Explore 1393 historical events from 1940–1949.
Henri La Fontaine, was a Belgian international lawyer and president of the International Peace Bureau. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1913 because "he was the effective leade…
Henri La Fontaine, Belgian lawyer and author, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1854)
Johanna Elberskirchen was a feminist writer and activist for the rights of women, gays and lesbians as well as blue-collar workers. She published books on women's sexuality and hea…
Johanna Elberskirchen, German author and activist (born 1864)
Ōnishiki Daigorō was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler. He was the sport's 28th yokozuna.
Ōnishiki Daigorō, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 28th Yokozuna (born 1883)
Alfred Erich Hoche was a German psychiatrist known for his writings about eugenics and euthanasia and his later recanting thereof.
Alfred Hoche, German psychiatrist and academic (born 1865)
Kristjan Raud was an Estonian symbolist painter and illustrator who was one of the founders of the Estonian National Museum. Folklore elements figure heavily in his subject matter …
Kristjan Raud, Estonian painter and illustrator (born 1865)
Nils Elias Kristofer von Dardel, sometimes known as Nils de Dardel, was a 20th-century Swedish Post-Impressionist painter and grandson of the famous Swedish painter Fritz von Darde…
Nils von Dardel, Swedish painter (born 1888)
Nigger was a male black labrador retriever belonging to Wing Commander Guy Gibson of the Royal Air Force, and the mascot of No. 617 Squadron. Gibson owned the dog when he was previ…
Nigger, black labrador retriever belonging to Wing Commander Guy Gibson of the Royal Air Force, and the mascot of No
Edsel Bryant Ford was an American business executive and philanthropist, who was the only child of pioneering industrialist Henry Ford and his wife, Clara Jane Bryant Ford. He was …
Edsel Ford, American businessman (born 1893)
Alice Charlotta Tegnér was a Swedish music teacher, poet and composer. She is the foremost composer of Swedish children's songs during the late 19th century and the first half of t…
Alice Tegnér, Swedish organist, composer, and educator (born 1864)
Joseph Gordon Coates served as the 21st prime minister of New Zealand from 1925 to 1928. He was the third successive Reform prime minister since 1912.
Gordon Coates, New Zealand soldier and politician, 21st Prime Minister of New Zealand (born 1878)
Leslie Howard Steiner, better known as Leslie Howard, was an English actor, director, producer, and writer. He wrote many stories and articles for The New York Times, The New Yorke…
Leslie Howard, English actor, director, and producer (born 1893)
Wilfrid Berthold Jacob Israel was an Anglo-German businessman and philanthropist, born into a wealthy Anglo-German Jewish family, who was active in the rescue of Jews from Nazi Ger…
Wilfrid Israel, English-German businessman and philanthropist (born 1899)
Dysentery, historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of i…
After suffering train derailments, defections, and outbreaks of dysentery and typhoid fever which killed two members, th
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 Royal Navy submarine HMS Seraph began Operation Mincemeat to deceive Germany about the upcoming in
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: Australian Hospital Ship Centaur was attacked and sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queens
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 Royal Air Force's "Dambusters" squadron embarked on an attack on German dams using bouncing bombs
The Luttra Woman is a skeletonised bog body discovered in a peat bog in Falbygden near Luttra, Sweden. The remains were found on 20 May 1943 by a peat cutter. The skull was well-pr…
The Luttra Woman (skull pictured), a bog body from the Early Neolithic period, was discovered near Luttra, Sweden
The Junkers Ju 88 is a twin-engined multirole combat aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works. It was used extensively du…
Eight German Junkers Ju 88s shot down British Overseas Airways Corporation Flight 777 over the Bay of Biscay off the coa
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" d…
French prisoner of war General Henri Giraud escapes from his castle prison in Königstein Fortress
Pierre Jean Marie Laval was a French politician. He served as Prime Minister of France three times: 1931–1932 and 1935–1936 during the Third Republic, and 1942–1944 during Vichy Fr…
Pierre Laval becomes Prime Minister of Vichy France
The Baedeker Blitz or Baedeker raids was a series of bombing raids by the Luftwaffe on the United Kingdom during World War II in April and May 1942. Towns and cities in England wer…
World War II: Baedeker Blitz: German bombers hit Exeter, Bath and York in retaliation for the British raid on Lübeck
The 11th Army was a World War II field army.
World War II: The German 11th Army begins Operation Trappenjagd (Bustard Hunt) and destroys the bridgehead of the three
Phayap Army was the hastily combined forces between the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) that invaded the Siamese Shan States of Burma on 10 May 1942 durin…
World War II: The Thai Phayap Army invades the Shan States during the Burma Campaign
A tanker is a ship designed to transport or store liquids or gases in bulk. Major types of tanker ship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, cargo ships, and a gas carrier. …
World War II: The U