WHAT ALL HAPPENED AUGUST TO DECEMBER 1940
Find out what all happened August to December 1940

Greco-Italian War: The Italian invasion of Greece fails as outnumbered Greek units repulse the Italians in the Battle of Elaia–Kalamas. (8. November 1940)

New York City's "Mad Bomber" George Metesky places his first bomb at a Manhattan office building used by Consolidated Edison. (16. November 1940)

The Pennsylvania Turnpike, often considered the first superhighway in the United States, opens to traffic. (1. October 1940)

Armistice Day Blizzard: An unexpected blizzard kills 144 in the U.S. Midwest. (11. November 1940)

World War II: Himarë is captured by the Greek army. (22. December 1940)

World War II: Operation Compass – British and Indian troops under the command of Major-General Richard O'Connor attack Italian forces near Sidi Barrani in Egypt. (9. December 1940)

Cave paintings are discovered in Lascaux, France. (12. September 1940)

World War II: the McCollum memo proposes bringing the United States into the war in Europe by provoking the Japanese to attack the United States. (7. October 1940)

The first edition of the Ernest Hemingway novel For Whom the Bell Tolls is published. (21. October 1940)

George Stibitz pioneers the first remote operation of a computer. (9. September 1940)

The "Aufbau Ost" directive is signed by Wilhelm Keitel. (8. August 1940)

World War II: First flight of the de Havilland Mosquito and Martin B-26 Marauder. (25. November 1940)

World War II: The Battle of Gabon ends as Free French Forces take Libreville, Gabon, and all of French Equatorial Africa from Vichy France forces. (12. November 1940)

World War II: The Battle of Britain ends – the United Kingdom prevents a possible German invasion. (31. October 1940)

World War II: Battle of Britain – During a night-time air raid by the German Luftwaffe, St. Paul's Cathedral in the City of London, England is hit by a bomb. (9. October 1940)

King Carol II of Romania abdicates and is succeeded by his son Michael. (6. September 1940)

Estonia was illegally annexed by the Soviet Union. (6. August 1940)

The President of Catalonia, Lluís Companys, is executed by the Spanish dictatorship of Francisco Franco, making him the only European president to have been executed. (15. October 1940)

The British liner SS City of Benares is sunk by German submarine U-48; those killed include 77 child refugees. (18. September 1940)

World War II: Following the German defeat in the Battle of Britain, Hitler postpones Operation Sea Lion indefinitely. (17. September 1940)