1941: Six Beaufort torpedo-bombers attack the German cruiser Gneisenau, anchored in Brest harbour. One, piloted by Fg Off Kenneth Campbell, makes a successful attack before being shot down, inflicting serious damage that took six months to repair. For this, Campbell was awarded a posthumous VC.

1941: Germany invades Greece.

1941: German, Italian and Hungarian forces begin the invasion of Yugoslavia. The Luftwaffe carries out several devastating bombing raids against Belgrade.

1942: First U.S. troops arrive in Australia.

1942: Axis bombers attack the port of Alexandria in Egypt.

1943: Axis forces in Tunisia begin a withdrawal toward Enfidaville as American and British forces link.

1945: The U.S. fleet off Okinawa is hit by the first suicide raid, code named ‘Floating Chrysanthemum I’. During this attack, three destroyers are sunk, while 116 Japanese aircraft are destroyed.

1945: Four Russian armies, 137,000 men, 530 tanks and 2,400 aircraft begin their assault of Königsberg, which is held by 35,000 Germans troops. Sarajevo falls into the hands of Yugoslav partisans. Battle for Vienna begins.

*1917: The United States declares war on Germany and enters World War I on Allied side.