References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 April 30.

1940 January 3 WPG-AM in Atlantic City New Jersey consolidates with WBIL and WOV as "new" WOV. [1] January 4 Conrad Weiss German writer/poet (Heart of Words), dies at 59. [1] January 5 US Federal Communications Commission hears first transmission of FM radio with clear, static-free signal. [1] Finnish offensive at Suomossalmi against Russia. [1] Tina Modotti [Maria del Carmen], Italian/Mexican communist, dies at 46. [1] January 8 Britain's first WWII rationing (bacon, butter and sugar). [1] January 9 Two German officers make emergency landing in Belgium. [1] J Thurber and E Nugent's "Male Animal" premieres in New York City, New York. [1] Finns destroy the remains of the Russian 44th Division at Lake Kianta, taking 1000 prisoners. [10] January 11 Sergei Prokofiev's ballet Romeo and Juliet premieres in Leningrad. [1] January 12 Erich R Jaensch German psychologist (eidetiek), dies at 56. [1] January 15 German U-Boot torpedoes Dutch trade ship Arendskerk (Eagle's Church). [1] January 18 Kazimierz P Tetmajer Polish writer/poet (Young Poland), dies at 74. [1] January 21 Foreign correspondents in Netherlands under censorship. [1] January 22 First radio broadcast of "Road to Happiness" on CBS. [1] January 23 Pianist Ignaz Paderewski becomes premier of Polish government in exile. [1] January 24 Emile van Bosch revue/operetta-artist, dies at 52. [1] January 25 Nazi decrees the establishment of Jewish ghetto in Lodz Poland. [1] January 26 Nazis forbid Polish Jews to travel on trains. [1] January 27 -17 degrees F (-27 degrees C), CCC Camp F-16, Georgia (state record). [1] January 30 Benjamin Britten's "Lesson Illuminations" premieres in London. [1] Hassett's second 122 of the game for Victoria can't stop a New South Wales win. [1] January 31 40 U boats sunk this month (111,000 ton). [1] C Turney and J Horwin's "My Dear Children" premieres in New York City, New York. [1] René "Sascha" Schickele German writer (Erbe am Rhein), dies at 56. [1] February 1 Russia begins new offensive against Finland. [1] February 2 Birth of Alan "Tea" Caddy rock guitarist (Tornados-Globetrotter). [1] Frank Sinatra's singing debut in Indianapolis (Tommy Dorsey Orchestra). [1] February 5 General Winckelman replaces General Reijnders as Dutch supreme commander. [1] Glenn Miller and his Orchestra record "Tuxedo Junction". [1] February 7 British railroads nationalized. [1] RKO Radio Pictures world premieres Disney's second animated feature film, Pinocchio, at the Central Theatre in New York City, USA. [1] [6] February 8 Lewis and Hamilton's musical "Two for the Show" premieres in New York City, New York. [1] Lodtz, first large ghetto established by Nazis in Poland. [1] February 10 "In The Mood" by Glenn Miller hits #1. [1] Tom and Jerry created by Hanna and Barbera debut by MGM. [1] February 11 John Buchan first Baron Tweedsmuir, Governor-General of Canada (1935-40), dies. [1] Russian forces breach the main Finnish defensive line. [10] February 13 Bradman scores 209 in 161 minutes for South Australia at the WACA. [1] February 14 British merchant vessel fleet is armed. [1] February 16 British search plane finds German Altmark off Norway. [1] February 17 Bradman scores 135 in a non-Shield match for South Africa vs West Australia. [1] British destroyers board German Altmark off Norway. [1] February 19 Finns defeat and disperse the Soviet 18th Division northeast of Lake Ladoga. [10] February 20 Larry Clinton and his Orchestra record "Limehouse Blues". [1] February 22 Finnish troops vacate Koivisto island. [1] Australian Prime Minister Menzies writes to High Commissioner Stanley Bruce in London, England, suggesting it is vital that a German defeat include "soft" peace terms, foreseeing a possible new alignment of nations including Britain, France, Germany, and Italy against Russia. [10] German air force sinks two German destroyers, killing 578. [1] February 23 Russian troops conquer Lasi Island. [1] RKO Radio Pictures releases Walt Disney's animated film Pinocchio to theaters in the USA. [6] February 24 Frances Langford records "When You Wish Upon a Star". [1] February 26 US Air Defense Command established at Mitchell Field, Long Island New York. [1] February 27 Peter Behrens German architect, dies. [1] February 28 Johan C Braakensiek Dutch political cartoonist, dies at 