1940
53,823 evacuated from Dunkirk, bringing total landed in England since May 27 to 126,606.Britain orders modern destroyers to leave Dunkirk due to heavy losses.
Germany increases food rations due to increased supplies from newly conquered countries.
Roosevelt asks Congress for considerable funds to strengthen the US Armed forces.
Mussolini tells Hitler he intends to enter the war.
1941
The revolt in Iraq collapses as the British near Baghdad. The Iraqi leader Rashid Ali flees in to Persia (Iran).
German commander in Crete orders deadly reprisals for civilian resistance. In Iraq, British troops enter Baghdad.
1942
RAF Operation Millennium: first 1000-bomber raid, to Cologne, Germany.
The Afrika Korps take up defensive positions in the ‘Cauldron’ in readiness for their attempt to punch through the Gazala line.
Admiral Nimitz orders for Task Force 17 (Admiral Fletcher) consisting of the carrier Yorktown, 2 cruisers and 6 destroyers, which had been refitting at Pearl Harbor after operations in the Coral Sea, to set sail for Midway and meet Admiral Spruance there.
United States commemorates Memorial Day.
1943
Twenty children killed when bomb hits Torquay church.
After 19 days of fighting, the United States recaptures Alaska’s Attu Island from the Japanese Army, annihilating the remaining fighters “except for a few snipers”. Japanese losses were 2,500 killed with American losses at 600 killed.
1944
The Eighth Army captures Arce, 15 miles Northwest of Cassino, en route to Rome.
In England, the loading of assault forces for Operation Overlord (D-Day) begins. Allied troops begin to load in England-Force A (60,000 US troops); Force B (25,600 US reinforcements); British (75,000)
Germany approves the summary execution of downed Allied airmen who strafed passenger trains or civilians (“Terrorflieger”).
1945
A White Paper on full employment is tabled to the Australian Parliament.