June

*1934 Adolf Hitler began his ”blood purge” of political and military leaders in Germany. Among those killed was one-time Hitler ally Ernst Roehm, leader of the Nazi stormtroopers. 1940 Germans troops land on Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The last French defenders of the Maginot Line surrender. Governor General of Hong Kong orders evacuation of […]

1940 Japan declares the South Seas to be in its sphere of influence. President Roosevelt signs the Alien Registration Act; 5 million foreigners will register and be fingerprinted. 1941 Lord Beaverbrook becomes Minister of Supply in Cabinet reshuffle. Goering is named Hitler’­s successor. Russian defense Committee is formed with Stalin, Molotov, Voroshilov, Malenkov and Beria.

1940 The Alien Registration Act (the Smith Act) passed by the US Congress requires aliens to register and be fingerprinted. The Act makes it illegal to advocate the overthrow of the US government. German aircraft bomb Jersey. British government recognizes de Gaulle as leader of ëFree Frenchí. Channel Islands demilitarized and partially evacuated. The Pope

1940 All French ships in British ports are seized by the Royal Navy. German troops reach Franco-Spanish border. Romania agrees to cede Bessarabia to the USSR. French C-in-C in Syria accepts armistice terms. Japanese troops occupy part of the Hong Kong peninsula. 1941 German forces capture Bobruisk and Przemysl. Hungary declares war on the Soviet

1940 British blockade of war materials and food extended to whole of France. De Gaulle forms French Volunteer Legion in Britain. Turkey announces that she will stay out of the war. 1941 German forces of Army Group North capture Donaburg in Latvia. The Luftwaffe carries out raids on Leningrad. Heavy fighting in the Bialystok area

1940 First early morning air-raid alarm is heard in London. At 1:35am, all acts of war between the French and German armed forces officially cease. Churchill says France is not freed of her obligations. The German army has moved thru France even faster than expected. As Field Marshal Erwin Rommel puts it, “The war has

1940 An armistice is signed between France and Italy at Villa Indusa near Rome. China protests to France over closure of Indo-Chinese border; Japanese request closure of Burma Road controlled by Britain and used to supply Chinese forces. British government sends gold bullion and securities to Canada for safekeeping. 1941 House of Commons votes for

1940 The German advance continues down west coast of France. Pierre Laval is appointed as Vice-Premier, while de Gaulle is cashiered by Weygand for announcing the formation of French National Committee in London. First British commando raid on France is made at Le Touquet. Hitler makes a brief sightseeing visit to Paris. Driving through nearly

1940 Second London County Council evacuation scheme completed, with 100,000 children moved to the West Country and Wales. Germans troops cross the River Loire in strength as an armistice between France and Germany is signed at Compiegne. Its terms are read out loud to the French delegation by Generaloberst Keitel and provide for the occupation

1940 Franco-German armistice negotiations begin at Compiegne, during which Hitler informs the French representatives of his terms in the same railway carriage as the German surrender was signed in 1918. Hitler issues a proclamation announcing the end of the war in the West and orders flags to be flown throughout Germany for ten days. The