Explore 3061 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. 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
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
Benoît Bouchard is a Canadian public official and former politician.
Benoît Bouchard, Canadian academic and politician, 18th Canadian Minister of Transport
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: 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
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)