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Major Events of February 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 February 1940 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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

  • 01 Feb 1940 Winter War: Soviet Offensive on Karelian Isthmus: During World War II, Soviet forces launched a major military assault against Finnish defensive positions in the strategically critical Karelian Isthmus. This offensive was part of the broader Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland, characterized by intense fighting and Finland's remarkable resistance against a numerically superior Soviet force.
  • 02 Feb 1940 Vsevolod Meyerhold Executed in Soviet Purge: Prominent Russian theatre director Vsevolod Meyerhold was executed by Soviet authorities on fabricated charges of treason and espionage. He was later posthumously rehabilitated during the de-Stalinization period, revealing the brutal nature of Stalin's political repression.
  • 03 Feb 1940 Soviet Offensive in the 2nd Battle of Summa: As part of the Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland, Soviet forces launched a comprehensive assault on the strategically important Karelian Isthmus. This battle was a significant engagement in the Soviet attempt to breach Finnish defensive lines and expand territorial control.
  • 04 Feb 1940 Soviet Offensive in the Winter War: Battle of Summa: During the Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland, Soviet forces launched a massive assault on the strategically critical Karelian Isthmus. This battle was part of the Soviet's attempt to breach Finnish defensive lines and capture key territories, representing a significant moment in the conflict that would test Finland's military resilience against Soviet aggression.
  • 05 Feb 1940 Allied Supreme War Council Strategic Decision: The Allied Supreme War Council agreed to provide military assistance to Finland and Norway, with a strategic objective of protecting valuable Swedish iron ore deposits from potential German occupation.
  • 06 Feb 1940 US-Saudi Diplomatic Relations Established: On February 6, 1940, the United States and Saudi Arabia formally established full diplomatic relations. Bert Fish was appointed as the first American Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations during the early stages of World War II and the emerging geopolitical importance of the Middle East.
  • 07 Feb 1940 Pinocchio World Premiere: RKO Radio Pictures hosts the world premiere of Walt Disney's second animated feature film, Pinocchio, at the Central Theatre in New York City, introducing a landmark moment in animation history.
  • 08 Feb 1940 Lodtz, 1st large ghetto established by Nazis in Poland
  • 09 Feb 1940 Roosevelt's Diplomatic Fact-Finding Mission: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dispatched Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles on a critical diplomatic mission to investigate the situation in principal Western European capitals during the early phase of World War II.
  • 10 Feb 1940 Soviet Mass Deportation of Polish Citizens: The Soviet Union initiates large-scale forced deportations of Polish citizens from occupied eastern Poland to Siberia, a brutal act of population displacement during World War II.
  • 11 Feb 1940 Soviet Breakthrough in Winter War: Russian (Soviet) forces successfully breached the main Finnish defensive line during the Winter War, marking a significant military advancement against Finnish resistance. This event represented a critical moment in the conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland, demonstrating the Soviet military's strategic capabilities.
  • 12 Feb 1940 German Submarine U-33 Sunk in Firth of Clyde: German submarine U-33 was sunk in the Firth of Clyde by the minesweeper Gleaner. Of the 42-person crew, 25 perished while 17 survived. Notably, one survivor was carrying three Enigma machine rotors, which were subsequently sent to Alan Turing at the Government Code and Cypher School for critical intelligence analysis.
  • 13 Feb 1940 Finland Seeks Swedish Military Support: Finland requested military assistance from Sweden to help fight against the Soviet Union during the Winter War. However, Sweden declined the request, fearing potential retaliatory invasions from both Britain and Germany. This decision highlighted the complex geopolitical tensions and neutrality strategies of Nordic countries during World War II.
  • 14 Feb 1940 British Merchant Fleet Armed During World War II: In a strategic wartime decision, the British merchant vessel fleet was equipped with defensive armaments to protect against potential enemy attacks, particularly from German submarines and surface raiders. This move significantly enhanced the survivability of merchant ships traversing dangerous maritime routes during the early stages of World War II.
  • 15 Feb 1940 Mass Deportation of Jews from Stettin: In a tragic event during the Holocaust, more than 1,100 Jews were forcibly deported from the German city of Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland) to the Lublin region of the General Government, representing another horrific instance of Nazi persecution.