81. [1] Richard Wright's "Native Son" published. [1] US population at 131,669,275 (12,865,518 blacks (9.8%)). [1] February 29 "Gone with the Wind" wins 8 Oscars. [1] 45 U boats sunk this month (170,000 ton). [1] Edward Frederic Benson novelist, dies. [1] Frederic from G and S "Pirates of Penzance" finally released by pirate. [1] Hattie McDaniel becomes first black woman to win an Oscar. [1] March 1 12th Academy Awards: "Gone with the Wind", Robert Donat and Vivien Leigh win. [1] Adolf Hitler issues a Directive for "Case Weser exercise". He orders preparations be made for the occupation of Denmark and Norway, to secure iron ore from Sweden, and provide naval and air bases for operations against England. The objective is to occupy by peaceful means, designed to protect the arms of the neutrality of the Northern countries. General Nickolaus von Falkenhorst is to be Commander of Group XXI in charge of the operation. The crossings into Denmark and Norway are to be simultaneous. [10] Josef Swickard actor (Lost City, Tale of Two Cities), dies at 73. [1] Richard Wright's novel "Native Son" is published. [1] March 2 First intercollegiate track meet telecast, Madison Square Garden, New York City. [1] Soviet armies conquer Tuppura Island Finland. [1] March 3 Artie Shaw records "Frenesi" on RCA Victor label. [1] March 5 The Finland Government decides to accept peace terms of the Soviet Union. [10] March 6 First US telecast from an airplane, New York City, New York. [1] March 10 First US opera telecast, W2XBS, New York City, New York, I Pagliacci. [1] Louis de Vries Dutch actor (Merchant of Venice), dies at 68. [1] March 12 In Finland, Soviet forces breach the Mannerheim Line. [10] Finland and the Soviet Union conclude a peace treaty, the Treaty of Moscow. Finland retains independence but gives up the Karelian Isthmus, Viipuri, and a small band of land north of Lake Ladoga. The Soviets are granted a 30-year lease of Hangö for a naval base, and a right-of-way to Sweden. [10] March 14 27 killed, 15 injured when truck full of migrant workers collides with a train outside McAllen Texas. [1] March 15 Göring says 100-200 church bells enough for Germany, smelt the rest. [1] March 16 German air raid on British fleet base Scapa Flow. [1] Selma O Lagerlöf Swedish author (Nils Holgersson, Nobel Prize-09), dies at 81. [1] March 18 Mussolini joins Hitler in Germany's war against France and Britain. [1] March 19 Failed British air raid on German base at Sylt. [1] French government of Daladier, falls. [1] Gustaaf Sap Belgian minister of Economic Affairs, dies at 54. [1] March 20 Paul Reynoud becomes French premier. [1] March 23 First radio broadcast of "Truth or Consequences" on CBS. [1] All-India-Muslim League calls for a Muslim homeland. [1] March 25 Ion Nonna Otescu composer, dies at 51. [1] March 26 Ernest Hemingway and Benjamin Glazer premiere in New York City, New York. [1] March 27 Himmler orders building of Auschwitz concentration camp, at Katowice. [1] March 31 Karelo-Finnish SSR becomes 12th Soviet republic (until 1956). [1] April 2 Walt Disney Productions first offers shares in the company to the public. 155,000 shares of preferred stock are offered at US$25 per share, and 600,000 of common stock for US$5 per share. US$3.5 million is raised from the stock offering. [6] April 4 R Rodgers/Lorenz Hart's "Higher and Higher", premieres in New York City. [1] April 6 Andres Isasi composer, dies at 49. [1] April 7 First black to appear on US stamp (Booker T Washington). [1] April 8 Germany battle cruisers sink British aircraft carrier Glorious. [1] April 9 German cruiser Blücher torpedoed/capsizes in Oslofjord, 1,000 die. [1] (0410 hours) Germany launches Operation Weserubung, invading Denmark. Motorized troops cross the border into Denmark, as amphibious landings are made on Danish islands and on the waterfront of Copenhagen. The German envoy informs the Danish government that Denmark would be protected for the duration of the war, and no interference by German military authorities would be made in the country's internal affairs. Prime Minister Thorvald Stauning orders cessation of hostilities, twelve hours after the start. [10] German forces land on Norway with six different forces at widely separated points on the coast. The German government claim the invasion is made to forestall a British invasion. [10] (0620 hours) Danish King