World War II 1940 Chronology

Nazis invade France (Jewish pop. 350,000), Belgium (Jewish pop. 65,000), Holland (Jewish pop. 140,000), and Luxembourg (Jewish pop. 3,500).

Ref: 35

French marines stationed on Aruba.

Ref: 2

British Local Defense Volunteers (Home Guard) forms.

Ref: 2

French troops arrive in Zealand/Brabant Netherlands.

Ref: 5

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigns and Winston Churchill forms a new government.

Ref: 2

Dutch torpedo boat Johan van Galen sinks.

Ref: 5

Dutch-Indies Governor Van Starkenborch proclaims end to state of siege.

Ref: 5

May 11

Hermann Goering demands that the Swedes allow passage of trains to Norway, filled with artillery and other war supplies. Swedish negotiators refuse to allow it.

French mariners occupy St Maarten.

Ref: 5

Nazi blitz conquest of France began by crossing Meuse River.

Ref: 5

German tanks conquer Moerdijkbrug.

Ref: 5

A British Royal Navy battleship accidentally strikes anti-submarine trawler Ypres, sinking it. All 18 crew members survive.

Dutch Queen Wilhelmina flees to England.

Ref: 5

British bomb factory at Breda.

Ref: 5

German breakthrough at Grebbelinie.

Ref: 5

In his first speech as prime minister of Britain, Winston Churchill told the House of Commons, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."

Ref: 70

Nazi bombs Rotterdam (600-900 dead), Netherlands surrender to Germany.

Ref: 5

German breakthrough at Sedan.

Ref: 5

Lord Beaverbrook appointed British minister of aircraft production.

Ref: 5

Admiral Furstner departs to England.

Ref: 5

German troops occupy Amsterdam, General Winkelman surrenders.

Ref: 5

Premier Winston Churchill flies to Paris France.

Ref: 5

German armour division moves into Northern France. French Premier Paul Reynaud phones British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, telling him, "We are defeated!".

Ref: 5

Nazis capture General Dutch Persbureau (ANP).

Ref: 5

May 16

Nazis forbid non-professional auto workers.

Ref: 5

May 16

Premier Winston Churchill returns to London from Paris.

Ref: 5

May 17

Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium and begins the invasion of France.

Ref: 2

May 17

Nazis bombs Middelburg/B IJzerdrat begins illegal defiance.

Ref: 5

May 18

German troops conquer Brussels.

Ref: 5

May 18

Italian army under General Aosta surrenders to Britain in Ethiopia.

Ref: 5

May 18

The Swedish Council on Foreign Relations of the Swedish Cabinet rules against the transit of arms for Germany.

May 19

French counter attack at Péronne under General De Gaulle.

Ref: 5

May 20

General Guderians tanks reach The Channel (British expeditionary army).

Ref: 5

May 21

British forces attack German General Rommel's 7th Panzer Division at Arras, slowing his blitzkrieg of France.

Ref: 2

May 21

Allied counter attack at Atrecht North-France.

Ref: 5

May 22

Dutch Premier De Geer begins working with Nazis.

Ref: 5

May 22

Premier Winston Churchill flies to Paris.

Ref: 5

May 23

First great dogfight between Spitfires.

Ref: 5

Hitler affirms General von Rundstedts "Stopbevel".

Ref: 5

RCN destroyers Restigouche, St. Laurent, Skeena, and Fraser head to the United Kingdom to aid the Royal Navy.

Dutch Queen Wilhelmina speaks on BBC radio and the Dutch army demobilizes.

Ref: 5

German tanks reach Atrecht France.

Ref: 5

May 25

German troops conquer Boulogne.

Ref: 5

May 26

The British Expeditionary Force begins the evacuation from Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo).

Ref: 36

May 28

British-French troops capture Narvik Norway.

Ref: 5

May 28

Belgium surrenders to Germany, King Leopold III gives himself up Also.

Ref: 5

May 29

Arthur Seyss-Inquart installed as Reich Commissioner of Hague Netherlands.

Ref: 5

May 29

In WWII, Germans capture Ostend & Ypres in Belgium & Lille in France.

Ref: 5

May 31

Premier Winston Churchill flies to Paris.

Ref: 5

May 31

General-Major Bernard Montgomery leaves Duinkerken.

Ref: 5

Jun 03

The German Luftwaffe hits Paris with 1,100 bombs.

Ref: 2

Jun 03

Evacuation of Dunkirk ends.

Ref: 10

Jun 04

The German battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and cruiser Hipper set out from Kiel for Harsted, Norway to attack Allied forces at the port city.

Jun 04

The evacuation of 300,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk, France across the English Channel ends.

