1940 History - World War

1940 January

January 8th
In 1940, Britain's first WW II rationing (bacon, butter & sugar).
January 15th
In 1940, German U-Boot torpedoes Dutch ship Arendskerk (Eagle's Church).
January 25th
In 1940, Nazi decrees the establishment of Jewish ghetto in Lodz Poland.
January 31st
In 1940, 40 U boats sunk this month (111,000 ton).

Russia army in Finland

1940 February

February 1st
In 1940, Russia begins new offensive against Finland.
February 22nd
In 1940, Finnish troops vacate Koivisto island.
In 1940, German air force sinks 2 German destroyers, killing 578.
February 26th
In 1940, the Air Defense Command of the United States was created at Mitchel Field, LI, NY.
February 29th
In 1940, 45 U boats sunk this month (170,000 ton).

Russia army in Finland

1940 March

March 12th
In 1940, Finland and the Soviet Union concluded an armistice during World War II. Fighting between the two countries flared again the following year.
= Finland capitulates, signing Treaty of Moscow.
March 16th
In 1940, German air raid on British fleet base Scapa Flow.
March 18th
In 1940, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini held a meeting at the Brenner Pass across the Alps during which the Italian dictator agreed to join in Germany's war against France and Britain.
March 19th
In 1940, Hitler & Mussolini meet in armored train for 1st time since Munich.

1940 April

April 9th
In 1940, German cruiser Blucher torpedoed/capsizes in Oslofjord, 1,000 die.
In 1940, Germany invaded Norway & Denmark during WW II; Denmark surrendered.
= Germans begin invasion of Norway and seize Denmark.
April 13th
In 1940, second battle of Narvik-8 German destroyers, destroyed.
April 14th
In 1940, Anglo-French forces reach Norway.
April 15th
In 1940, British troops land at Narvik, Norway.
April 22nd
In 1940, Rear Adm Joseph Taussig testified before the U.S. Senate Naval Affairs Committee that war with Japan is inevitable (He was right).
April 23rd
In 1940, about 200 people died in a dance hall fire in Natchez, Mississippi.
April 28th
In 1940, Rudolf Hess becomes commandant of concentration camp Auschwitz.

1940 May

May 2nd
In 1940, Anglo-French forces are driven from central Norway.
May 10th
In 1940, Dutch torpedo boat Johan van Galen sinks.
In 1940, Dutch-Indies Gov Van Starkenborch proclaims end to state of siege.
In 1940, French marines stationed on Aruba.
In 1940, French troops arrive in Zealand/Brabant Netherlands.
In 1940, Germany invades Benelux countries.
= Germans invade the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
In 1940, Hitler and the Nazi armies invaded and attacked Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
In 1940, Nazi army overthrows eastern Europe.
May 12th
In 1940, Nazi blitz conquest of France begins by crossing the Muese River.
May 13th
In 1940, Ardennnes break-through into France.
May 14th
In 1940, Dutch Army surrenders.
In 1940, Nazi bombs Rotterdam (600-900 dead), Netherlands surrender to Germany.
May 15th
In 1940, German armour division moves into Northern France.
In 1940, German troops occupy Amsterdam, Gen Winkelman surrenders.
In 1940, Nazi's capture General Dutch Persbureau (ANP).
May 17th
In 1940, the Nazis occupied Brussels, Belgium, during World War II.
May 18th
In 1940, German troops conquer Brussels.
May 20th
In 1940, Germans break through to English Channel at Abbeville.
May 21st
In 1940, Allied counter attack at Atrecht North-France.
May 23rd
In 1940, 1st great dogfight between Spitfires.
May 24th
In 1940, German tanks reach Atrecht France.
May 26th
In 1940, the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, during World War II began.
May 28th
In 1940, during World War II, the Belgian army surrendered to invading German forces; King Leopold III gave himself up.
= Belgium surrenders unconditionally.

