Mussolini dismisses pro-German military chiefs and cabinet members
On this day, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini dismissed three military chiefs and two cabinet…
October 1939
Winston Churchill almost killed in u-boat attack
Winston Churchill was almost killed on this day when the battleship HMS Nelson was torpedoed…
Mussolini inaugurates new Italian city of Pomezia
Today, new Italian city of Pomezia was inaugurated by Benito Mussolini, the Duce of Fascist…
Czech medical students protest Nazi occupation and encourage resistance
On this day, medical students, and others, in Czechoslovakia protested against the occupation…
US neutrality act clears Senate, heads to White House
On this day, the US Senate passed the Neutrality Act. It would then go on to be signed into…
Nazi collaborator appointed first president of Slovak Republic
On this day, Jozef Tiso was elected the first president of the newly-created Slovak Republic.…
U-17, the lucky u-boat, runs aground off British coast
On this day, a German u-boat ran aground on Goodwin Sands, one of the most south-easterly…
Soviets detain Germans and Americans aboard SS City of Flint
The ongoing story of the SS City of Flint continued today, but now in the Soviet Union. The…
Survey finds US public support Britain but reluctant to join war
A survey conducted in the United States of America has found general support for the fight…
American President celebrates gift from British King George VI
In a symbolic link between Britain and America, the US President attended a church service…
Germany and Italy agree to South Tyrol resettlements
Germany and Italy today agreed to offer people living in the Italian province of South Tyrol a…
Norwegians refuse refuge for American ship captured by Germans
The City of Flint, an American cargo ship captured by the Germans, was today refused entry…
Britain, France and Turkey sign treaty guaranteeing all three will fight against Germany
Western European powers Britain and France signed a treaty with Turkey today formally agreeing…
Hitler issues Directive 7: Preparations for attacking Britain and France
On this day, Adolf Hitler issued Führer Directive Number 7, a plan for the attack and conquest…
German navy welcome home victorious u-boat commander
On this day, Günther Prien, the commander of U-47, returned to his home port of Wilhelmshaven…
Luftwaffe strike British Royal Navy ships. RAF retaliate
The German air force, the Luftwaffe, today launched a surprise bombing raid on the Firth of…
Germany and Estonia agree resettlement of Baltic Germans
The governments of Germany and Estonia today settled on an agreement which allows Germans…
Royal Navy battleship sunk by u-boat in ‘impregnable’ British naval harbour
On this day, the British battleship HMS Royal Oak was torpedoed and sunk by the German u-boat…
American aviator Charles Lindbergh argues for US isolationism
Famous American aviator Charles Lindberg made radio address to the US population today arguing…
British Prime Minister rejects Hitler’s offer of peace
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain today rejected an offer of peace from Adolf Hitler.…
President Roosevelt receives letter warning of German atomic bomb plans
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of the United States of America, received a letter on…
German warship tricks and captures British supply ship
On this day, the German battleship Admiral Graf Spee captured the British supply ship SS…
American cargo ship captured by German navy
On this day, the German cruiser Deutschland intercepted and captured the American cargo ship…
First Nazi ghetto created in Poland
On this day, the Nazi occupiers of Poland opened the first ghetto within the country. The…
Hitler appoints Himmler to be Commissioner for the Strengthening of German Nationhood
German leader Adolf Hitler today appointed Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler to the newly…
Allies reject Hitler’s offer of peace
Adolf Hitler made a public address in which he offered a peace proposal to the Western Allies…
Hitler visits Polish capital to review victorious German troops
Adolf Hitler, Führer of Nazi Germany, today travelled to the Polish capital Warsaw to view his…
Hitler combines intelligence agencies. Reinhard Heydrich appointed new leader
German leader Adolf Hitler issued a decree today to combine various agencies into one…
Neutral Greek ship sunk. U-boat takes survivors aboard
A ship flying the neutral flag of Greece was today stopped, torpedoed and sunk by a German…
Polish resistance and morale crumbles in north of country
One of the last pockets of resistance in northern Poland has surrendered today, following days…
Poles defend homeland in Battle of Wytyczno
Polish and German forces have clashed once more near the village of Wytyczno in Poland. …