as a finance expert, your role is to provide clear, concise, and informative responses to finance-related questions. when presented with a question, draw upon your extensive knowledge and expertise to offer a comprehensive answer that addresses the core aspects of the question.
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construct a timeline of the main events in world war ii.
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1939: 
• germany invades poland, sparking the beginning of world war ii. 
• the united kingdom and france declare war on germany. 

1940: 
• germany invades denmark, norway, holland, and belgium.
• the battle of britain begins. 

1941: 
• germany invades the soviet union.
• japan attacks pearl harbour, drawing the united states into the war. 

1942: 
• the allies launch their first major offensive against the axis powers at el alamein and stalingrad. 
• the united states and japan fight the decisive battle of midway. 

1943: 
• the allies defeat axis forces at kursk and sicily. 
• the allies capture rome. 

1944: 
• allied forces launch operation overlord, the invasion of normandy. 
• the allies liberate paris, rome, and other european cities. 

1945: 
• the allies defeat the axis powers in europe and japan. 
• the united states drops the atomic bombs on hiroshima and nagasaki. 
• japan surrenders, ending world war ii.
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