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

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

  • 01 Jun 1940 British Withdrawal from Dunkirk: British troops strategically withdrew from the Dunkirk perimeter, leaving the defense to French forces during the critical early stages of World War II, signaling the imminent fall of France.
  • 02 Jun 1940 German Bombing of Dunkirk Beach During World War II: During the Dunkirk evacuation, German forces conducted heavy aerial bombardment of the beach, targeting British and Allied troops attempting to escape from the advancing German army. This bombing was part of the larger Battle of Dunkirk, a critical moment in the early stages of World War II.
  • 03 Jun 1940 Battle of Dunkirk Concludes with German Victory: The Battle of Dunkirk ended with a decisive German victory, forcing Allied forces into a full retreat. This battle was a critical moment in the early stages of World War II, demonstrating the German military's strategic and tactical superiority.
  • 04 Jun 1940 Dunkirk Evacuation Concludes: The massive evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, across the English Channel ends. A total of 338,000 men were successfully rescued, including 120,000 French soldiers, using 860 vessels. During the operation, the German Luftwaffe inflicted significant losses, sinking six British destroyers, eight transport ships, and over 200 small craft. This remarkable maritime operation saved a substantial portion of British and French forces from potential capture.
  • 05 Jun 1940 German Offensive in Battle of France - Operation Fall Rot: During World War II, the Germans renewed their offensive against the remaining French divisions south of the River Somme in Operation Fall Rot ("Case Red"). This strategic military action represented a critical phase of the German invasion of France, targeting the weakened French defensive positions.
  • 06 Jun 1940 Nazi Escalation of Anti-Jewish Policies: A critical memorandum was drafted in the German Foreign Office proposing radical measures to address the 'Jewish question', including the controversial plan of mass deportations to Madagascar. This document represents a significant escalation in Nazi persecution, foreshadowing the horrific systematic genocide that would follow during the Holocaust.
  • 07 Jun 1940 Norwegian Royal Family and Government Go into Exile: King Haakon VII, Crown Prince Olav, and the Norwegian government fled Tromsø, escaping Nazi occupation by relocating to London, symbolizing Norway's resistance against German invasion.
  • 08 Jun 1940 Allied Evacuation from Narvik: Operation Alphabet concluded with the final withdrawal of British and French forces from Narvik, Norway, marking the end of the Norwegian Campaign during World War II. This strategic retreat signaled the conclusion of Allied military operations in the region.
  • 09 Jun 1940 German Offensive in Aisne Sector: Army Group A, under Gerd von Rundstedt, launches a massive attack along a 100-mile front in the Aisne sector, establishing multiple bridgeheads and advancing rapidly.
  • 10 Jun 1940 Italy Enters World War II: On June 10, 1940, Fascist Italy officially declared war on France and the United Kingdom, launching an invasion of southern France. This strategic move aligned Italy with Nazi Germany and dramatically expanded the scope of World War II in Europe.
  • 11 Jun 1940 Italy Enters World War II: Italy officially declared war on the Allied powers on June 11, 1940, simultaneously launching military operations including air raids on Malta, signaling its active participation in World War II.
  • 12 Jun 1940 British and French Troops Surrender to Rommel at Saint-Valery-en-Caux: During World War II, Major General Erwin Rommel successfully compelled 13,000 British and French troops to surrender at Saint-Valery-en-Caux, demonstrating the German Wehrmacht's tactical superiority and the rapid collapse of Allied defenses in Northern France.
  • 13 Jun 1940 First Prisoners Arrive at Auschwitz: A group of 728 Polish political prisoners from Tarnów became the first residents of the Auschwitz concentration camp, marking the beginning of one of the most notorious sites of human suffering during the Holocaust.
  • 14 Jun 1940 First Inmates Arrive at Auschwitz: Seven hundred and twenty-eight Polish political prisoners from Tarnów became the first inmates of the Auschwitz concentration camp, marking the beginning of one of the most notorious sites of human suffering during the Holocaust.
  • 15 Jun 1940 France Surrenders to Nazi Germany: France officially surrenders to Nazi Germany, with German troops occupying Paris. This momentous event marks a devastating turning point in World War II, signaling the fall of a major European power.
