January

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 […]

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 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

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

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

1940 US-Japan Trade Treaty of 1911 lapses—US refuses to negotiate while Japanese troops are in China. Brooms in Britain to be made with square handles to save timber. 1941 The Italians evacuate Mechiliduring the night. 1942 The US-Filipino withdrawal to the Bagac-Orion line is successfully completed. The Japanese quickly followed up the withdrawal and made

1940 Nazis choose the town of Oswiecim (Auschwitz) in Poland near Krakow as site of new concentration camp. Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King dissolves Parliament; new elections to be held. US auxiliary ship Bear reaches deepest penetration by any ship yet into Antarctica. 1942 Thailand declares war on Britain and the US. Japanese troops begin landing at

1940 Chinese take Dongyangyuan Pass, Shanxi Province, China in war with Japan. 1941 General Cunningham’s ‘Southern Force’ invades Italian Somaliland from Garissa and Bura in Kenya. 1942 More reinforcements arrive at Singapore to boost its defenses as the British 18th Division is landed. Japanese troops land at Balikpapan in Dutch Borneo. Four US destroyers and

1940 Britain and France say they will not honor 200-mile Pan-American neutrality zone and will attack German ships there. Animals in Berlin Zoo placed on war rations—less meat, no bananas or peanuts. 1941 Before Congress, Charles Lindbergh suggests the US negotiate a neutrality pact with Hitler. HMS Illustrious, heavily damaged, leaves Malta for repairs in Alexandria.

1940 Destroyer Exmouth torpedoed off Wick, Scotland by U-22; all hands killed. British Ministry of Information begins censoring newsreels. 1941 The Destroyer HMS Hyperion sunk by mine off Cape Bon. Tobruk surrenders to British and Australian troops who capture 25,000 Italians, along with 208 guns and 87 tanks. Combined British and Australian losses were about 450.