Explore 4728 historical events from 1940–1949.
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
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
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…
The Soviet Union occupies Lithuania, which will eventually become the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR)
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: RMS Lancastria is attacked and sunk by the Luftwaffe near Saint-Nazaire, France
The Baltic states or the Baltic countries is a geopolitical term encompassing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. All three countries are members of NATO, the European Union, the Euroz…
The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fall under the occupation of the Soviet Union
The Appeal of 18 June was the first speech made by Charles de Gaulle after his arrival in London in 1940 following the Battle of France. Broadcast to France by the radio services o…
Appeal of 18 June by Charles de Gaulle
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: Italy begins an unsuccessful invasion of France
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
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
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: France is forced to sign the Second Compiègne armistice with Germany, in the same railroad car in which th
The city of Paris has notable examples of architecture from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. It was the birthplace of the Gothic style, and has important monuments of the Fren…
Adolf Hitler goes on a three-hour tour of the architecture of Paris with architect Albert Speer and sculptor Arno Breker
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
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)
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