Ref: 2

Jun 05

The German army begins its offensive in Southern France.

Ref: 2

Jun 08

The last British and French forces leave Norway.

Jun 09

Norway surrenders to Germany during WW II.

Ref: 5

Jun 10

Norway capitulates to Germany; Italy declares war on Britain and France. Canada declares war on Italy.

Ref: 36

Jun 10

Italy declares war on France & Britain during WW II.

Ref: 5

Jun 11

The Italian Air Force bombs the British fortress at Malta in the Mediterranean.

Ref: 2

Jun 11

Norway surrendered to the Nazis during World War II.

Ref: 70

Jun 12

Thailand and Japan sign a non-aggression pact.

Jun 13

Paris is evacuated as the Germans advance on the city.

Ref: 2

Jun 13

Spain's Generalissimo Franco changes Spain's status from neutral to nonbelligerent.

Auschwitz, largest of the Nazi concentration camps, was first opened near Krakow, Poland. Before its liberation by the Allies in 1945, over 3 million Jews would be exterminated there.

Ref: 5

In Brest, France, British General Brooke orders Canadian forces to withdraw from France. Much of the Canadian equipment and 216 vehicles are destroyed, to prevent their use by German forces.

German troops enter Paris.

Ref: 35

Spain sends a 3,000-man force to occupy the former international city of Tangier, a port of Morocco.

Jun 15

In convoy HX-48, eastbound across the Atlantic ocean, submarine U-38 torpedoes and sinks Canadian merchant ship Erik Boye near the southwest tip of England. There are no casualties. This is the first Canadian merchant ship sunk in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Ref: 2

Jun 15

The French fortress of Verdun is captured by Germans.

Ref: 2

Jun 16

Marshal Pétain becomes the French Prime Minister.

Ref: 36

Jun 16

French Chief of State, Henri Petain asks for an armistice with Germany.

Ref: 2

Jun 17

France asked Germany for terms of surrender in World War II.

Ref: 70

Jun 17

The Soviet Union occupies Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

Ref: 2

German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop informs the Swedish Minister in Berlin, Germany, that if Sweden resists the German use of Swedish railways to transport troops and supplies to Norway, it would have dire consequences. The Swedish government agrees to allow German troops to pass from Trelleborg, Sweden, to Oslo, Norway, via Swedish railways.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill urges his countrymen to behave in a manner that would prompt future generations to say, "This was their finest hour." (XDG p 4A, 6/18/2000)

Ref: 83

In Canada, Prime Minister Mackenzie King introduces the National Resources Mobilization Act in the House of Commons. The bill would require Canadians to register for national service within Canada, and give the government control of Canadian property for the duration of the war.

Hitler and Mussolini meet in Munich.

Ref: 36

Soviets invade the Baltic states.

Jun 22

In Canada, Royal Assent is given to the National Resources Mobilization Act, putting Canadians and their property at the disposal of the Crown. All males over age 16 are required to register for national service.

Jun 22

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.

Ref: 5

Jun 23

Hitler tours Paris.

Ref: 36

Jun 24

France signed an armistice with Italy during World War II.

Ref: 70

Jun 25

While en route from St-Jean-de-Luz, France, to Plymouth, England, RCN Fraser collides in the Bay of Biscay with British cruiser Calcutta, and sinks, killing 47 men. 46 RCN and 13 RN sailors die.

Jun 28

Britain recognizes Gen. Charles de Gaulle as the Free French leader.

Ref: 36

Jun 28

Romania cedes Bessarabia to Soviet Union.

Ref: 5

Jun 30

Germany begins the occupation of the Channel Islands.

Jul 02

RCN destroyer St. Laurent rescues 857 survivors of the torpedoed Arandora Star.

Jul 02

German sub torpedoes Blue Star liner Arandora Star transporting 714 German and Italian prisoners.

Ref: 10

Jul 03

British Royal Navy sinks French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir, North Africa.

Ref: 5

Jul 05

Near the southwest coast of Ireland, a submarine torpedoes and shells Canadian merchant ship Magog. The crew abandons ship.

Jul 05

Marshal Henri Petain's Vichy government breaks off diplomatic relations with Great Britain.

Ref: 2

Jul 08

In convoy HX-53 in the North Atlantic, a submarine torpedoes Newfoundland merchant ship Humber Arm. The Swedish government agrees to transport German was material across Sweden to Norway.

Jul 09

In Canada, at a meeting of the Cabinet War Committee, the prime minister and ministers approve a project to study the spread of diseases from planes and shells. This is the beginning of germ warfare in Canada.

Jul 09

The RAF begins night bombing of Germany.

Ref: 62

Jul 10

In the North Sea, off Great Yarmouth, England, German aircraft bomb and sink Canadian merchant ship Waterloo.

