1938
Chancellor Adolf Hitler announces in a speech; “The Sudetenland is the last territorial claim I have to make in Europe.”
1939
Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa – AK) is formed in Warsaw.
The British first use naval air warning radar, in Luftwaffe attack on carrier HMS Ark Royal.
1940
During the London Blitz, the underground Cabinet War Room suffers a hit when a bomb explodes on the Clive Steps.
US President Franklin Roosevelt imposes an embargo on the export of aviation fuel, scrap iron, and steel to Japan, citing American defence needs.
1941
The U.S. Army establishes the Military Police Corps
The Free French government in London under General de Gaulle signs an alliance with the Soviet Union.
German High Command records capture of 665,000 prisoners in the Kiev operations.
The first Arctic Convoy bound for Russia leaves Britain for Hvalfiord, Iceland. It consists of ten merchantmen with escorts and was designated as PQ1. The convoy arrived in Archangel without incident on 11 October thereby inaugurating a regular service to North Russia. (The letters PQ and QP were chosen because the first convoy planning officer was Cmdr. P.Q. Edwards.)
The British Eighth Army is formed in Egypt in preparation for ‘Operation Crusader’ and now includes both XIII and XXX Corps. At the same time the British Ninth Army is created in Palestine and the Tenth Army in Iraq and Iran to guard against Turkey entering the war on the Axis side.
1942
The ‘Final’ German offensive begins at Stalingrad.
The SS begin to take profit from the possessions and valuables of Jews from Auschwitz and Majdanek.
German banknotes are sent to the Reichs Bank. Foreign currency, gold, jewels and other valuables are sent to SS Headquarters of the Economic Administration. Watches, clocks and pens are distributed to troops at the front. Clothing is distributed to German families.
1944
The Eighth Army crosses the Rubicon in north-eastern Italy.
The US 20th Bomber Command B-29 Superfortresses bomb Manchuria, the command’s first mission with over 100 planes.
1945
The first US casualty in Vietnam (French Indochina): OSS officer Lt. Col. Peter Dewey is killed by Viet Minh in Saigon, he was mistaken for a Frenchman.