WW2 Events
January 08, 1940
// Rationing begins in Britain.
// Rationing begins in Britain.
January 25, 1940
// Nazis choose the town of Oswiecim (Auschwitz) in Poland near Krakow as site of new concentration camp.
// Nazis choose the town of Oswiecim (Auschwitz) in Poland near Krakow as site of new concentration camp.
February 12, 1940
// First deportation of German Jews into occupied Poland.
// First deportation of German Jews into occupied Poland.
March 12, 1940
// Finland signs a peace treaty with Soviets.
// Finland signs a peace treaty with Soviets.
March 16, 1940
// Germans bomb Scapa Flow naval base near Scotland.
// Germans bomb Scapa Flow naval base near Scotland.
March 18, 1940
// Hitler and Mussolini meet at Brenner Pass (Alps) and agree to form an alliance against France and the United Kingdom.
// Hitler and Mussolini meet at Brenner Pass (Alps) and agree to form an alliance against France and the United Kingdom.
April 09, 1940
// Nazis invade Denmark and Norway.
// Nazis invade Denmark and Norway.
April 12, 1940
// The Faroe Islands are occupied by British troops.
// The Faroe Islands are occupied by British troops.
April 27, 1940
// Himmler signs the order that initiates construction of Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.
// Himmler signs the order that initiates construction of Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.
April 30, 1940
// The Lodz Ghetto in occupied Poland is sealed off from the outside world with 230,000 Jews locked inside.
// The Lodz Ghetto in occupied Poland is sealed off from the outside world with 230,000 Jews locked inside.
May 01, 1940
// Rudolf Höss is chosen to be Kommandant of Auschwitz.
// Rudolf Höss is chosen to be Kommandant of Auschwitz.
// Winston Churchill becomes British Prime Minister.
// Nazis invade France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
May 15, 1940
// Holland surrenders to the Nazis.
// Holland surrenders to the Nazis.
May 21, 1940
// An Allied counter attack against the German Army near Arras ends in failure as the attack is itself countered by another advancing German land force.
// An Allied counter attack against the German Army near Arras ends in failure as the attack is itself countered by another advancing German land force.
May 26, 1940
// Dunkirk evacuation of Allied troops begins.
// Dunkirk evacuation of Allied troops begins.
May 28, 1940
// Belgium army surrenders.
// Belgium army surrenders.
June 03, 1940
// Dunkirk evacuation ends.
// Dunkirk evacuation ends.
// Germans bomb Paris.
June 09, 1940
// The British Commandos are created.
// The British Commandos are created.
June 10, 1940
// Italy declares war on Britain and France.
// Italy declares war on Britain and France.
// Norway surrenders to the Nazis.
// Canada declares war on Italy.
June 12, 1940
// 13.000 British and French troops surrender to Field Marshal Erwin Rommel at St. Valery-en-Caux.
// 13.000 British and French troops surrender to Field Marshal Erwin Rommel at St. Valery-en-Caux.
June 14, 1940
// Germans enter Paris.
// Germans enter Paris.
June 15, 1940
// The Germans open Auschwitz concentration camp.
// The Germans open Auschwitz concentration camp.
June 16, 1940
// Marshal Pétain becomes French Prime Minister.
// Marshal Pétain becomes French Prime Minister.
June 17, 1940
// Luftwaffe Junkers 88 bomber sinks British ship RMS Lancastria, that was evacuating troops from near Saint-Nazaire, France.
// Luftwaffe Junkers 88 bomber sinks British ship RMS Lancastria, that was evacuating troops from near Saint-Nazaire, France.
// Operation Ariel begins.
June 18, 1940
// Hitler and Mussolini meet in Munich.
// Hitler and Mussolini meet in Munich.
// Soviets begin occupation of the Baltic States.
June 22, 1940
// France signs an armistice with the Nazis.
// France signs an armistice with the Nazis.
June 23, 1940
// Hitler tours Paris.
// Hitler tours Paris.
June 28, 1940
// United Kingdom recognizes Gaulle as french leader.
// United Kingdom recognizes Gaulle as french leader.
June 30, 1940
// German forces land in Guernsey marking the start of the 5-year Occupation of the Channel Islands.
// German forces land in Guernsey marking the start of the 5-year Occupation of the Channel Islands.
