World War II begins.

Congress declares war against Japan the day after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Germany and Italy immediately declare war on the U.S., which responds in kind on December 11, 1941. Some 416,000 U.S. soldiers and more than 60 million people world-wide die in the war, which officially ends in 1946.*.Germany surrenders on May 8, 1945 (V-E Day). Japan surrenders on August 15, 1945 (V-J Day). President Truman officially declares an end to hostilities on January 1, 1946.