Topic guide

World War II

1939–1945

Start here Timeline People Technology

Start here

Four ways into the story

Atlantic

Bismarck’s last voyage

An eight-day sortie became an ocean-wide pursuit.

7 min read

Pacific

The Battle of Midway

The strategic balance shifted in a matter of minutes.

7 min read

Technology

The American bat bomb

Thousands of tiny incendiaries carried by living animals.

6 min read

Technology

The Goliath tracked mine

A disposable demolition vehicle guided by cable.

6 min read

A short chronology

Follow the conflict

1939Germany invades Poland

1940France falls; the Battle of Britain begins

1941Bismarck’s Atlantic sortie

1942The Battle of Midway

1943Bat-bomb testing

1945The I-400 surrenders

Crossroads

People and technology

PersonIsoroku YamamotoStrategy in the Pacific CollectionStrangest weaponsSeven ambitious projects Remote controlGoliathA machine sent toward danger Project X-RayBat bombBiology as a delivery system

New connections

September 15 in wartime

1940

Battle of Britain Day

The raids that showed Fighter Command was still in the fight.

6 min read

1950

The Inchon Landing

A high-risk amphibious turn five years after World War II.

6 min read

World War II

Four ways into the story

Bismarck’s last voyage

The Battle of Midway

The American bat bomb

The Goliath tracked mine

Follow the conflict

People and technology

One extraordinary story.A few minutes to read.

September 15 in wartime

Battle of Britain Day

The Inchon Landing

One extraordinary story.
A few minutes to read.