  • 16 Jun 1940 France Changes Leadership During World War II: Paul Reynaud resigns as Prime Minister of France. Marshal Henri Pétain takes over the government and immediately calls for a ceasefire, marking a critical turning point in France's World War II strategy.
  • 17 Jun 1940 France Seeks Surrender Terms: France formally requested surrender terms from Germany during World War II, signaling the imminent fall of France and a critical turning point in the war's European theater.
  • 18 Jun 1940 Churchill's Defiant Speech in House of Commons: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivers a powerful and resolute speech in the House of Commons, warning about the impending Nazi threat and emphasizing Britain's determination to resist German invasion. He dramatically declares that Hitler must 'break us in this island or lose the war', symbolizing Britain's unwavering commitment to fighting Nazi aggression.
  • 19 Jun 1940 Rommel's 7th Armour Division Captures Cherbourg: During the Battle of France in World War II, General Major Erwin Rommel's 7th Armour Division successfully occupies the strategic port city of Cherbourg, further demonstrating the German military's rapid and effective blitzkrieg tactics against French defenses.
  • 20 Jun 1940 FDR Prepares United States for World War II: On June 20, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt took decisive steps to fortify the United States' preparedness for World War II. In a strategic political move, he appointed two prominent pro-interventionist Republicans, Henry Stimson as Secretary of War and Frank Knox as Secretary of the Navy. This bipartisan approach signaled a united national response to the growing global conflict, particularly in light of Nazi Germany's rapid conquest of France. The initiative focused on generating massive quantities of war materials and implementing the nation's first peacetime draft, marking a critical turning point in U.S. military and foreign policy.
  • 21 Jun 1940 France Surrenders to Nazi Germany: During World War II, France officially surrendered to Nazi Germany, marking a pivotal moment in the early stages of the conflict. This surrender represented a devastating blow to Allied resistance and demonstrated the overwhelming military power of the German Wehrmacht.
  • 22 Jun 1940 France Surrenders to Nazi Germany in Symbolic Compiègne Forest: France formally surrenders to Nazi Germany in a historic and symbolically charged ceremony in the Forest of Compiègne. The signing takes place in the same rail car where Germany had previously surrendered to France in 1918, marking a dramatic reversal of fortunes. General Charles Huntziger represents France, while Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signs on behalf of Germany, signaling the complete military defeat of France in World War II.
  • 23 Jun 1940 Hitler's Paris Architectural Tour: Adolf Hitler conducted a three-hour architectural tour of Paris with architect Albert Speer and sculptor Arno Breker, marking his only visit to the conquered French capital during World War II.
  • 24 Jun 1940 Franco-Italian Armistice of World War II: On June 24, 1940, France and Italy signed an armistice agreement during World War II, marking a significant diplomatic moment in the conflict. The armistice was signed following France's military defeat by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, effectively removing France from active combat against the Axis powers.
  • 25 Jun 1940 French Armistice with Nazi Germany Takes Effect: During World War II, the armistice between France and Nazi Germany officially came into effect, marking a significant turning point in the war. This agreement effectively ended France's military resistance and led to the German occupation of a large portion of French territory.
  • 26 Jun 1940 Dunkirk Evacuation Continues: Operation Dynamo persisted as Allied troops continued their evacuation from Dunkirk under intense aerial bombardment by the German Luftwaffe. This critical rescue operation would become a pivotal moment in World War II, saving thousands of British and French troops from certain capture.
  • 27 Jun 1940 German Occupation of France Completed: On June 27, 1940, German forces completed their occupation of France by reaching the Spanish border, effectively conquering the entire French territory. This marked a decisive moment in World War II, demonstrating Nazi Germany's military supremacy and dramatically altering the European geopolitical landscape.
  • 28 Jun 1940 Soviet Territorial Expansion in Romania: Romania was forced to cede Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina to the Soviet Union after receiving an ultimatum, marking a significant territorial annexation during the early stages of World War II.
  • 29 Jun 1940 US Alien Registration Act Passed: The United States government enacted the Alien Registration Act, requiring all non-citizen residents to register with the government, a significant policy during the early years of World War II.
  • 30 Jun 1940 Germany Invades Channel Islands: Nazi Germany launches a strategic invasion of the Channel Islands, British Crown dependency islands located off the coast of France, marking a significant expansion of German territorial control during World War II.