Explore 1392 historical events from 1940–1949.
Kip Stephen Thorne is an American astrophysicist and author. He shared the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics with Rainer Weiss and Barry C. Barish "for decisive contributions to the LIGO…
Kip Thorne, American physicist, astronomer, and academic
Constantine II was the last King of Greece, reigning from 6 March 1964 until the abolition of the Greek monarchy on 1 June 1973.
Constantine II of Greece (died 2023)
Ludwig Schwarz, S.D.B. was the Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Linz, Austria from 2005–2015.
Ludwig Schwarz, Slovak-Austrian bishop
Tony D'Arcy was an Irish Republican militant and activist. A senior leader in the Irish Republican Army (IRA), he died on 16 April 1940 after a 52-day hunger strike, at the age o…
Tony D'Arcy, Irish Republican died while on hunger strike (born 1908)
Jack McNeela was an Irish republican and a senior member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) from Ballycroy, County Mayo, Ireland. McNeela was one of 22 Irish republicans who died o…
Jack McNeela, Irish Republican Army, died on hunger strike
Carl Bosch was a German chemist and engineer and Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. He was a pioneer in the field of high-pressure industrial chemistry and founder of IG Farben, at one p…
Carl Bosch, German chemist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1874)
Ernest Edward Mills Joyce AM was a Royal Naval seaman and explorer who participated in four Antarctic expeditions during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, in the early 20th …
Ernest Joyce, English explorer (born 1875)
George Lansbury was a British politician and social reformer who led the Labour Party from 1932 to 1935. Apart from a brief period of ministerial office during the Labour governmen…
George Lansbury, English journalist and politician (born 1859)
Emma Goldman was a Russian-born anarchist revolutionary, political activist, and writer. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North Ame…
Emma Goldman, Lithuanian author and activist (born 1869)
Menno ter Braak was a Dutch modernist writer, critic, essayist, and journalist.
Menno ter Braak, Dutch author (born 1902)
Carl Gustaf Verner von Heidenstam was a Swedish poet, novelist and laureate of the 1916 Nobel Prize in Literature. He was a member of the Swedish Academy from 1912. His poems and p…
Verner von Heidenstam, Swedish author and poet, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1859)
William James Minter, was a footballer, trainer, manager and assistant secretary at Tottenham Hotspur. He scored 101 goals for Tottenham, and was for a time the top scorer for the …
Billy Minter, English footballer and manager (born 1888)
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: A squad of 250 Norwegian volunteers defending Hegra Fortress surrendered to a superior Nazi force after a
Franz Rademacher was a German lawyer and diplomat. As an official in the Nazi government of the Third Reich during World War II, he was known for initiating action on the Madagasca…
Franz Rademacher, a Nazi official, proposed that the island of Madagascar be made available as a destination for the res
The Norway Debate, sometimes called the Narvik Debate, was a momentous debate in the British House of Commons from 7 to 9 May 1940, during the Second World War. The official title …
A three-day debate began in the House of Commons that resulted in British prime minister Neville Chamberlain being repla
Arthur Neville Chamberlain was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940 and Leader of the Conservative Party from May 1937 …
British prime minister Neville Chamberlain resigned and formally recommended Winston Churchill as his successor
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: German forces commenced their invasion 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: The bulk of Dutch forces surrendered to the German Wehrmacht, ending the Battle of the 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. Tanks and air…
Second World War: German troops captured Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, forcing British forces to evacuate via 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…
Second World War: The Allies began a mass evacuation of British, French and Belgian troops cut off by the German army du
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: Ninety-seven soldiers of the British Royal Norfolk Regiment were killed after surrendering to German force
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: Belgium surrendered to Nazi Germany, ending 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…
Second World War: HMS Cambrian was sunk by a mine in The Solent, with the loss of 23 lives
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 remaining Allied forces protecting the Dunkirk evacuation surrendered, ending the Battle of Dunkir