Explore 6096 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…
Second World War: Four days after the French government fled Paris, German forces occupied the French capital, a major a
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…
Second World War: RMS Lancastria was sunk by German aircraft near Saint-Nazaire, France, causing thousands of fatalities
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: Charles de Gaulle gave his Appeal of 18 June speech, often considered to be the origin of the French Resis
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 main offensive of the unsuccessful Italian invasion of France began
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…
Second World War: The British Army carried out Operation Collar, its first commando raid into German-occupied France
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…
Second World War: Operation Aerial, an evacuation of nearly 200,000 Allied soldiers from French ports, was completed
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 …
Second World War: The Grand Quartier Général of the French Army was disbanded, following the French surrender.
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 …
Second World War: The Royal Navy attacked the French fleet at Mers El Kébir (pictured), fearing that the ships would…
The Story Bridge is a heritage-listed steel cantilever bridge spanning the Brisbane River built to carry vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the northern and the sout…
The Story Bridge in Brisbane, the longest cantilever bridge in Australia, was opened by Sir Leslie Wilson, Governor of…
The Salzburg Conference was a conference between Nazi Germany and the Slovak State, held on 28 July 1940, in Salzburg, Reichsgau Ostmark. The Germans demanded the expulsion of the …
At the Salzburg Conference, Adolf Hitler demanded the replacement of much of Slovakia's cabinet.
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, with many eng…
World War II: Italian forces began a conquest of British Somaliland, capturing the region in 16 days.
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, with many eng…
World War II: The German Luftwaffe launched an air operation, codenamed Adlertag, to destroy the British Royal Air…
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, with many eng…
Second World War: During the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe made an all-out effort to destroy RAF Fighter Command,…
The 1940 New England hurricane moved off of the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada in August and September 1940, producing strong winds and torrential rainfall. The fourth tropica…
The 1940 New England hurricane formed over the Atlantic Ocean; it would go on to cause widespread damage despite never…
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, with many eng…
Second World War: Two Royal navy destroyers were lost to mines and two other vessels damaged off Texel, Netherlands,…
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, with many eng…
Second World War: The Luftwaffe changed their strategy in the Battle of Britain and began bombing London and other…
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, with many eng…
Second World War: Italian forces captured the town of Sidi Barrani, but their invasion of Egypt progressed no further.
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, with many eng…
World War II: Polish resistance leader Witold Pilecki allowed himself to be captured by German forces and sent to…
The Ip massacre was the mass killing of around 150 ethnic Romanians by the Royal Hungarian Army on 14 September 1940, in Ipp,, Northern Transylvania, and in nearby locations and su…
Hungarian forces massacred at least 150 ethnic Romanians in Ip, Transylvania, following rumors that Romanians were…
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, with many eng…
World War II: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and the Empire of Japan signed the Tripartite Pact in Berlin, officially…
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the …
During a Royal Australian Air Force training exercise over Brocklesby, two planes collided and interlocked in mid-air…
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, with many eng…
Second World War: During the Blitz, a semi-armour-piercing fragmentation bomb fell on the road above Balham station in…
Vichy France, also known as the Pétainist regime and Pétainist France, officially the French State, was a French rump state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II, e…
After evading Vichy French and Francoist Spanish authorities, Belgian prime minister Hubert Pierlot arrived in London,…
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, with many eng…
World War II: Italy invaded Greece after Greek prime minister Ioannis Metaxas rejected Benito Mussolini's ultimatum…