Explore 6096 historical events from 1940–1949.
Henry Asbjørn Larsen was a Norwegian-Canadian Arctic explorer. Larsen was born on a small island, Herføl, south of Fredrikstad in Norway. Like his hero, Roald Amundsen, he became a…
Henry Larsen begins the first successful west-to-east navigation of Northwest Passage from Vancouver, British Columbia,
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 Collar, the first British Commando raid on occupied France, by No 11 Independent Company
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 French armistice with Nazi Germany comes into effect
Ronald Wycherley, known professionally as Billy Fury, was an English musician. An early star of rock and roll, he spent 332 weeks on the UK singles chart. His hit singles include "…
Billy Fury, English singer-songwriter (died 1983)
John Michael McCririck was an English horse racing pundit, television personality and journalist.
John McCririck, English journalist (died 2019)
Charles David Menville was an American animator and writer for television. His credits included Batman: The Animated Series, Land of the Lost, The Real Ghostbusters, The Smurfs, St…
Chuck Menville, American animator and screenwriter (died 1992)
Anja Silja Regina Langwagen is a German soprano singer.
Anja Silja, German soprano and actress
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: Under the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union presents an ultimatum to Romania requiring it to cede
The Kingdom of Romania was a constitutional monarchy that existed from 25 March [O.S. 13 March] 1881 with the crowning of prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen as King Carol I, u…
Romania cedes Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina to the Soviet Union after facing an ultimatum
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. World War II …
World War II: The Royal Navy attacks the French naval squadron in Algeria, to ensure that it will not fall under…
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. World War II …
World War II: Foreign relations of Vichy France are severed with the United Kingdom.
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. World War II …
World War II: The Vichy government is established in France.
Agostino Vallini is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church. He has been a cardinal since 2006. From 2008 to 2017, he served as Vicar General of Rome. He is also the Archpriest e…
Agostino Vallini, Italian cardinal and vicar general of Rome
Michael Graham Vickers is an English musician who came to prominence as the guitarist, flautist, and saxophonist with the 1960s band Manfred Mann.
Mike Vickers, English guitarist, saxophonist, and songwriter
James Richard Gammon was an American actor, known for playing grizzled "good ol' boy" types in numerous films and television series. Gammon portrayed Lou Brown, the manager of fict…
James Gammon, American actor (died 2010)
Souleymane Cissé was a Malian film director, regarded as one of the first generation of African filmmakers. He was called "Africa's greatest living filmmaker" while his film Yeelen…
Souleymane Cissé, Malian director, producer, and screenwriter (died 2025)
Dale & Grace was an American singing duo consisting of Dale Houston and Grace Broussard. They had two Billboard chart hits. The first was the No. 1 gold record "I'm Leaving It Up t…
Dale Houston, American singer-songwriter (died 2007)
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Germany in the Nazi era, from 1933 until his suicide in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Par…
World War II: Six days before Adolf Hitler issues his Directive 16 to the combined Wehrmacht armed forces for…
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. World War II …
World War II: Vichy France regime is formally established. Philippe Pétain becomes Chief of the French State.
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. World War II …
World War II: Battle of Cape Spada: The Royal Navy and the Regia Marina clash; the Italian light cruiser Bartolomeo…
The 1940 field marshal ceremony was a promotion ceremony held at the Kroll Opera House in Berlin in which Adolf Hitler promoted twelve generals to the rank of Generalfeldmarschall …
Field Marshal Ceremony: First occasion in World War II that Adolf Hitler appoints field marshals due to military…
The League of Nations was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Pea…
Denmark leaves the League of Nations.
Michael "Lufa" Kadosh was an Israeli footballer who also worked as the manager of Hapoel Jerusalem. He died on 29 April 2014 from cancer at the age of 74.
Michael Kadosh, Israeli footballer and manager (died 2014)
Sue Taylor Grafton was an American author of detective novels. She is best known as the author of the "alphabet series" featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictio…
Sue Grafton, American author (died 2017)