiming to gain air superiority during the Battle of the Bulge. Originally planned for 16 December 1944, it was repeatedly postponed due to bad weather until New Year's Day. Over 900 German aircraft were deployed, destroying nearly 500 Allied planes, but the Luftwaffe suffered heavy losses.
Battle of KönigsbergThe Battle of Königsberg was the final phase of the East Prussian offensive at the end of WWII, in which Soviet forces captured the city after several days of urban warfare in April 1945. The German garrison surrendered on 9 April following a three-day assault, ending the battle. The city had already been heavily devastated by Allied bombing.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / CC BY-SA 3.0 de ↗
Ruhr PocketIn April 1945, the Allies encircled and destroyed the German Army Group B in the Ruhr Area, capturing some 300,000 troops, a decisive battle in the final phase of the Western Front.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
- Phoney War
The Phoney War was a period of limited military activity at the start of World War II, lasting from September 1939 to May 1940. Following the Allied declaration of war on Germany, there were virtually no major land operations on the Western Front.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- Nazi Plunder Campaign Begins
In 1933, Nazi Germany began the systematic looting of art and valuables, initially targeting German Jews before expanding into occupied territories. Carried out as part of the Holocaust and under the pretext of 'art protection' by special units, the campaign resulted in the theft of countless paintings, books, religious treasures, and other cultural items.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Lapland WarThe Lapland War was a military conflict between Finland and Nazi Germany fought in Finland's northernmost region of Lapland at the end of World War II. Finland, which had been fighting alongside Germany against the Soviet Union during the Continuation War, was compelled by the Moscow Armistice of September 1944 to demand the withdrawal of German forces. The main hostilities occurred between September and November 1944, with German forces retreating into Norway.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: SA-Kuva (SA-Photo) / Public domain ↗
Battle of the Seelow HeightsThe Battle of the Seelow Heights was fought from 16 to 19 April 1945, as part of the Berlin Strategic Offensive. Nearly 1,000,000 Soviet soldiers under Zhukov attacked the 'Gates of Berlin,' defended by about 110,000 German troops under Busse. It was one of the last large entrenched battles of World War II.
East Asia
- Second Sino-Japanese War begins
In 1937, full-scale war broke out between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan, known as the Second Sino-Japanese War. The war was primarily fought in China, also extending into neighboring areas such as northern Burma. It was the largest Asian war in the 20th century and is often regarded as the beginning of World War II in Asia.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Signing of the Japanese Instrument of SurrenderOn 2 September 1945, representatives of Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender on board USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, formally surrendering to the Allies and ending World War II. The document was signed by Japan and nine Allied nations.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: United States War Department [2] [3] / Public domain ↗
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and NagasakiDuring the final stage of World War II, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, resulting in massive civilian casualties. This remains the only use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict and was a key factor in Japan's surrender, leading to the end of the war.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: George R. Caron / Charles Levy / Public domain ↗
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Battle of Iwo JimaFrom February 19 to March 26, 1945, during the Pacific War, U.S. forces landed on and captured Iwo Jima in the Ogasawara Islands, overcoming the Japanese defenders. The battle ended with American control of the island and stands as a key amphibious assault in the Pacific theater of World War II.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Photo 26-G-4140, U.S. Department of Transportation. U.S. Coast Guard. Office of Public and International Affairs / Public domain ↗
Battle of OkinawaThe Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on Okinawa in Japan’s Ryukyu archipelago. Lasting 82 days from April 1 to June 22, 1945, it was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater of World War II.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Post-Work: User:W.wolny / Public domain ↗
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Operation Ten-Go (Battle off Cape Bono)In April 1945, the Japanese navy launched Operation Ten-Go, sending a fleet centered on the battleship Yamato on a suicide mission against Allied forces at Okinawa. Intercepted by U.S. carrier aircraft near Cape Bono, Yamato and five other warships were sunk; 10 American aircraft were shot down, and 100 Japanese planes were lost. It was the last major naval battle of the Pacific War, signaling the end of the Japanese navy.
