WWII History

1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt approves the sale of U.S. war planes to France. 1940 Hitler personally takes over planning for the invasion of Norway, ’Plan Weser’. 1941 The 7th Armoured Division captures Mechili. Meanwhile the Australians have bumped into strong Italian defences at Derna and so Wavell decides to halt further offensive action until […]

1932 The Japanese attack Shanghai, China, and declare martial law. 1940 King George of Britain announces court will not be held this year due to the war. 1941 French General Charles DeGaulle’s Free French forces sack south Libya oasis. Thai bombers hit Sisophon, French Indochina, final combat in Franco-Thai war. 1942 Timoshenko’s offensive in the

1940 The Soviet Union reopens negotiations with Finland through Sweden and indicates that it may withdraw its support for Otto Kuusinen’s puppet government should the Finns come to terms. The Finnish 9th Division launches an attack with the aim of destroying the Russian 54th Division in Kuhmo. Luftwaffe attacks British shipping in Channel, sinking four

1933 Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany 1939 Hitler threatens Jews during Reichstag speech. 1941 Australian troops capture Derna as the Italians begin to withdraw towards Benghazi. The 1st South African Division launches a feint attack against Mega in southern Abyssinia, in order to prevent the Italians from sending troops to reinforce their hard pressed forces

1940 Sir John Simon announces food subsidies are running at £1,000,000 per week. 1941 The new recruits of the ‘Nordland’ Regiment give their oath to SS Reichsführer Himmler in Oslo. The Italian garrison at Metemma in northern Abyssinia, having been under increasing pressure for the past 3 weeks, begins to withdraw towards Gondar, allowing the