World War II Timeline of Events

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World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

Timeline of Events

1940

5.28.1940

World War II: Belgium surrenders to Germany.

6.3.1940

World War II: The Luftwaffe bombs Paris.

6.4.1940

World War II: The Dunkirk evacuation ends – British forces complete evacuation of 300,000 troops from Dunkirk in France.

6.12.1940

World War II: 13,000 British and French troops surrender to Major General Erwin Rommel at Saint-Valery-en-Caux.

6.14.1940

World War II: Paris falls under German occupation, and Allied forces retreat.

6.16.1940

World War II: Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain becomes Premier of Vichy France.

6.17.1940

World War II: Operation Ariel begins – Allied troops start to evacuate France, following Germany's takeover of Paris and most of the nation.

6.23.1940

World War II: German leader Adolf Hitler surveys newly defeated Paris in now occupied France.

6.26.1940

World War II: under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union presents an ultimatum to Romania requiring it to cede Bessarabia and the northern part of Bukovina.

7.3.1940

World War II: the French fleet of the Atlantic based at Mers el Kébir, is bombarded by the British fleet, coming from Gibraltar, causing the loss of three battleships: Dunkerque, Provence and Bretagne. One thousand two hundred sailors perish.

7.5.1940

World War II: the United Kingdom and the Vichy France government break off diplomatic relations.

7.10.1940

World War II: the Vichy government is established in France.

7.11.1940

World War II: Vichy France regime is formally established. Henri Philippe Pétain becomes Prime Minister of France.

7.19.1940

World War II: Battle of Cape Spada

8.3.1940

World War II: Italian forces begin the invasion of British Somaliland.

8.5.1940

World War II: the Soviet Union formally annexes Latvia.

8.7.1940

World War II: Alsace Lorraine is annexed by the Third Reich.

8.16.1940

World War II: The Communist Party is banned in German-occupied Norway.

9.7.1940

World War II: The Blitz

9.13.1940

World War II: German bombs damage Buckingham Palace.

9.15.1940

World War II: The climax of the Battle of Britain, when the Royal Air Force shoots down large numbers of Luftwaffe aircraft.

9.27.1940

World War II: The Tripartite Pact is signed in Berlin by Germany, Japan and Italy.

10.7.1940

World War II: the McCollum memo proposes bringing the United States into the war in Europe by provoking the Japanese to attack the United States.

10.9.1940

World War II: Battle of Britain

10.28.1940

World War II: Greece rejects Italy's ultimatum. Italy invades Greece through Albania, marking Greece's entry into World War II.

10.31.1940

World War II: The Battle of Britain ends – the United Kingdom prevents a German invasion.

11.11.1940

World War II: Battle of Taranto

11.14.1940

World War II: In England, the city of Coventry is heavily bombed by German Luftwaffe bombers. Coventry Cathedral is almost completely destroyed.

11.16.1940

World War II: In response to Germany's leveling of Coventry, England two days before, the Royal Air Force bombs Hamburg.

11.18.1940

World War II: German leader Adolf Hitler and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano meet to discuss Benito Mussolini's disastrous invasion of Greece.

11.20.1940

World War II: Hungary becomes a signatory of the Tripartite Pact, officially joining the Axis Powers.

11.22.1940

World War II: Following the initial Italian invasion, Greek troops counterattack into Italian-occupied Albania and capture Korytsa.

11.23.1940

World War II: Romania becomes a signatory of the Tripartite Pact, officially joining the Axis Powers.

11.24.1940

World War II: Slovakia becomes a signatory to the Tripartite Pact, officially joining the Axis Powers.

11.25.1940

World War II: First flight of the deHavilland Mosquito and Martin B-26 Marauder.

11.27.1940

World War II: At the Battle of Cape Spartivento, the Royal Navy engages the Regia Marina in the Mediterranean Sea.

12.9.1940

World War II: Operation Compass

12.12.1940

World War II: Approximately 70 people are killed in the Marples Hotel, Fitzalan Square, Sheffield as a result of a German air raid.

12.22.1940

World War II: Himarë is captured by the Greek army.

12.23.1940

World War II: Greek submarine Papanikolis (Υ-2) sinks the Italian motor ship ''Antonietta''.

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