Jul 10

64 German airplanes fly for Britain. Five squadrons of RAF Fighter Command are launched to intercept them. 12 German planes are shot down, at a cost of 3 British planes. This is considered the start of the Battle of Britain.

Ref: 36

Jul 12

Units of the 1st Canadian Division land at Brest, France, and head toward Laval and Le Mans.

Jul 14

A force of German bombers attacks Suez, Egypt, from bases in Crete.

Ref: 2

Jul 16

Adolf Hitler orders preparations for the invasion of England.

Ref: 2

Jul 21

Soviet Union annexes Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

Ref: 5

Jul 23

The Soviets take Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Ref: 36

Jul 26

New Japanese prime minister Prince Konoye unveils his plan to take advantage of the European powers' weakness in Asia.

Jul 30

A bombing lull ends the first phase of the Battle of Britain.

Ref: 2

Aug 02

In Canada, Montreal mayor Camillien Houde publicly urges Quebecers to not sign up for national registration for war duty.

Aug 03

(through the 19th) The Italians begin the occupation of British Somaliland in East Africa.

Ref: 36

Aug 03

Lithuanian SSR is accepted into the USSR.

Ref: 5

Aug 03

Latvia admitted to Soviet Union.

Ref: 10

Aug 04

In convoy HX-60 in the North Atlantic, a submarine torpedoes Newfoundland merchant ship Geraldine Mary.

Aug 05

In Canada, Montreal mayor Camillien Houde is arrested, and charged under the Defence of Canada Regulations. He is imprisoned at Camp Petawawa in Ontario until the end of the war.

Aug 08

The German Luftwaffe attacks Great Britain for the first time.

Ref: 2

Aug 12

The German Air Force begins attacking Britain's radar stations, airfields, and air force.

Aug 13

A massive German bombing offensive begins against airfields and factories in England. Hitlers's "Eagle Day" starts with 1485 sorties against Britain.

Ref: 36

Aug 17

President Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister William Mackenzie King met in Ogdensburg, NY, where they agreed to set up a joint defense commission.

Ref: 5

Aug 17

Hitler declares a blockade of the British Isles.

Ref: 36

Aug 19

The Italians complete the occupation of British Somaliland in East Africa.

Aug 20

Radar is used for the first time, by the British during the Battle of Britain.

Ref: 2

Aug 20

British PM Churchill says of the Royal Air Force, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few".

Ref: 5

Aug 22

In the South Irish Sea off Milford Haven, Wales, German aircraft bomb Canadian merchant ship Thorold.

Aug 23

(and 24th) A German bomber, lost over London, jettisons its bombs. The bombing is thought to be intentional, and leads to a retaliatory RAF bombing of Berlin, Germany.

Ref: 24

Aug 24

The German battleship Bismarck is commissioned.

Aug 25

The first British air raid on Berlin is launched in retaliation of German air raids on London.

Aug 26

No. 1 Fighter Squadron, RCAF, first engages German planes in battle, shooting down three bombers and damaging four others, losing just one plane and pilot.

Sep 03

Hitler plans Operation Sealion (the invasion of Britain).

Ref: 36

Sep 07

German Air Force blitz of London begins when approximately 950 Luftwaffe bombers strike. It continues for 57 consecutive nights. This night in England, the codeword "Cromwell" is passed nationwide, and church bells ring out in warning that a German invasion may be underway.

Ref: 36

Sep 12

Canada's cabinet introduces Order In Council P.C. 4751, giving Canadian authorities power to imprison disobedient foreign seamen from non-Canadian ships in Canadian ports.

Sep 12

Italian forces begin an offensive into Egypt from Libya.

Ref: 2

Sep 13

Italy invades Egypt to gain control of the Suez Canal.

Ref: 36

Germany sends 1700 bombers on air raids on London, Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester.

The German battleship Bismarck leaves Hamburg for the first time and sails to Gotenhafen to conduct trials in the Baltic.

In the mid-Atlantic, southeast of Iceland, a submarine sinks Canadian merchant ship Kenordoc en route to Bristol, England.

German Luftwaffe in biggest raid over London in the Battle of Britain.

Ref: 10

Tide turns in Battle of Britain in WW II, RAF beats Luftwaffe.

Ref: 5

Sep 16

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Selective Training and Service Act, which set up the first peacetime military draft in U.S. history.

Ref: 70

Sep 17

President Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister William Mackenzie King met in Ogdensburg, NY, where they agreed to set up a joint defense commission.

Ref: 6

Sep 18

Adolf Hitler postpones invasion plans of Great Britain.