  • 16 Feb 1940 Altmark Incident: British Rescue of Prisoners: During World War II, the British destroyer HMS Cossack boarded the German tanker Altmark in Norwegian territorial waters, dramatically freeing 299 British prisoners. This bold rescue operation was a significant breach of Norwegian neutrality and highlighted the escalating tensions of the early war period.
  • 17 Feb 1940 Manstein Plan Presentation to Hitler: Erich von Manstein presented a detailed strategic war plan to Adolf Hitler for the invasion of France and the Low Countries. Hitler was deeply impressed by the comprehensive military strategy, which would later become crucial to Germany's early war successes.
  • 18 Feb 1940 HMS Daring Sunk During World War II Naval Engagement: On February 18, 1940, during the early stages of World War II, the British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Daring was sunk by the German submarine U-23 in the waters east of the Orkney Islands. The destroyer was part of an Allied convoy escort (HN12) when it was targeted and destroyed by the German U-boat, representing a significant naval loss for the British maritime forces during the Battle of the Atlantic.
  • 19 Feb 1940 Finnish Military Victory Against Soviet Forces in Winter War: During the Winter War, Finnish forces successfully defeated and dispersed the Soviet Union's 18th Division in a strategic engagement northeast of Lake Ladoga. This battle demonstrated the Finnish military's resilience and tactical prowess against the numerically superior Soviet forces.
  • 20 Feb 1940 Louisiana Gubernatorial Election Shifts Power: In a significant political upset, Jones defeats Earl K. Long, effectively dismantling the political machine established by Huey Long and signaling a major transformation in Louisiana's political landscape.
  • 21 Feb 1940 Auschwitz Location Recommendation: Richard Glücks, head of the Concentration Camps Inspectorate, recommended a location in Poland for a 'quarantine' camp, which would tragically become the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp, a site of immense human suffering during the Holocaust.
  • 22 Feb 1940 Discovery of the 14th Dalai Lama: In the Tibetan province of Ando, 4-year-old Tenzin Gyatso is officially proclaimed as the 'tulku' (spiritual reincarnation) of the thirteenth Dalai Lama, marking a significant moment in Tibetan Buddhist spiritual succession.
  • 23 Feb 1940 Sinking of German Submarine U-53: During World War II, the German submarine U-53 was sunk by depth charges west of the Orkney Islands, representing another naval engagement in the complex maritime warfare of the period.
  • 24 Feb 1940 Assassination of Ahmed Maher Pasha: In a dramatic moment of political turmoil, Ahmed Maher Pasha, the Prime Minister of Egypt, was assassinated on the floor of parliament immediately after declaring war against Japan and Nazi Germany during World War II. This event marked a significant turning point in Egypt's involvement in the global conflict.
  • 25 Feb 1940 First Televised Hockey Game in the United States: On February 25, 1940, a historic moment in sports broadcasting occurred when W2XBS in New York City televised the first hockey game in the United States. The New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-2 at Madison Square Garden, with the broadcast reaching approximately 300 television receivers in the New York City area.
  • 26 Feb 1940 German Submarine U-33 Sunk in Firth of Clyde: The German submarine U-33 was sunk in the Firth of Clyde by the British minesweeper Gleaner. Of the submarine's crew, 25 perished while 17 survived. A significant intelligence breakthrough occurred when one survivor was found carrying three Enigma machine rotors, which were subsequently sent to Alan Turing at the Government Code and Cypher School for critical cryptographic analysis.
  • 27 Feb 1940 Discovery of Carbon-14 Radioactive Isotope: Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben, two pioneering scientists, discovered carbon-14, a radioactive isotope that would revolutionize archaeological and geological dating methods. Their groundbreaking work established the foundation for radiocarbon dating, enabling researchers to determine the age of organic materials with unprecedented accuracy by measuring the decay of carbon-14 atoms.
  • 28 Feb 1940 Land Transfers Regulations in Mandatory Palestine: The British Mandate authorities published the Land Transfers Regulations, which divided Mandatory Palestine into zones with varying land ownership and transfer restrictions. These regulations significantly impacted land ownership and settlement patterns in the region.
  • 29 Feb 1940 Gone with the Wind Wins 8 Academy Awards: The epic historical romance film 'Gone with the Wind' dominates the 12th Academy Awards, winning 8 Oscars and setting a significant milestone in Hollywood cinema.