Christian X broadcasts to the nation that the government has surrendered to Germany. [10] (0630 hours) In Norway, Vidkun Quisling speaks on Oslo Radio, urging Norwegians to cease further resistance. He deposes the legal government, and appoints himself Prime Minister. [10] In Norway, German forces control Narvik, Trondheim, Bergen, and Stavanger. [10] Mrs Patrick Campbell English actress (Outcast Lady, Riptide), dies. [1] April 10 Vidkun Quisling forms Norwegian "national government". [1] April 12 Italy annexes Albania. [1] April 13 Second battle of Narvik-8 German destroyers, destroyed. [1] Cornelious Warmerdam becomes the first man to pole vault 15 feet, Berkeley California. [1] April 14 British troops land in Norway near Trondheim and Narvik. [10] RCA demonstrates its new electron microscope in Philadelphia. [1] April 15 British troops land at Narvik Norway. [1] April 16 Cleveland Indian Bob Feller hurls an opening day no-hitter vs Chicago, 1-0. [1] Heitor Villa-Lobos' opera "Izaht", premieres in Rio de Janeiro. [1] April 18 Florrie Forde music hall artist, dies. [1] Herbert Albert Laurens Fisher historian, dies. [1] April 19 "Lake Shore Ltd" derails, killing 34 near Little Falls New York. [1] Dutch prime minister De Geer declares state of siege. [1] April 20 First electron microscope demonstrated (RCA), Philadelphia Pennsylvania. [1] April 21 First $64 Question, "Take It or Leave It", on CBS Radio. [1] April 22 Rear Admiral Joseph Taussig testifies before US Senate Naval Affairs Committee that war with Japan is inevitable (He was right). [1] April 23 Dance hall fires kills 198 (Natchez Mississippi). [1] April 26 Carl Bosch German chemist (BASF, IG Farben, Nobel Prize 1931), dies at 65. [1] April 27 Himmler orders establishment of Auschwitz Concentration Camp. [1] April 28 Glenn Miller records "Pennsylvania 6-5000". [1] Rudolf Hess becomes commandant of concentration camp Auschwitz. [1] April 29 First radio broadcast of "Young Dr Malone" on CBS. [1] Norwegian King Haakon and government flees to England. [1] Robert Sherwood's "There Shall be No Night", premieres in New York City. [1] May 1 140 Palestinian Jews die as German planes bomb their ship. [1] May 3 (0215 hours) The Allied Expeditionary Force in Norway completes its withdrawal from Namsos and Andalsnes. [10] May 4 21 "not neutral" Nazis and communists arrested in Netherlands. [1] May 5 Norwegian Government in exile forms in London. [1] May 6 Pulitzer prize awarded to John Steinbeck (Grapes of Wrath). [1] May 10 British Local Defense Volunteers (Home Guard) forms. [1] Dutch torpedo boat Johan van Galen sinks. [1] Dutch-Indies Governor Van Starkenborch proclaims end to state of siege. [1] Euphemia "Phemia" Molkenboer Dutch author/poster artist, dies at 56. [1] French marines stationed on Aruba. [1] French troops arrive in Zealand/Brabant Netherlands. [1] (0400 hours) German parachute and airborne forces begin landing to secure key bridges in Holland at Rotterdam, Dordrecht, and Moerdijk, and in Belgium at Maastricht. Some parachutists are disguised as Netherland soldiers, farm boys, and Roman Catholic nuns. [10] (0530 hours) 76 German divisions cross a 175-mile front into Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. [10] (just after sun-up) Twenty-one 10-man DFS230 gliders descend over Dutch territory, having been pulled by Junker 52 transport planes from airfields near Cologne, Germany. Ten gliders land near key bridges, nine others landing on the roof of Belgium's Fort Eban Emael. Engineers quickly set explosive charges in gun barrels, casemates, and exit passages, sealing in the 650-man garrison. [10] The government of the Netherlands declares a state of war with Germany. [10] (0700-0800 hours) British and French troops enter Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to counter the German attack. [10] British forces occupy Iceland. [10] Switzerland orders general mobilization for defence for the following day, and declares a "precautionary state of war" as of midnight. [10] (early evening) Britain's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigns. [10] (1800 hours) At Buckingham Palace, London, England, King George VI asks Winston Churchill to form a new government. [10] German forces complete overrunning Luxembourg, and taking Maastrich in the Netherlands, and Malmedy in Belgium. [10] (midnight) British Prime Minister