1940
All aliens and stateless persons living in Britain are forbidden to leave home between 10:30 pm and 6 am.
Churchill orders the setting up of commando forces to be used for raiding occupied Europe.
The last night of the Dunkirk evacuation sees 26,700 French soldiers lifted from the beaches. This brings the total rescued to 224,686 British, 121,445 French and Belgian troops. Most of the French opt to return to France to continue the fight. During the evacuation, 177 aircraft were lost (Germans lost 140 aircraft).
Admiralty announce the loss of six destroyers, 24 small warships and participation of 222 British naval vessels and 665 other craft in Dunkirk operation. 226 vessels are sunk altogether.
300 German planes bomb Paris inflicting around 900 casualties.
British and French forces start to evacuate from Narvik in northern Norway.
1941
Attlee memorandum approved 2,430,000 to 19,000 at Labour Party conference: ‘A necessary prelude to a just peace is a total victory.’
Ex-Kaiser Wilhelm II, dies in exile in Holland.
New Iraqi government is formed.
1942
Task Force 16 (Spruance) and 17 (Fletcher) meet 350 miles north-east of Midway. Admiral Fletcher takes overall command of the joint task force, although the two would act separately. US land based aircraft from Midway spot the Japanese Transport Force about 600 miles from Midway. They launch attacks against this force, but without success. US reconnaissance aircraft spot the 2 carriers of the Japanese 2nd Carrier Striking Force, which were about 400 miles from Kiska in the Aleutians.
1943
The first fruits of victory reach British shops, Algerian wine.
1944
Hitler allows Kesselring to withdraw from Rome, which has now been declared an ‘Open City’.
The Japanese rearguard at Kohima retreats, ending a 64 day battle.