July 05, 1940
// French Vichy government breaks off relations with Britain.
// French Vichy government breaks off relations with Britain.
July 17, 1940
// The first anti-Jewish measures are taken in Vichy France.
// The first anti-Jewish measures are taken in Vichy France.
July 23, 1940
// Soviets invade Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
// Soviets invade Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
August 03, 1940
// Italians occupy British Somaliland.
// Italians occupy British Somaliland.
August 08, 1940
// Romania introduces anti-Jewish measures restricting education and employment.
// Romania introduces anti-Jewish measures restricting education and employment.
August 13, 1940
// German bombing offensive against airfields and factories in England.
// German bombing offensive against airfields and factories in England.
August 17, 1940
// Hitler declares a blockade of the British Isles.
// Hitler declares a blockade of the British Isles.
August 23, 1940
// First German air raids on Central London.
// First German air raids on Central London.
August 25, 1940
// First British air raid on Berlin.
// First British air raid on Berlin.
August 28, 1940
// Vichy French radio announces that laws protecting Jews in France have been dropped.
// Vichy French radio announces that laws protecting Jews in France have been dropped.
September 03, 1940
// Hitler plans the invasion of Britain.
// Hitler plans the invasion of Britain.
September 07, 1940
// Treaty of Craiova: Romania loses Southern Dobrudja to Bulgaria.
// Treaty of Craiova: Romania loses Southern Dobrudja to Bulgaria.
September 13, 1940
// Italians invade Egypt.
// Italians invade Egypt.
September 15, 1940
// Massive German air raids on London, Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester.
// Massive German air raids on London, Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester.
September 27, 1940
// Tripartite Pact signature.
// Tripartite Pact signature.
October 03, 1940
// Vichy France passes its own version of the anti-Jewish Nuremberg Laws.
// Vichy France passes its own version of the anti-Jewish Nuremberg Laws.
October 07, 1940
// German troops enter Romania.
// German troops enter Romania.
October 09, 1940
// Dutch decree, bans Jews and half-Jews from public employment.
// Dutch decree, bans Jews and half-Jews from public employment.
October 12, 1940
// Germans postpone invasion of Britain.
// Germans postpone invasion of Britain.
October 22, 1940
// Deportation of 29,000 German Jews from Baden, the Saar, and Alsace-Lorraine into Vichy France.
// Deportation of 29,000 German Jews from Baden, the Saar, and Alsace-Lorraine into Vichy France.
October 28, 1940
// Italy invades Greece.
// Italy invades Greece.
October 31, 1940
// Battle of Britain ends.
// Battle of Britain ends.
November 05, 1940
// Roosevelt re-elected as USA president.
// Roosevelt re-elected as USA president.
November 10, 1940
// A torpedo bomber raid cripples the Italian fleet at Taranto, Italy.
// A torpedo bomber raid cripples the Italian fleet at Taranto, Italy.
November 11, 1940
// The German Hilfskreuzer (cruiser) Atlantis captures top secret British mail, and sends it to Japan.
// The German Hilfskreuzer (cruiser) Atlantis captures top secret British mail, and sends it to Japan.
November 14, 1940
// Germans bomb Coventry, England.
// Germans bomb Coventry, England.
November 15, 1940
// The Warsaw Ghetto, containing over 400,000 Jews, is sealed off.
// The Warsaw Ghetto, containing over 400,000 Jews, is sealed off.
November 16, 1940
// The RAF begins to bomb Hamburg.
// The RAF begins to bomb Hamburg.
November 18, 1940
// Hitler and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano meet to discuss Mussolini's disastrous invasion of Greece.
// Hitler and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano meet to discuss Mussolini's disastrous invasion of Greece.
November 20, 1940
// Hungary joins the Axis Powers.
// Hungary joins the Axis Powers.
November 22, 1940
// Greeks defeat the Italian 9th Army.
// Greeks defeat the Italian 9th Army.
November 23, 1940
// Romania joins the Axis.
// Romania joins the Axis.
November 27, 1940
// Battle of Cape Spartivento begins.
// Battle of Cape Spartivento begins.
December 09, 1940
// British begin a western desert offensive in North Africa against the Italians.
// British begin a western desert offensive in North Africa against the Italians.
December 29, 1940
// Massive German air raid on London.
// Massive German air raid on London.