Winston Churchill completes the forming of his government. Clement Attlee is made Lord Privy Seal, Arthur Greenwood is made Minister Without-Portfolio. Anthony Eden is made Secretary of State for War. Sir Archibald Sinclair is made Air Secretary. [10] May 11 New York World's Fair reopens. [1] (afternoon) Belgian Fort Eben Emael surrenders to German infantry. About 1000 prisoners are taken. [10] May 12 French mariners occupy Saint Maarten. [1] German forces break through the Maastricht-Hasselt defence line in Belgium. [10] German tanks conquer Moerdijkbrug. [1] Nazi blitz conquest of France began by crossing Meuse River. [1] May 13 British bomb factory at Breda. [1] German 9th Panzer Division breaks through the frontier with Netherlands, and rushes to bridges in the Dordrecht - Moerdijk - Rotterdam area, cutting the Netherlands in two. [10] Churchill says I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. [1] Dutch Queen Wilhelmina flees to England. [1] German breakthrough at Grebbelinie. [1] May 14 Admiral Furstner departs to England. [1] Eddy [Charles E] du Platform writer/poet, dies. [1] Emma Goldman US anarchists/feminist/author (Living My Life), dies. [1] German breakthrough at Sedan. [1] Jacob van Gelderen economist/sociologist/SDAP-2nd-Chamber, dies at 49. [1] Lord Beaverbrook appointed British minister of aircraft production. [1] Menno ter Braak Dutch writer (Forum, New Elite), suicide at 38. [1] (2000 hours) Netherlands Commander in Chief General Henri Gerard Winkelman orders the cessation of hostilities around Rotterdam and Utrecht. About 25,000 men of the army of 100,000 were killed in the fighting. Fighting in Zeeland is to continue. [10] May 15 First successful helicopter flight in US: Vought-Sikorsky US-300. [1] German armour division moves into Northern France. [1] (morning) French Premier Paul Reynaud phones British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, telling him, "We have been defeated; we have lost the battle". [10] (about 1130 hours) In Rijsoord, a suburb village of Rotterdam, Netherlands, Commander in Chief of Netherlands land and sea forces General Henri Winkelman signs formal capitulation of Netherlands armed forces to Germany. [10] Joseph Limburg liberal second-Member of parliament (1905-19), dies at 75. [1] Nazis capture General Dutch Persbureau (ANP). [1] Nylon stockings go on sale for first time (US). [1] Willem A Bonger Dutch criminologist (Race and Crime), suicide at 63. [1] Winston Churchill flies to Paris France. [1] May 16 Nazis forbid non-professional auto workers. [1] Prime Minister Winston Churchill returns to London from Paris. [1] German troops enter The Hague and Amsterdam, Netherlands. [10] May 17 German forces in Belgium continue westward in Belgium, advancing to Brussels, capturing the city by the evening. [10] Nazis bombs Middelburg/B IJzerdrat begins illegal defiance. [1] May 18 The German 18th Army, lead by Georg Küchler, pierce the outer ring of fortresses of Antwerp, Belgium, in two places, quickly capturing the city. [10] The Netherlands commander of the Zeeland Islands offers capitulation to Germany. [10] May 19 Amsterdam time becomes MET (Middle European Time). [1] French counter attack at Péronne under General De Gaulle. [1] French Premier Paul Reynaud appoints General Maxime Weygand to replace General Maurice-Gustave Gamelin as Chief of General Staff and Allied commander in chief. [10] May 20 A battalion of German 2nd Panzer Division passes through Noyelles, reaching the sea near Abbéville, France, splitting Allied forces and trapping much of it in a northern pocket. This battalion is the first German unit to reach the Atlantic coast, just ten days after the start of the offensive. [10] Igor Sikorsky unveils his helicopter invention. [1] Joris [Georges] van Severen Flem fascist/Member of parliament, dies. [1] Trailing 7-1 in the 9th to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia wins 8-7. [1] May 21 AVRO-chairman Willem Vogt fires all Jewish employees. [1] Allied counter attack at Atrecht North-France. [1] Reynaud forms French Government. [1] May 22 Dutch Premier De Geer begins working with Nazis. [1] Prime Minister Winston Churchill flies to Paris. [1] May 23 First great dogfight between Spitfires. [1] Andrej N Rimsky-Korssakov Russian musicologist/son of Nikolai, dies. [1] Paul Nizan French journalist/writer (Ce Soir/Aden