May 30, 1942–May 1945 The British bomb Köln (Cologne), in the start of a bombing campaign that brings the war home to Germany. Over the next three years Anglo-American bombing reduces urban Germany to rubble

January 12, 1945 The Soviets launch a new offensive, liberating Warsaw and Krakow in January. They capture Budapest after a two-month siege on February 13, driving the Germans and their Hungarian collaborators out of Hungary in early April.

March 7, 1945 US troops cross the Rhine River at Remagen.

April 4, 1945 The capture of Bratislava forces Slovakia to surrender.

April 13, 1945 Soviet forces capture Vienna.

April 16, 1945 The Soviets launch their final offensive, encircling Berlin.

April 1945 Partisan units, led by Yugoslav Communist leader Josip Tito, capture Zagreb and topple the Ustaša regime. The top Ustaša leaders flee to Italy and Austria.

April 30, 1945 Hitler commits suicide.

May 7–8, 1945 Germany signs an unconditional surrender at the headquarters of US General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander of Allied forces in northwest Europe, at Reims on May 7. The surrender takes effect on May 8 at 11:01 PM Central European time (CET).

May 8, 1945 Germany signs a second, very similar, document of surrender in Berlin. It also comes into effect on May 8 at 11:01 PM CET. In Moscow, this was already after midnight on May 9.

May 1945 Allied troops conquer Okinawa, the last island stop before the main Japanese islands.

August 6, 1945 The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

August 8, 1945 The Soviet Union declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria.

August 9, 1945 The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

September 2, 1945 Having agreed in principle to unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, Japan formally surrenders, ending World War II.