Explore 1843 historical events from 1940–1949.
USS Sailfish (SS-192) was a Sargo-class submarine of the United States Navy, originally named Squalus. As Squalus, the submarine sank off the coast of New Hampshire during test div…
USS Sailfish is recommissioned
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 Battle of the Netherlands: After fierce fighting, the poorly trained and equipped Dutch troops surrend
The 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army established in 1715. It saw service for three centuries including the First World War and Second W…
World War II: The British Army's 11th Hussars assault and take Fort Capuzzo in Libya from Italian forces
"This was their finest hour" was a speech delivered by Winston Churchill to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on 18 June 1940, just over a month after he took over as Pr…
The "Finest Hour" speech is delivered by Winston Churchill
Benoît Bouchard is a Canadian public official and former politician.
Benoît Bouchard, Canadian academic and politician, 18th Canadian Minister of Transport
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: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium
The Holocaust, known in Hebrew as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered ar…
The Holocaust: The first prisoners arrive at a new concentration camp at Auschwitz
Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky was a Russian-American aviation pioneer in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. His first success came with the Sikorsky S-2, the second aircraft of hi…
Igor Sikorsky performs the first successful single-rotor helicopter flight
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
David Anthony Jerome Holford was a West Indian cricketer who played in 24 Test matches between 1966 and 1977.
David Holford, Barbadian cricketer (died 2022)
Fotis Constantine Kafatos was a Greek biologist. Between 2007 and 2010, he was the founding president of the European Research Council (ERC). He chaired the ERC Scientific Council …
Fotis Kafatos, Greek biologist, founding president of the European Research Council (ERC) (died 2017)
Margrethe II is a member of the Danish royal family who reigned as Queen of Denmark from 14 January 1972 until her abdication on 14 January 2024. Having reigned for exactly 52 year…
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
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
Joan Snyder is an American painter from New York. She is a MacArthur Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow (1974).
Joan Snyder, American painter
Sir Eric Dancer is a British businessman and formerly Lord-Lieutenant of Devon.
Eric Dancer, English businessman and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Devon
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)
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