South Asia
Indonesian National Revolution beginsIn 1945, Indonesia declared independence, sparking an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle with the Dutch Empire, marking the start of the Indonesian National Revolution. The war lasted until 1949, when the Netherlands recognized Indonesian independence, ending its colonial rule over the Dutch East Indies.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: C.J. (Cees) Taillie (Fotograaf/photographer). / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Burma Campaign BeginsIn early 1942, Japanese forces invaded British Burma, opening the Burma Campaign within the South-East Asian theatre of World War II. Initial Allied setbacks led to the establishment of puppet regimes in conquered areas and Thai annexations. Subsequent Allied offensives failed until forces peaked in 1944, enabling the recapture of Burma in 1945.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Official photographer of No.9 Army Film and Photographic Unit. / Public domain ↗
Borneo campaignFrom 1 May to 21 July 1945, the Allies launched the Borneo campaign in the South West Pacific Area to retake Japanese-held British and Dutch Borneo. The series of amphibious assaults involved the Australian I Corps under Lieutenant-General Leslie Morshead landing at Tarakan, Labuan, North Borneo and Balikpapan, attacking Japanese forces under Lieutenant-General Masao Baba and Vice-Admiral Michiaki Kamada. Allied air and naval forces provided support, but preparatory bombardment caused heavy damage to infrastructure, resulting in negligible strategic benefits.
August RevolutionIn August 1945, the Việt Minh-led August Revolution overthrew the Japanese-backed Nguyễn dynasty Empire of Vietnam, seizing control over most of the country. The uprising swept through the north and south, culminating in the capture of Huế, paving the way for the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Front pour l'indépendance du Việt-Nam / Public domain ↗
Japanese coup d'état in French IndochinaOn 9 March 1945, Japanese forces staged a coup in French Indochina, disarming French troops and overthrowing the colonial administration. Code-named Operation Meigō, it aimed to preempt an Allied invasion and a potential French uprising. Japan subsequently sponsored independence declarations for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
Outbreak of the War in Southern VietnamAfter World War II, an armed conflict broke out in southern Vietnam. British, French, and Japanese forces fought against the Viet Minh to gain control of the region. The conflict was codenamed Operation Masterdom by the British and known as the Southern Resistance War by the Vietnamese.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: No 9 Army Film Photographic Unit Modd, L / Public domain ↗
Oceania
Battle of ManilaThe Battle of Manila took place from February 3 to March 3, 1945, during the liberation of the Philippines in World War II. U.S. and Filipino forces fought Japanese troops in the capital, resulting in over 100,000 civilian deaths and the devastation of the city. The Japanese committed mass atrocities against civilians, while American artillery also caused heavy losses. Known as “the Stalingrad of Asia,” it was the most intense urban combat in the Pacific theater and the largest urban battle fought by U.S. forces.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown photographer / Public domain ↗
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New Guinea CampaignThe New Guinea campaign was a key part of the Pacific War, lasting from early 1942 until the war's end in August 1945. In early 1942, Japanese forces invaded New Guinea, seizing the Australian-administered Territory of New Guinea, Territory of Papua, and part of Dutch New Guinea. From late 1942, Allied forces counterattacked and gradually retook Papua, New Guinea, and the Dutch colony.
Philippines campaign (1944–1945)The Philippines campaign of 1944–1945 was a military operation during World War II in which Allied forces sought to retake the Philippine Islands from Japanese occupation. The campaign began on 17 October 1944 with preliminary landings, followed by a major landing on 20 October, and fighting continued until the end of the war. Participating forces included American, Filipino, Australian, and Mexican troops.
Solomon Islands CampaignThe Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War during World War II. It began in early 1942 with Japan seizing areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, and subsequently constructing naval and air bases there. Japan's goals were to protect its offensive in New Guinea, provide a security barrier for the base at Rabaul, and establish positions to interdict supply lines between the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: United States Marine Corps / Public domain ↗
North America
- ENIAC completed
In 1945, the first general-purpose electronic computer, ENIAC, was completed at the University of Pennsylvania. Turing-complete and reprogrammable, it could solve a wide range of numerical problems, ushering in the electronic computing era.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- Signing of the Charter of the United Nations
On 26 June 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was adopted at the close of the San Francisco Conference, establishing the foundational treaty of the organization and setting out its purposes, principles, and structure.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
North Africa
- Sétif and Guelma massacre
In May and June 1945, French colonial authorities and pied-noir militias carried out a series of massacres against Algerian civilians around Sétif and Guelma in French Algeria. Triggered by nationalist demonstrations for independence, the repression lasted about seven weeks and resulted in heavy Algerian casualties. The massacres intensified Algerian hostility toward colonial rule and became a key precursor to the Algerian War of Independence.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Around 1945
These are known only to the century, not to the year. They are listed separately so a rough date is never mistaken for an exact one.
- Emergence of the Green Revolution
- Completion of the Taipei Grand Mosque
- Establishment of Women's Suffrage Worldwide
- Establishment of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
- Construction of Grimeton Longwave Radio Station
- Construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway begins
- Construction of the 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright Begins
- Construction of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in 'The Centre of Heaven and Earth'