WWII History

1938 German troops enter Austria without firing a shot, forming the anschluss (union) of Austria and Germany. [youtube width=”640″ height=”385″ video_id=”mdWvGaQxyHM”] 1940 A peace treaty is concluded between Finland and Russia, which formally ends the “Winter War”. The terms of this treaty are harsh for Finland, who is forced to cede the entire Karelia Isthmus, […]

1940 A coal strike in New South Wales begins. 1941 Japanese Foreign Minister to visit Rome and Berlin. The US House of Representatives passes the ‘Lend Lease’ Bill by 317 votes to 71, where upon it is immediately signed by President Roosevelt. Initial priority for war supplies was to be given to Britain and Greece.

1941 Vice Admiral Adolphus Andrews assumes command of US Navy’s new North Atlantic Naval Coast Frontier (Eastern Sea Frontier) The RAF attacks Le Havre and at the same time gives the new 4-engine Halifax bomber it debut, although one of the six Halifax’s involved is shot down on its return flight by an RAF night

1936 The German press warns that all Jews who vote in the upcoming elections will be arrested. 1939 Czech President Emil Hacha ousts pro-German Joseph Tiso as the Premier of Slovakia in order to preserve Czech unity. 1940 Italian-Anglo agreement on coal, Britain to release Italian collier ships, Italy to import no more German coal.

1940 Heavy fighting is reported at the outskirts to Viipuri, as the Red Army continues its attempt to capture the city. This prompts the Finns to seek an immediate armistice, which the Russians refuse. Therefore the Finnish delegation in Moscow is instructed to sue for peace. 1941 The US Senate passes the ‘Lend Lease’ bill

1936 Hitler sends German troops into the Rhineland, breaking the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact. [youtube width=”640″ height=”385″ video_id=”SpxdYTNkbe4″] 1941 British and Commonwealth troops begin to arrive in Greece. German Jews ordered into forced labour. U-47, commanded by top ace Gunther Prien, hero of Scapa Flow, is sunk by the British Destroyer HMS

1940 Hitler changes his plans for the invasion of the west. At a military conference in Berlin, he decides to adopt the plan put forward by Gerd von Rundstedt and his former chief of staff, Erich von Manstein, for the Ardennes option. Code-named ‘Fall Sichelschnitt’, it called for the attack against the Low Countries to

1940 Italian collier ship seized by Allies. 1941 The Royal Navy begins escorting British and Commonwealth troop convoys from Egypt to Greece. 1942 German reconnaissance planes locate the British convoy PQ-12 bound for Murmansk. General Sir Harold Alexander arrives at Rangoon to take over command of Burma Army from Lieutenant General Hutton. Wavell had given