Arabia), dies at 35. [1] May 24 Dutch Queen Wilhelmina speaks on BBC radio. [1] Dutch army demobilizes. [1] German tanks reach Atrecht France. [1] Hitler affirms General von Rundstedts "Stopbevel". [1] The Allied Expeditionary Force withdraws completely from Norway. [10] May 25 German troops conquer Boulogne. [1] Golden Gate International Expo reopens. [1] May 26 German forces take Boulogne and Calais, France. [10] May 27 Evacuation of Allied troops begins, from Dunkirk, France, across the English Channel. [10] May 28 Adriaan J Enschedé director (Dutch printers Joh Enschedé), dies at 50. [1] (0400 hours) King Leopold III of Belgium surrenders the army unconditionally to German forces. [10] British-French troops capture Narvik Norway. [1] Irving Berlin's musical "Louisiana Purchase" premieres in New York City. [1] Randle Ayrton actor (Manx Man), dies at 70. [1] Theodor Streicher composer, dies at 65. [1] Walter Connolly actor (It Happened One Night, Good Earth), dies at 53. [1] May 29 Arthur Seyss-Inquart installed as Reich Commissioner of Hague Netherlands. [1] In WWII, Germans capture Ostend and Ypres in Belgium and Lille in France. [1] May 30 Y de Smit-Rog eldest Dutchman, dies at 104. [1] May 31 General-Major Bernard Montgomery leaves Dünkirchen. [1] Prime Minister Winston Churchill flies to Paris. [1] June 4 Evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, across the English Channel ends. A total of 338,000 men were evacuated to England, including 120,000 French, on 860 vessels. German Luftwaffe planes sunk six British destroyers, eight transport ships, and over 200 small craft. [10] British Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes his "We shall fight on the beaches ... we shall never surrender." speech to Parliament. [10] German forces enter Paris. [1] June 5 First synthetic rubber tire exhibited Akron Oh. [1] American Negro Threater organizes. [1] Battle of France begins in WW II. [1] June 7 The Norwegian government ceases hostilities with Germany. [10] June 8 Discovery of element 93, neptunium, announced. [1] The last British and French forces leave Norway. [10] June 9 Norway falls to German forces. King Haakon VI flees to London, England. [10] June 10 Italy declares war on England and France. [10] June 12 Siam and Japan sign a non-aggression pact. [10] June 13 Spain's Generalissimo Francisco Franco changes Spain's status from neutral to nonbelligerent. [10] Paris evacuated before the German advance. [1] June 14 German forces occupied Paris during WW II. [1] Soviet Premier Josef Stalin sends an ultimatum to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, making territorial demands. [10] June 15 Soviet forces occupy Lithuania. [10] French fortress of Verdun captured by Germans. [1] June 16 Communist government installed in Lithuania. [1] Soviet forces occupy Latvia. [10] Soviet Premier Josef Stalin demands Romania cede Bessarabia and northern Bucovina. Romania gives in to the demands. [10] Paul Reynaud resigns as Prime Minister of France. Marshal Henri Pétain takes over the government, and immediately calls for a ceasefire. [10] June 17 Soviet occupation of Estonia begins. [10] France asks Germany for terms of surrender in WW II. [1] June 18 Sweden receives a reply from Britain regarding expectations in Norway, indicating that Britain might have to make peace with Germany. [7] British Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes a speech in the House of Commons, including "The while fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war.". [10] June 19 "Brenda Starr," first cartoon strip by a woman, appears in Chicago. [1] June 22 France formally surrenders to Germany. The signing ceremony is held in the Forest de Compiègne, in the same rail car in which Germany had surrendered to France in 1918. General Charles Huntziger signs for France. Field marshal Wilhelm Keitel signs for Germany. [10] June 24 France signs an armistice with Italy. [10] June 26 End of USSR experimental calendar; Gregorian readopted 6/27. [1] June 27 USSR returns to the Gregorian calendar. [1] June 28 "Quiz Kids?" premiers on radio. [1] Soviet troops occupy Bessarabia and north-east Bukovina. [10] June 29 US passes Alien Registration Act requiring Aliens to register. [1] June 30 "Brenda Starr" cartoon strip, by Dale Messick, first appears. [1] US Fish and Wildlife Service established. [1]