1939
German aircraft parachute mines into the Thames Estuary.
1940
The Luftwaffe’s heaviest raid on Birmingham; 11-hr raid causes 600 fires.
1941
All operational U-boats ordered to proceed to the Mediterranean or its approach.
A confused battle continues around Sidi Rezegh, with XXX Corps being forced to stop it advance towards Tobruk after the loss of many tanks and for the Tobruk break-out to be halted. Better news for XIII Corps though as it captures Sidi Omar and Capuzzo.
German auxiliary cruiser Atlantis is sunk in the South Atlantic by heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire after having sunk 22 Allied merchant ships.
Luftwaffe ace Werner Mölders killed in landing accident while a passenger on a German He 111 bomber, the first pilot in the world to achieve over 100 victories.
1942
The Soviet 4th Mechanized Corps from the south and the 4th Tank Corps from the north, join hands at Kalach on the Don, thus establishing the complete encirclement of the 300,000 men of 6th and 4th Panzer Army’s. The Russians report gains of up to 50 mites south of Stalingrad.
1943
German troops complete the occupation of the islands of the Dodecanese in the eastern Mediterranean.
The RAF give Berlin the worst pounding so far, with more than 2,300 tons of bombs dropped in less than 30 minutes for the loss of just 26 planes.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek met in Cairo to discuss measures for defeating Japan.
1944
Fighting in Metz is over but seven forts still hold out.
The RAF makes a second breach in the Dortmund-Ems Canal
US Third Army takes crucial town of Metz, France
1945
Thanksgiving is celebrated in America; Macy’s parade resumes after being cancelled 1942-44.
The Hollywood Canteen closes after having entertained 4 million servicemen; 3000 volunteers included many movie stars.
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