Explore 6096 historical events from 1940–1949.
The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until its dissolution in 1991. It…
Acting on the orders of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, NKVD agent Iosif Grigulevich orchestrates an unsuccessful assassina
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 German 2nd Panzer Division captures the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer; the surrender of the last French and
The Intelligence Corps is a corps of the British Army. It is responsible for gathering, analysing and disseminating military intelligence and also for counter-intelligence and secu…
World War II: Army order 112 forms the Intelligence Corps of the British Army.
Under secretary of state (U/S) is a title used by senior officials of the United States Department of State who rank above the assistant secretaries and below the deputy secretar…
The United States' Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles issues a declaration on the U.S. non-recognition policy of…
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: Operation Dynamo: In northern France, Allied forces begin a massive evacuation from Dunkirk, France
The siege of Calais (1940) was a battle for the port of Calais during the Battle of France. The siege was fought at the same time as the Battle of Boulogne, just before Operation D…
World War II: The Siege of Calais ends with the surrender of the British and French garrison
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: In the Le Paradis massacre, 99 soldiers from a Royal Norfolk Regiment unit are shot after surrendering to
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: Belgium surrenders to Nazi Germany to end the Battle of Belgium
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: During the Battle of France, the Luftwaffe bombs Paris
Aufbau Ost was the German operational code name for the mobilisation of forces before the start of Operation Barbarossa and the subsequent invasion of the Soviet Union.
The "Aufbau Ost" directive for the mobilization of German forces for the invasion of the Soviet Union is signed by…
The North American B-25 Mitchell is a twin-engined medium bomber designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer North American Aviation. It was named in honor of Briga…
First flight of the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber.
The Second Vienna Award was the second of two territorial disputes that were arbitrated by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. On 30 August 1940, they assigned the territory of Norther…
The Second Vienna Award reassigns the territory of Northern Transylvania from Romania to Hungary.
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 Dunkirk evacuation ends: the British Armed Forces completes evacuation of 338,000 troops from Dunkirk
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: After a brief lull in the Battle of France, the Germans renew the offensive against the remaining French d
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 completion of Operation Alphabet, the evacuation of Allied forces from Narvik at the end of the Norweg
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: Fascist Italy declares war on France and the United Kingdom, beginning an invasion of southern France
Southern Dobruja or South Dobruja, also the Quadrilateral, is an area of north-eastern Bulgaria comprising Dobrich and Silistra provinces, part of the historical region of Dobruja.…
Romania returns Southern Dobruja to Bulgaria under the Treaty of Craiova.
George Robert Stibitz was an American researcher at Bell Labs who is internationally recognized as one of the fathers of the modern digital computer. He was known for his work in t…
George Stibitz pioneers the first remote operation of a computer.
The Treznea massacre occurred in the village of Treznea, Sălaj in north-western Transylvania on 9 September 1940, in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vienna Award, when Romani…
Treznea Massacre in Transylvania.
In archaeology, cave paintings are a type of parietal art, found on the wall or ceilings of caves. The term usually implies prehistoric origin. Several groups of scientists suggest…
Cave paintings are discovered in Lascaux, France.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving US president and the…
World War II: U
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany during the Second World War began on 9 April 1940 after Operation Weserübung. Conventional armed resistance to the German invasion ended on…
World War II: Military resistance to the German occupation of Norway ends
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 Siege of Malta begins with a series of Italian air raids
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: Thirteen thousand British and French troops surrender to General Erwin Rommel at Saint-Valery-en-Caux