WHAT ALL HAPPENED MARCH TO JULY 1940
Find out what all happened March to July 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: Battle of Dunkirk – In France, Allied forces begin a massive evacuation from Dunkirk, France. (26. May 1940)

The United States' Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles issues a declaration on the U.S. non-recognition policy of the Soviet annexation and incorporation of three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. (23. July 1940)

The Yermolayev Yer-2, a long-range Soviet medium bomber, has its first flight. (14. May 1940)

World War II: Norwegian, French, Polish and British forces recapture Narvik in Norway. This is the first allied infantry victory of the War. (28. May 1940)

The Allies begin their attack on the Norwegian town of Narvik which is occupied by Nazi Germany. (15. April 1940)

World War II: Italy declares war on France and the United Kingdom. (10. June 1940)

World War II: Norwegian refugees form a government-in-exile in London (5. May 1940)

World War II: The German submarine U-9 sinks the French coastal submarine Doris near Den Helder. (9. May 1940)

World War II: the Vichy government is established in France. (10. July 1940)

A Communist government is installed in Lithuania. (16. 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: 13,000 British and French troops surrender to Major General Erwin Rommel at Saint-Valery-en-Caux. (12. June 1940)

The Soviet Union presents an ultimatum to Lithuania resulting in Lithuanian loss of independence. (14. June 1940)

Romania cedes Bessarabia (current-day Moldova) to the Soviet Union. (28. June 1940)

World War II: In order to stop the ships from falling into German hands the French fleet of the Atlantic based at Mers El Kébir, is bombarded by the British fleet, coming from Gibraltar, causing the loss of three battleships: Dunkerque, Provence and Bretagne. One thousand two hundred sailors perish. (3. July 1940)

World War II: Rotterdam is bombed by the German Luftwaffe. (14. May 1940)

World War II: Royal Marines land in Namsos, Norway in preparation for a larger force to arrive two days later. (14. April 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: After fierce fighting, the poorly trained and equipped Dutch troops surrender to Germany, marking the beginning of five years of occupation. (15. May 1940)