1940 June

June 4th
In 1940, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill told the House of Commons "We shall fight on the seas and oceans; we shall fight on t he landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."
= British complete evacuation of Dunkerque.
In 1940, German forces enter Paris.
In 1940, the British complete miracle of Dunkirk by evacuating 340,000 troops.
In 1940, the Allied military evacuation from Dunkirk, France, ended.
June 5th
In 1940, the Battle of France began during World War II.
June 8th
In 1940, Allies leave Narvik.
June 9th
In 1940, Norway surrendered to the Nazis during World War II.
= Norwegian Army agrees to armistice.
June 10th
In 1940, during WWII, Italy declared war on France and Britain; the same day, Canada declared war on Italy.
June 11th
In 1940, Italy declares war on allies/raids Malta.
June 14th
In 1940, During WWII, France fell to Nazi Germany as German forces entered Paris; Vichy water loses popularity.
In 1940, in German-occupied Poland, the Nazis opened their concentration camp at Auschwitz, where an estimated three to four million people, many of them Jews, were exterminated as part of Adolf Hitler's "Final Solution"
June 15th
In 1940, France surrendered to Hitler.
In 1940, French Fort Verdun & Paris captured by Germans.
In 1940, Soviet Army occupies Lithuania.
June 17th
In 1940, France asked Germany for terms of surrender in World War II.
June 18th
In 1940, Gen Charles de Gaulle on BBC tells French to defy nazi occupiers.
In 1940, during World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill urged his countrymen to comport themselves in a manner that would prompt future generations to say, "This was their finest hour."
June 22nd
In 1940, during World War II, Adolf Hitler gained a stunning victory as France was forced to sign an armistice eight days after German forces overran Paris.
= German-French armistice is signed (fighting ends June 25 after signature of Italo-French armistice June 24).
June 23rd
In 1940, Hitler tours Paris.
June 24th
In 1940, France signed an armistice with Italy during World War II.
June 28th
In 1940, Britain recognizes Gen. Charles de Gaulle as Free French leader.
June 30th
In 1940, 58 U-boats (284,000 ton) sunk this month.

1940 July

July 1st
In 1940, German U-boats attack merchant ships in the Atlantic.
July 2nd
In 1940, the Battle of Britain begins as Nazi forces attack by air.
July 3rd
In 1940, British Royal Navy sinks French fleet in North Africa .
= British attack French Fleet at Oran and Mers-el-Kebir.
July 5th
In 1940, during World War II, diplomatic relations were broken between Britain and the Vichy government in France.
July 9th
In 1940, RAF bombs Germany.
July 10th
In 1940, during World War II, the 114-day Battle of Britain began as Nazi forces began attacking southern England by air. By late October, Britain managed to repel the Luftwaffe, which suffered heavy losses.
start of 3-month air war; Goering vs. RAF
ends Oct 30 after 57-day Blitz on London
Brit. lose 832 fighters; Ger. lose 668 plus 600 bombers
July 11th
In 1940, British & German dogfight above Lyme Bay.
In 1940, Marshal Henri Petain declared France's Chief of State in the wake of defeat by Nazi Germany.
July 12th
In 1940, an Anglo-Soviet agreement was signed in Moscow for mutual assistance against Hitler's Germany.
July 19th
In 1940, Hitler advises Great Britain to surrenders.
July 21st
In 1940, Soviet Union annexes Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
July 22nd
In 1940, Dutch prime minister De Geer meets Hitler seeking peace talks.
July 23rd
In 1940, "Blitz" begins, all-night raid on London.
In 1940, Soviets take Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
July 31st
In 1940, 38 U boats sinks this month (196,000 ton).

1940 August

August 3rd
In 1940, Lithuania was formally incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.
August 4th
In 1940, Italy invades British Somaliland and occupies some towns in Sudan and Kenya.
August 5th
In 1940, Italians invade British Somaliland (conquest is completed Aug. 19).
August 8th
In 1940, the Battle of Britain began as Nazi Germany warplanes launched air attacks against England and began bombing the southeastern part of the country in what is remembered today as The Battle Of Britian.
August 11th
In 1940, 38 German aircrafts shot down above England.
In 1940, German air raid on British harbors Portland/Weymouth.
August 12th
In 1940, Netherlands starts rationing textile.
August 15th
In 1940, Heavy dogfights above England: 75 German aircrafts damaged.
August 16th
In 1940, 45 German aircrafts shot down over England.
August 17th
In 1940, Hitler orders total blockade of Great-Britain.
August 20th
In 1940, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill paid tribute to the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britian, saying "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
August 23rd
In 1940, German Luftwaffe begins night bombing on London. Aug. 24-Sept. 5 - 35 major attacks launched.
August 31st
In 1940, 56 U-boats sunk this month (268,000 ton).
In 1940, German occupiers in Netherlands beg in soap ration.

