WWII in 7 minutes...

[Leon]

Really well done video showing the way the frontlines moved on every single day of the war. 

YouTube user EmperorTigerstar has painstakingly mapped the changing front lines of World War II in Europe. Incredibly, the map accounts for every single day of the war — from the invasion of Poland through to the surrender of Nazi Germany.

This timelapse offers a fascinating glimpse into the ebbs and flows of the 6-year long conflict. Watching it, you can see how the front lines often moved in fits and starts (often an indication of winter and the infamous Russian spring rasputitsa), 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 (Stalingrad being the best example).

Unfortunately, it doesn't show the impacts of the Allied bombing campaign, nor does it account for partisan action.

Key dates to watch out for:

    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

The Legend:

    Maroon = Axis Powers proper and annexed lands (Germany, Italy, etc.)
    Burgundy = Areas militarily occupied by the Axis powers, but not annexed
    Red = Puppet states
    Pinkish-red = Gains that day made by the Axis Powers.

According to EmperorTigerstar, he's working on a video for WWII worldwide.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Iceland changes colour a lot more times than I expected, thought it was occupied by the allies for the whole war; unless there were periods of self governance? 

[Sandinista]

Great little video

[ronan]

Good idea, with a good soundtrack too !
Thanks for sharing Leon !

[Ithoriel]

Amazing. I can see me watching this many times over. Thanks Leon.

[Hertsblue]

Great. Looking forward to seeing the world-wide version.

[Ace of Spades]

So this was about 6 years in 7 minutes... mmm, lets see how long it would have lasted if the Germans had had their way and had a 1000 year Empire...
Hmmmm now that's interesting... It would take about 19.44 hours...
Coincidence or am I on to something here...

Cheers,
Rob

[Steve J]

Very interesting and really brings home the vastness of Russia during Barbarossa.

[Kiwidave]

The thing I found most interesting was that the Eastern Front wasn't just a series a mojor offensives; the Russians 'nibbled' (as my daughter put it) on the German lines almost constantly.

Also, compare Overlord's progress to Bagration! 

[Edmund2011]

Thanks for the video. Very graphic to see the map-evolution during the war