World War 2 started in 1939 after Germany invaded Poland. The Allies including England, France, USSR, and USA fought against the Axis powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan. Major events included Germany rapidly conquering much of Europe, the Battle of Britain preventing a German invasion of Britain, the German invasion of USSR, and the US entering the war after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The tide turned in favor of the Allies with the Normandy landings on D-Day in 1944, and the war ended in 1945 with the surrender of Germany and Japan.