1940
The British aircraft carrier Glorious is sunk by the German heavy battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, Southwest of Narvik.
The evacuation of British and French troops (24,000 men) from Narvik and Harstad is completed. A Norwegian delegation negotiates with the Germans for a peace treaty.
Off Norway, German battlecruisers Gneisenau & Scharnhorst sink British carrier HMS Glorious and British destroyers Ardent and Acasta (1537 killed on 3 ships).
Discovery of neptunium (Np), element 93, by Edwin McMillan & Philip Adelson at the University of California, Berkeley.
1941
RAF launch biggest bombing raid yet on Germany with 360 aircraft.
British, Commonwealth and Free French forces invade Syria and the Lebanon (‘Operation Explorer’) with air and naval support. The British offer Syria independence in an effort to stimulate Syrian revolt against their Vichy rulers. Vichy France protests vigorously at these British proposals.
1942
Fifteen Poles, including 12 women are publicly hanged in Poznan. The bodies left hanging for 48 hours as a warning.
US Army, European Theater of Operations (ETOUSA) formed under Major General James Chaney, replacing USAFBI (US Army Forces in British Isles).
Due to victory at Midway, US cancels the invasion alert for the US West Coast.
1943
The United States begins the “V-Home” campaign to encourage rationing, scrap collection, and other patriotic wartime activities.The
The Los Angeles City Council bans wearing of zoot suits in effort to stop Zoot Suit Riots.
The Japanese battleship Mutsu explodes by accident at Hiroshima, Japan, 1121 killed.
1944
The U.S. Fifth Army continues its drive North in Italy, taking Civita Castellana.
The RAF uses 12,000-lb “Tallboy” bomb against train tunnel in Saumur, France.
On the Adriatic coast of Italy, British find Germans have retreated, and they advance.
1945
SHAEF reveal the details of the German plans to exterminate all Jews in Europe by the summer 1946.
The United States and Australian naval Task Group 74.3 bombards Brunei Bay on Borneo.