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Major Events of April 1940: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from April 1940 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of April 1940: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Apr 1940 National Language Dictionary Authorization: President Manuel L. Quezon officially authorized the printing and publication of a comprehensive grammar and dictionary prepared by the Institute of the National Language, a significant step in standardizing and preserving the Filipino language.
  • 02 Apr 1940 Walt Disney Productions Goes Public: On April 2, 1940, Walt Disney Productions made a significant financial milestone by launching its first public stock offering. The company offered 155,000 shares of preferred stock at $25 per share and 600,000 shares of common stock at $5 per share. This initial public offering (IPO) successfully raised $3.5 million, providing crucial capital for the company's expansion and future animation and entertainment projects during the late Golden Age of Animation.
  • 03 Apr 1940 Winston Churchill Takes Military Leadership Role: Winston Churchill assumed the critical position of director of Britain's armed forces, marking a significant leadership transition during the early stages of World War II.
  • 04 Apr 1940 France Criminalizes Anti-War Propaganda: The French government declares spreading communist or antiwar propaganda a capital offense, reflecting the rising tensions and political suppression in Europe during the early stages of World War II. This law demonstrates the government's efforts to control public discourse and prevent potential dissent.
  • 05 Apr 1940 Katyn Massacre Commences: The Katyn Massacre began, a systematic execution of approximately 22,000 Polish military officers and intellectuals by Soviet forces, which would become one of the most notorious war crimes of World War II.
  • 06 Apr 1940 German Submarine U-1 Lost in North Sea: The German submarine U-1 was likely destroyed by a British naval mine in the North Sea during the early stages of World War II. This incident highlights the dangerous maritime warfare conditions of the period, with naval mines posing significant risks to submarine operations.
  • 07 Apr 1940 Booker T. Washington First African American on US Postage Stamp: On this historic day, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp featuring Booker T. Washington, a prominent African American educator, author, and political leader. As a former slave who became a renowned scholar and founder of the Tuskegee Institute, Washington's image on a national stamp represented a significant milestone in recognizing African American contributions to American society.
  • 08 Apr 1940 HMS Glowworm's Heroic Last Stand: The British destroyer HMS Glowworm was sunk after courageously reporting German fleet movements and dramatically ramming the German cruiser Hipper, demonstrating exceptional naval bravery during the early stages of World War II.
  • 09 Apr 1940 Germany Invades Denmark and Norway in World War II: On April 9, 1940, Germany launched Operation Weserübung, a strategic military campaign that simultaneously invaded Denmark and Norway. This invasion marked a significant expansion of German territorial aggression during World War II, targeting the Nordic countries to secure strategic ports and prevent potential Allied occupation.
  • 10 Apr 1940 First Battle of Narvik: A crucial naval engagement during the German invasion of Norway, where both German and British naval forces suffered significant losses. The battle involved the sinking of German destroyers Z22 Anton Schmitt and Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp, and British destroyers HMS Hardy and Hunter.
  • 11 Apr 1940 Britain Occupies Faroe Islands: In a strategic move during the early stages of World War II, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill announced to the House of Commons that Britain had occupied the Faroe Islands, a Danish territory. This occupation was part of the broader Allied strategy to control key maritime locations and prevent potential Axis expansion in the North Atlantic region.
  • 12 Apr 1940 Italy Annexes Albania: In a significant territorial expansion during World War II, Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini formally annexes Albania, extending its control in the Balkan region and demonstrating its imperial ambitions.
  • 13 Apr 1940 Second Battle of Narvik: During World War II, eight German destroyers were destroyed in the Second Battle of Narvik, Norway, marking a significant naval engagement in the early stages of the war.
  • 14 Apr 1940 British and Allied Troops Land in Norway During World War II: British and Allied troops initiated a strategic landing operation in Norway, targeting key locations near Trondheim and Narvik. This military maneuver was part of the broader Allied efforts to counter German expansion during the early stages of World War II.
  • 15 Apr 1940 Allied Attack on Narvik During World War II: The Allies launched a strategic military operation to reclaim the Norwegian town of Narvik, which had been previously occupied by Nazi Germany. This was part of the broader Norwegian Campaign aimed at preventing German control of strategic northern Norwegian ports.
  • 16 Apr 1940 Bob Feller's Opening Day No-Hitter: Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller threw a remarkable 1-0 no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on Opening Day, a rare and impressive feat in baseball history.
