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1940

World War II: Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain becomes Chief of State of Vichy France (Chef de l'État Français)

World War II: Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain becomes Chief of State of Vichy France (Chef de l'État Français).

1940

World War II: RMS Lancastria is attacked and sunk by the Luftwaffe near Saint-Nazaire, France

World War II: RMS Lancastria is attacked and sunk by the Luftwaffe near Saint-Nazaire, France. At least 3,000 are killed in Britain's worst maritime disaster.

1940

World War II: The British Army's 11th Hussars assault and take Fort Capuzzo in Libya from Italian forces

World War II: The British Army's 11th Hussars assault and take Fort Capuzzo in Libya from Italian forces.

1932

Bonus Army: Around a thousand World War I veterans amass at the United States Capitol as the U

Bonus Army: Around a thousand World War I veterans amass at the United States Capitol as the U.S. Senate considers a bill that would give them certain benefits.

1945

William Joyce ("Lord Haw-Haw") is charged with treason for his pro-German propaganda broadcasting during World War II

William Joyce ("Lord Haw-Haw") is charged with treason for his pro-German propaganda broadcasting during World War II.

1943

The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL merge for one season due to player shortages caused by World

The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL merge for one season due to player shortages caused by World War II.

1944

World War II: The Battle of the Philippine Sea concludes with a decisive U

World War II: The Battle of the Philippine Sea concludes with a decisive U.S. naval victory. The lopsided naval air battle is also known as the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot".

1944

World War II: During the Continuation War, the Soviet Union demands unconditional surrender from Finland during the begi

World War II: During the Continuation War, the Soviet Union demands unconditional surrender from Finland during the beginning of partially successful Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive. The Finnish governm�

1895

The Kiel Canal, crossing the base of the Jutland peninsula and the busiest artificial waterway in the world, is official

The Kiel Canal, crossing the base of the Jutland peninsula and the busiest artificial waterway in the world, is officially opened.

1945

World War II: The Battle of Okinawa ends when the organized resistance of Imperial Japanese Army forces collapses in the

World War II: The Battle of Okinawa ends when the organized resistance of Imperial Japanese Army forces collapses in the Mabuni area on the southern tip of the main island.

1942

World War II: Tobruk falls to Italian and German forces; 33,000 Allied troops are taken prisoner

World War II: Tobruk falls to Italian and German forces; 33,000 Allied troops are taken prisoner.

1942

World War II: A Japanese submarine surfaces near the Columbia River in Oregon, firing 17 shells at Fort Stevens in one o

World War II: A Japanese submarine surfaces near the Columbia River in Oregon, firing 17 shells at Fort Stevens in one of only a handful of attacks by Japan against the United States mainland.

1940

World War II: Italy begins an unsuccessful invasion of France

World War II: Italy begins an unsuccessful invasion of France.

1945

World War II: The Battle of Okinawa comes to an end with an American flag-raising ceremony

World War II: The Battle of Okinawa comes to an end with an American flag-raising ceremony.

1944

World War II: Opening day of the Soviet Union's Operation Bagration against the Army Group Centre

World War II: Opening day of the Soviet Union's Operation Bagration against the Army Group Centre.

1942

World War II: Erwin Rommel is promoted to Field Marshal after the Axis capture of Tobruk

World War II: Erwin Rommel is promoted to Field Marshal after the Axis capture of Tobruk.

1941

World War II: Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa

World War II: Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa.

1940

World War II: France is forced to sign the Second Compiègne armistice with Germany, in the same railroad car in which th

World War II: France is forced to sign the Second Compiègne armistice with Germany, in the same railroad car in which the Germans signed the Armistice in 1918.

2012

Ashton Eaton breaks the decathlon world record at the United States Olympic Trials

Ashton Eaton breaks the decathlon world record at the United States Olympic Trials.

1942

World War II: Germany's latest fighter aircraft, a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, is captured intact when it mistakenly lands at RAF

World War II: Germany's latest fighter aircraft, a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, is captured intact when it mistakenly lands at RAF Pembrey in Wales.