Explore 3967 historical events from 1940–1949.
World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many eng…
World War II: The Imperial Japanese Army lost the Battle of the Tenaru, the first of its three major land offensives…
World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many eng…
World War II: At the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, bombers from the U.S. aircraft carrier Saratoga sank the Japanese…
World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many eng…
World War II: Japanese forces attacked the Australian base at Milne Bay on the eastern tip of New Guinea.
Haile Selassie I was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as the Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia under Empress Zewditu between 1916 and 1930.
Emperor Haile Selassie returns to Addis Ababa; the country commemorates the date as Liberation Day or Patriots' Victory
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. One of the main United States Army A…
The first flight of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The Gloster E.28/39, was the first British turbojet-engined aircraft, first flying in 1941. It was the third turbojet aircraft to fly after the German Heinkel He 178 (1939) and Hei…
First flight of the Gloster E
Chongqing is a provincial-level direct-administered municipality in Southwestern China. It is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of China and the only one located i…
World War II: Four thousand Chongqing residents are asphyxiated in a bomb shelter during the Bombing of Chongqing
Vichy France, also known as the Pétainist regime and Pétainist France, officially the French State, was a French rump state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II, e…
Having defeated forces of Vichy France, Allied forces capture Damascus
The Occupation of Iceland during World War II began with a British invasion in order to occupy the island and deny it to Germany. The military operation, codenamed Operation Fork, …
The US occupation of Iceland replaces the UK's occupation.
The Jedwabne pogrom was a massacre of Polish Jews in the town of Jedwabne, German-occupied Poland, on 10 July 1941, during World War II and the early stages of the Holocaust. Estim…
Jedwabne pogrom: Massacre of Polish Jews living in and near the village of Jedwabne.
Allan Segal also known as Allan Fear-Segal was a BAFTA-winning documentary film maker. He spent the majority of his career working for Granada Television.
Allan Segal, American director and producer (died 2012)
Lagle Parek is an Estonian politician. She served as the Minister of the Interior in the first post-soviet government, led by the Prime Minister Mart Laar.
Lagle Parek, Estonian architect and politician, Estonian Minister of the Interior
Michael Daniel Higgins is an Irish politician, poet and broadcaster who served as the president of Ireland from November 2011 to November 2025. Entering national politics through t…
Michael D
Michel Roux, OBE, also known as Michel Roux Snr., was a French chef and restaurateur working in Britain. Along with his brother Albert, he opened Le Gavroche, which subsequently be…
Michel Roux, French-English chef and author (died 2020)
Bobby Russell was an American singer and songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he had five singles on the Hot Country Songs charts, including the crossover pop hit "Saturday Morning C…
Bobby Russell, American singer-songwriter (died 1992)
Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal was an American actor. Born in Los Angeles, he trained as an amateur boxer before beginning a career in acting in 1960.
Ryan O'Neal, American actor (died 2023)
Greville Patrick Charles Howard, Baron Howard of Rising is a British Conservative politician and, before the 2010 general election, was variously an Opposition Whip and Shadow Mini…
Greville Howard, Baron Howard of Rising, English politician
Eliane Ducos, known professionally as Jacqueline Boyer, is a French singer and actress. She is also the daughter of performers Jacques Pills and Lucienne Boyer.
Jacqueline Boyer, French singer and actress
Arie den Hartog was a Dutch road bicycle racer. Den Hartog won the Milan–San Remo Classic in 1965, as well as the Amstel Gold Race in 1967.
Arie den Hartog, Dutch road bicycle racer (died 2018)
Michael Lynne was an American film executive, best known as the former co-chair of New Line Cinema alongside its founder Robert Shaye.
Michael Lynne, American film producer, co-founded New Line Cinema (died 2019)
Edward Stewart Mainwaring, known as Ed "Stewpot" Stewart, was an English radio broadcaster and TV presenter. He was principally known for his work with the BBC as a DJ on Radio 1 a…
Ed Stewart, English radio and television host (died 2016)
Raymond Samuel Tomlinson was an American computer programmer who invented the first email program on the ARPANET system, the precursor to the Internet, in 1971; it was the first sy…
Ray Tomlinson, American computer programmer and engineer (died 2016)
John Christopher Williams is an Australian and English guitarist known for his solo and ensemble playing as well as his interpretation and promotion of the modern classical guitar …
John Williams, Australian-English guitarist and composer
World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated. Tanks and air…
World War II: The Italian-German Tarigo convoy is attacked and destroyed by British ships