Like World War II History? Then You'll Probably Appreciate This 'War in Europe' Time-Lapse Video

If you enjoy World War II history, then you’ll probably enjoy the following video from YouTube user EmperorTigerstar.

The video, which was uploaded a few months ago but has recently gained a lot of attention, contains a lot more than just footage and factoids: It accounts for every single day of the war in Europe, from the invasion of Poland to the surrender in Germany, accurately capturing the war's early gains and losses -- something the United States largely missed out on due to late entry.

“Watching it, you can see how the front lines often moved in fits and starts,” George Dvorsky writed on i09, “and how a sudden alliance or overthrow dramatically changed the geopolitical landscape. It's also interesting to see the massive encirclements on the Eastern front pop up and disappear from time-to-time.”

It’s important to note that map doesn't account for partisan action until 1945.

Enjoy:

• Maroon: Axis Power members, their dependencies/colonies, and annexed lands.
• Burgundy: Areas militarily occupied by the Axis Powers.
• Red: Axis puppet states.
• Pink: Axis gains during that day.
• Blue: Allied powers and areas occupied by the allies.
• Light blue: Allied gains for that day.
• Purple colors (left to right): Finland, occupied by Finland, and Finnish gains that day.
• Dark Green: The USSR before it joined the allies and annexed lands.
• Green: Areas militarily occupied by the USSR before it joined the allies.
• Light Green: Soviet gains for that day.

And here are some key dates to watch for (list courtesy i09):

• September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland (watch the Soviets move in to take their half starting September 17)
• April 9, 1940: Germany invades Norway
• May 10, 1940: Germany invades France
• April 6, 1941: Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece
• June 22, 1941: Germany invades Soviet Union
• November 25, 1941: The Battle for Moscow
• July 3, 1942: Sevastopol falls to Germany
• October 23, 1942: Battle of El Alamein begins
• January 31, 1943: German surrender at Stalingrad
• March 15, 1943: Germans retake Kharkov
• May 12, 1943: Surrender of Axis forces in North Africa
• July 10, 1943: Allied landings in Sicily (Operation Husky)
• June 4, 1944: Rome captured by Allies
• June 6, 1944: Allied invasion of Normandy (D-Day)
• August 15, 1944: Allied landings in South of France
• August 25, 1944: Paris liberated
• January 17, 1945: Soviets capture Warsaw
• April 13, 1945: Soviets capture Vienna
• April 23, 1945: Soviets enter Berlin
• May 8, 1945: VE Day declared

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