  • 17 Apr 1940 HMS Suffolk Attacks German Airfield in Norway: During World War II, the British cruiser HMS Suffolk conducted a strategic naval bombardment of a German-held airfield located in Stavanger, Norway. In a bold but costly operation, the ship shelled the airfield, attempting to disrupt German air capabilities. However, the Germans quickly retaliated with an air attack that severely damaged the HMS Suffolk, rendering the cruiser inoperable and forcing it out of active service for nearly a year.
  • 18 Apr 1940 German Submarine U-99 Commissioned: The German submarine U-99 was commissioned, becoming part of the Kriegsmarine's submarine fleet during World War II. This U-boat would play a significant role in naval warfare in the Atlantic.
  • 19 Apr 1940 Dutch State of Siege Declaration: In response to the growing tensions of World War II, Dutch Prime Minister De Geer declared a state of siege, signaling the imminent threat of German invasion and the country's preparedness for potential conflict.
  • 20 Apr 1940 First Electron Microscope Demonstrated by RCA: RCA successfully demonstrated the first electron microscope at their facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, marking a significant breakthrough in scientific imaging technology. This groundbreaking instrument allowed scientists to view objects at much higher magnifications and with greater detail than traditional light microscopes, revolutionizing fields like biology, materials science, and nanotechnology.
  • 21 Apr 1940 First US Military Casualty in World War II: Army Air Force observer Captain Robert Losey became the first US military personnel killed in World War II during a German bombing raid in Dombås, Norway, marking a significant moment in US military history.
  • 22 Apr 1940 US Naval Admiral Predicts Conflict with Japan: Rear Admiral Joseph Taussig delivered a prescient testimony before the US Senate Naval Affairs Committee, asserting that war with Japan was inevitable. His strategic insight would prove remarkably accurate, anticipating the eventual Pacific conflict that would unfold after the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941.
  • 23 Apr 1940 Rhythm Night Club Fire Tragedy: A devastating fire occurred at the Rhythm Night Club in Natchez, Mississippi, resulting in one of the deadliest nightclub fires in U.S. history. The blaze claimed the lives of 209 African American patrons, mostly young people, who were trapped inside the wooden building with limited escape routes. The fire highlighted significant safety concerns in public venues and racial inequities in emergency response during the Jim Crow era.
  • 24 Apr 1940 British and French Troops Trapped at Dunkirk: A critical moment in World War II unfolded as British and French troops found themselves surrounded and trapped near Dunkirk, France. This dire situation prompted the initiation of Operation Dynamo, a massive maritime evacuation effort that would become one of the most remarkable rescue missions in military history.
  • 25 Apr 1940 DUPE - German Luftwaffe Attack on RAF Base: During World War II, the German Luftwaffe conducted a strategic bombing raid on a Royal Air Force (RAF) base located on the frozen Lake Lesjaskogsvatnet in Norway. The attack resulted in the destruction of 13 Gladiator fighter planes and forced the RAF to withdraw from the location, representing a significant tactical victory for German forces.
  • 26 Apr 1940 Operation Dynamo Continues: The critical Allied evacuation operation at Dunkirk persists on April 26, 1940, with British and French troops being rescued under intense aerial bombardment by the German Luftwaffe. By the operation's end, approximately 340,000 Allied troops will be successfully evacuated, representing a crucial strategic withdrawal that would help preserve the core of the British Expeditionary Force.
  • 27 Apr 1940 Establishment of Auschwitz Concentration Camp: Heinrich Himmler, as a key leader of the Nazi SS, orders the establishment of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, marking a critical and horrific moment in the Holocaust. This camp would become one of the most notorious sites of mass murder and human suffering during World War II, symbolizing the systematic genocide of Jewish people and other targeted groups by the Nazi regime.
  • 28 Apr 1940 Establishment of Auschwitz Concentration Camp: Heinrich Himmler officially orders the establishment of Auschwitz Concentration Camp, a decision that would lead to one of the most notorious sites of human suffering in modern history.
  • 29 Apr 1940 Norwegian Royal Escape During World War II: King Haakon VII and the Norwegian government fled to England to escape Nazi occupation, preserving the legitimate Norwegian state leadership during the German invasion of Norway.
  • 30 Apr 1940 Nazi Establishment of Lódz Jewish Ghetto: The Nazis established their first guarded Jewish ghetto in Lódz, occupied Poland. This marked a critical moment in the Holocaust, where Jewish populations were forcibly concentrated and isolated, setting the stage for systematic persecution and eventual deportation to concentration camps.