Explore 1393 historical events from 1940–1949.
The Battle of Gazala, also the Gazala Offensive was fought near the village of Gazala during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, west of the port of Tobruk in Liby…
World War II: The Battle of Gazala begins, in present-day Libya
The German city of Cologne was bombed in 262 separate air raids by the Allies during World War II, all by the Royal Air Force (RAF). A total of 34,711 long tons (35,268 t) of bombs…
World War II: One thousand British bombers launch a 90-minute attack on Cologne, Germany
Nikos Gioutsos was a Greek footballer who played as a striker. From the special style of play and the passion together with the dynamism he brought to the matches, the fans shouted…
Nikos Gioutsos, Greek footballer (died 2023)
James Reynold Lonborg is an American former professional baseball right-handed starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewer…
Jim Lonborg, American baseball pitcher
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of India from 193…
King George VI awards the George Cross to the people of Malta in appreciation of their heroism
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 Doolittle Raid on Japan: Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagoya are bombed
Sir Francis Owen Garbett Williams was a British businessman, motorsport executive and racing driver. From 1977 to 2020, Williams served as co-founder, team principal and co-owner o…
Sir Frank Williams, English businessman, founded the Williams F1 Racing Team (died 2021)
Charles Anthony "Buster" Williams is an American jazz bassist. Williams is known for his membership in pianist Herbie Hancock's early 1970s group, as well as working with guitarist…
Buster Williams, American jazz bassist
Dnyaneshwar Chandrashekhar Agashe was an Indian businessman, cricketer, cricket administrator, and philanthropist. He founded the Suvarna Sahakari Bank in 1969, and served as its m…
Dnyaneshwar Agashe, Indian businessman and cricketer (died 2009)
Michael Jacob Beloff, KC is an English barrister, arbitrator and writer. A member of Blackstone Chambers, he practises in a number of areas including human rights, administrative l…
Michael Beloff, English lawyer and academic
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 German-occupied Poland, the Majdan-Tatarski ghetto is established, situated between the Lublin Ghetto a
Benxihu (Honkeiko) Colliery was a coal mine in Benxi, Liaoning, China, first mined in 1905. Originally an iron and coal mining project under joint Japanese and Chinese control, the…
Benxihu Colliery accident in Manchukuo leaves 1,549 Chinese miners dead
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: Japanese naval troops invade Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands during the first part of Operation Mo 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…
World War II: The Battle of the Coral Sea begins with an attack by aircraft from the United States aircraft carrier USS
Karl Jochen Rindt was a racing driver who competed under the Austrian flag in Formula One from 1964 to 1970. Rindt won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1970 with Lotu…
Jochen Rindt, German-Austrian racing driver (died 1970)
Sir Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer is a New Zealand lawyer, political scientist and former politician, who served as the 33rd prime minister of New Zealand for a little over a yea…
Geoffrey Palmer, New Zealand politician, 33rd Prime Minister of New Zealand
Alice Mary Prior served as Lord Lieutenant of Bristol from 2007 to 2017. She is currently the Pro-chancellor of University of Bristol and a trustee of the environmental fund Virido…
Mary Prior, English politician, Lord Lieutenant of Bristol
Sandra Dee was an American actress. Dee began her career as a child model, working first in commercials and then film in her teenage years. Best known for her portrayal of ingénues…
Sandra Dee, American model and actress (died 2005)
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: On Corregidor, the last American forces in the Philippines surrender to the Japanese
The Battle of the Coral Sea, from 4 to 8 May 1942, was a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and naval and air forces of the United States and Australia. Ta…
World War II: During the Battle of the Coral Sea, United States Navy aircraft carrier aircraft attack and sink the Imper
The Battle of the Coral Sea, from 4 to 8 May 1942, was a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and naval and air forces of the United States and Australia. Ta…
World War II: The Battle of the Coral Sea comes to an end with Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier aircraft attackin
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands, officially the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, are an Australian external territory located in the Indian Ocean, comprising a small archipelago a…
World War II: Gunners of the Ceylon Garrison Artillery on Horsburgh Island in the Cocos Islands rebel in the Cocos Islan
The Holocaust saw the systematic mass murder of Jews in the Reichskommissariat Ukraine, the General Government, the Crimean General Government and some areas which were located to …
The Holocaust in Ukraine: The SS executes 588 Jewish residents of the Podolian town of Zinkiv (Khmelnytska oblast
Richard Michael Daley is an American politician who served as the 54th mayor of Chicago, Illinois, from 1989 to 2011. Daley was elected mayor in 1989 and was reelected five times u…
Richard M