WHAT ALL HAPPENED FEBRUARY TO JUNE 1940
Find out what all happened February to June 1940

World War II: the old city centre of the Dutch town of Middelburg is bombed by the German Luftwaffe, to force the surrender of the Dutch armies in Zeeland. (17. May 1940)

World War II: France officially surrenders to Germany at 01:35. (25. June 1940)

Basketball is televised for the first time (Fordham University vs. the University of Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden). (28. February 1940)

World War II: The Siege of Calais ends with the surrender of the British and French garrison. (26. May 1940)

World War II: Belgium surrenders to Nazi Germany to end the Battle of Belgium. (28. May 1940)

First person killed in a German bombing raid on the UK in World War II during a raid on Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, James Isbister. (16. March 1940)

World War II: The Battle of Dunkirk ends with a German victory and with Allied forces in full retreat. (3. June 1940)

World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt denounces Italy's actions with his "Stab in the Back" speech at the graduation ceremonies of the University of Virginia. (10. June 1940)

World War II: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium. (17. May 1940)

World War II: Germany's conquest of France begins as the German army crosses the Meuse. Winston Churchill makes his "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" speech to the House of Commons. (13. May 1940)

World War II: 13,000 British and French troops surrender to Major General Erwin Rommel at Saint-Valery-en-Caux. (12. June 1940)

World War II: Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain becomes Chief of State of Vichy France (Chef de l'État Français). (16. June 1940)

World War II: sinking of the RMS Lancastria by the Luftwaffe near Saint-Nazaire, France. At least 3,000 are killed; Britain's worst maritime disaster. (17. June 1940)

World War II: Germany invades Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. (10. May 1940)

World War II: Italy begins an unsuccessful invasion of France. (20. June 1940)

World War II: After a brief lull in the Battle of France, the Germans renew the offensive against the remaining French divisions south of the River Somme in Operation Fall Rot ("Case Red"). (5. June 1940)

World War II: Axis Powers – Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini meet at the Brenner Pass in the Alps and agree to form an alliance against France and the United Kingdom. (18. March 1940)

World War II: In the Le Paradis massacre, 99 soldiers from a Royal Norfolk Regiment unit are shot after surrendering to German troops; two survive. (27. May 1940)

Franz Rademacher proposes plans to make Madagascar the "Jewish homeland", an idea that had first been considered by 19th century journalist Theodor Herzl. (3. June 1940)

World War II: The Battle of the Netherlands ends with the Netherlands surrendering to Germany. (14. May 1940)