Sep 20

In Canada, the War Technical and Scientific Development Committee approves a request by Banting to begin bacterial warfare research.

Sep 25

RCN armed merchant cruiser Prince Robert captures German merchant ship Weser off Manzillo, Mexico.

Sep 26

During the London Blitz, the underground Cabinet War Room suffers a hit when a bomb explodes on the Clive Steps.

Ref: 2

Sep 27

The Tripartite (Axis) Pact signed by Germany, Italy and Japan.

Ref: 35

Oct 03

Vichy France passes its own version of the Nuremberg Laws.

Ref: 35

Oct 04

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini conferred at Brenner Pass in the Alps, where the Nazi leader sought Italy's help in fighting the British.

Ref: 70

Oct 07

Nazis invade Romania (Jewish pop. 34,000).

Ref: 35

Oct 10

St. Paul's Cathedral in London bombed by Germans.

Ref: 10

Oct 12

In a convoy in the North Atlantic, submarine U-101 torpedoes and sinks the merchant ship Saint-Malo south of Iceland. The ship was a former French vessel requisitioned by the Canadian government. 28 are killed.

Oct 12

Germans postpone Operation Sealion until Spring of 1941.

Ref: 36

Oct 16

Lottery for first US WW II draftees held; #158 drawn 1st.

Ref: 5

Oct 16

In convoy SC-7 in the North Atlantic, submarine U-124 torpedoes and sinks the merchant ship Trevisa south of Iceland, en route to Aberdeen, Scotland. 7 are killed.

Oct 18

The Burma Road was reopened by the Britsh

Ref: 62

Oct 20

German troops reach the approaches to Moscow.

Ref: 2

Oct 22

On a convoy in the North Atlantic, RCN destroyer Margaree collides with freighter Port Fairy in poor visibility, 400 miles west of Ireland. It is the first convoy mission for the destroyer, and 140 lives are lost.

Oct 23

Hitler and Spain's Franco meet in Hendaye, on the French/Spanish border. Hitler tries to get Spain committed to the war. Franco agrees to eventually enter the war, in return for military, agricultural, and territorial demands.

Oct 25

German troops capture Kharkov and launch a new drive toward Moscow.

Ref: 2

Oct 28

Italy invades Greece, launching six divisions on four fronts from occupied Albania.Mosquitoes with a deadly sting, Italy's tiny MAS torpedo boats cut enemy battleships down to size.

Ref: 2

Oct 28

The Greek resistance and military had turned back Mussolini’s troops and Greece’s borders were closed to the Nazi supporters.

Ref: 4

Oct 29

Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson drew the first number 158 - in America's first peacetime military draft.

Ref: 70

Oct 31

Battle of Britain ends with a Royal air force loss of 915 planes, Luftwaffe 1,733.

Ref: 10

Nov 01

First US air raid shelter, Fleetwood, Pa.

Ref: 5

Nov 02

Luftwaffe completes 57 consecutive nights of bombing of London

Ref: 62

Nov 06

RCN destroyer Ottawa and RN destroyer Harvester sink Italian submarine Faa di Bruno off Ireland.

Nov 10

(and 11th) A Britain's Royal Navy torpedo bomber raid cripples the Italian fleet at Taranto, Italy.

Ref: 36

Nov 11

Britain's Royal Navy attacks the Italian fleet at Taranto.

Ref: 2

Nov 14

(and 15th) The Germans bomb Coventry, England. This attack was known in advance. Churchill decided against evacuating Coventry because doing so would flag the Germans that their "Enigma" code had been broken.

Ref: 36

Nov 15

The first 75,000 men were called to Armed Forces duty under peacetime conscription.

Ref: 70

Nov 19

The Canadian government approves initiation of mass production of war bacteria.

Nov 20

Hungary joins the Axis Powers.

Ref: 36

Nov 22

Greeks defeat the Italian 9th Army.

Ref: 36

Nov 23

Romania joins the Axis Powers.

Ref: 36

Nov 24

Occupying German forces close off the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, Poland.

Ref: 3

Nov 30

USSR invades Finland.

Ref: 10

Dec 01

The Italian submarine Argo torpedoes RCN destroyer Saguenay, killing 21, but not sinking the ship. Saguenay had been escorting an eastbound convoy 300 miles west of Ireland.

Dec 06

Gestapo arrests German resistance fighter/poster artist Helen Ernst.

Ref: 5

Dec 07

North Africa: British counter offensive under General O'Connor.

Ref: 5

British troops first major offensive in North Africa (Banghazi, Libya) during WWII.

Ref: 5

The British army seizes 1,000 Italians in a sudden thrust in Egypt.

Ref: 2

Maletti Italian general, dies in battle.

Ref: 5