1940 September

September 1st
In 1940, General George Marshall was sworn in as chief of staff of US army.
September 3rd
In 1940, Hitler orders invasion in England on Sept 21 (Operation-Seelowe).
In 1940, The U.S. sent destroyers to Great Britain on return for leasing bases in Newfoundland and the Caribbean.
In 1940, 39.4 CM rainfall at Sapulpa Oklahoma (state record).
September 7th
In 1940, Nazi Germany began its initial blitz on London during World War II, raining bombs on the British capital. Came "the first blow to crush their city" - 375 German planes. "In the 28 days of terror from Sept 7 to Oct. 5, the Nazi dropped 50 million lbs on the city" including Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, but Germans lost over 900 planes.
September 10th
In 1940, Buckingham Palace hit by German bomb.
September 11th
In 1940, -12] Buckingham Palace destroyed by German bombs.
In 1940, Hitler begins operation-Seelowe (invasion England).
September 13th
In 1940, Buckingham Palace destroyed by German bombs.
In 1940, Italian troops under Marshal Graziani attack Egypt.
= Italians invade Egypt.
In 1940, The luxury liner S.S. City of Benares sailed from Liverpool with over 90 British children who were being evacuated to Canada to escape harm during World War II. About 600 miles out to sea, the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine during the night and only 13 of the children survived the disaster. {1}.
September 15th
In 1940, the end of the largest aerial bombing raid of London by the German Luftwaffe. This was one of the turning points for England as they survived this raid.
In 1940, during the Battle of Britain in World War II, the tide turned as the Luftwaffe sustained heavy losses inflicted by the Royal Air Force. Goring sent Luftwaffe in one of its greatest attacks - 500 planes.
September 18th
In 1940, 19 German aircrafts shot down above England.
September 23rd
In 1940, British and Free French attempt unsuccessfully to take Dakar (attack ends Sept. 25).
September 30th
In 1940, 47 German aircrafts shot down above England.
In 1940, 59 U-boats sunk this month (295,000 tons).

1940 October

October 2nd
In 1940, 17 German aircrafts shot down above England.
In 1940, the HMS Empress, carrying child refugees from Britain to Canada, was sunk duri ng World War II.
October 3rd
In 1940, the U.S. adopts parachute troops (paratroopers).
October 4th
In 1940, 12 German aircrafts shot down above England.
In 1940, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini conferred at Brenner Pass in the Alps, where the Nazi leader sought Italy's help in fighting the British.
October 6th
In 1940, Germans switched to night bombing, "just German bombs against British guts".
October 15th
In 1940, -16] Heavy German air raid on London, 400 killed.
In 1940, London's Waterloo Station bombed by Germans.
October 16th
In 1940, Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr named first black general in regular army.
In 1940, Lottery for first US WW II draftees held; #158 drawn first.
In 1940, The first day of registration under the Selective Service Law takes place. Millions of men bega n to register for America's first peacetime military draft.
October 21st
In 1940, RAF drops 1st anti-nazi pamphlets on Netherlands.
October 25th
In 1940, Benjamin O Davis Dr became first Black general in US Army.
October 28th
In 1940, Greece successfully resists Italy's attack.
In 1940, Meeting between Hitler & Mussolini in Florence.
In 1940, Italy invaded Greece during World War II.
= Mussolini invades Greece.
October 29th
In 1940, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson drew the first number, 158, in America's first peacetime military draft in U.S. history.
October 31st
In 1940, 63 U boats sunk this month (325,000 ton).
In 1940, Germans begin breaking off Battle of Britain.

1940 November

November 1st
In 1940, the first U.S. air raid shelter was built in Fleetwood, Pa.
November 7th
In 1940, the middle section of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington state collapsed during a windstorm.
November 8th
In 1940, RAF bombs Munich.
November 10th
In 1940, (thru the next day), Torpedo bomber raid cripples Italian fleet at Taranto, Italy.
= torpedo planes from HMS Illustrious sink 3 Italian battleships in the shallow harbor of Taranto
November 11th
In 1940, British air attack destroys half of Italian fleet.
November 14th
In 1940, during World War II, German planes destroyed most of the English town of Coventry. "all available German night bombers were put in the air" and a million lbs of bombs were dropped on Coventry "smashed flat as Rotterdam or Warsaw".
November 15th
In 1940, the first 75,000 men were called to armed forces duty under peacetime conscription.
November 25th
In 1940, Patria, carrying illegal immigrants, sinks in port of Haifa, 200 die.
November 26th
In 1940, the half-million Jews of Warsaw, Poland, were forced by the Nazis to live within a walled ghetto.
November 30th
In 1940, Stalin invaded Finland.
November 30th
In 1940, 32 U boats sunk this month (147,000 ton).

1940 December

December 9th
In 1940, British troops opened their first major offensive in North Africa during World War II.
In 1940, Gen. Sir Archibald Wavell launches British counteroffensive in Egypt.
December 18th
In 1940, Adolf Hitler signed a secret directive ordering preparations for a Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. (Operation Barbarossa, as it became known, was launched the following June.).
December 25th
In 1940, "Christmas 1940" - the quiet before "Hitler's great burst of raids against a people who couldn't be licked" as "millions of firebombs rained down on the great city of London. In a matter of minutes, the greatest fire in recorded history" .
December 29th
In 1940, during World War II, Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on London.
December 31st
In 1940, 37 U boats sunk this month (213,000 ton).

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