This Week in WWII – 3rd Week of June

1940
About 2,500 British troops perish when five Luftwaffe bombers attack the Lancastria, a Cunard luxury liner being used to transport troops. Hitler and Mussolini meet in Munich. Winston Churchill’s “Finest Hour” speech.
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This Week in WWII – 1st Week of June

1940
Evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk ends. Nazi planes strike airfields, industrial sites, and buildings in Paris. This successful German effort to damage France’s economy, reduce its military, and create terror…
1941
The provisional French government is established.
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This Week in WWII – 4th Week of May

1935
First flight of the Messerschmitt Bf 109.
1940
Evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk begins. The 27th is the worst day at Dunkirk. Churchill reprimands King Leopold of Belgium for seeking a separate peace with Germany. Conflict between Halifax and Churchill over Italy and the overall conduct of the war effort.
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This Week in WWII – 2nd Week of May

1944
Germany launches the first V-1 rocket on Britain. U.S. defeats the Japanese in an air battle known as the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
1945
The Red Army releases Commonwealth and US POWs at Stalag III-A, Luckenwalde.
1946
75 Nazis go to trial for the Malmedy Massacre, which occurred on 12-17-1944.
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This Week in WWII – 1st Week of May

1942
Japanese invasion repelled in Allied strategic victory. Surrender of all U.S. forces on Philippines.
1944
London Conference begins.
1945
VE Day (Victory in Europe Day). Germany surrenders, ending WW2 in Europe.
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This Week in WWII – 4th Week of April

1939
Conscription Day in Great Britain.
1941
Greek King and ministers evacuate to Cyprus. British Expeditionary Forces begin evacuation of troops to Egypt and Crete. German Troops enter Athens, Greece. Greece surrenders to Nazis. Heinrich Himmler ordered construction of Auschwitz Concentration Camp.
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This Week in WWII – 3rd Week of April

1940
French and British troops land in Norway.
1941
German troops occupy Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia surrenders to Nazis. The Wehermacht takes 345,000 prisoners as Yugoslav Army capitulates. British troops retreat from Mt. Olympus in Greece.
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This Week in WWII – 2nd Week of July

1940
Churchill tells Beaverbrook that, “we have no continental army that can defeat the German military machine.” The Battle of Britain begins as Luftwaffe begins attacking shipping in the English Channel.
1942
Barbarossa: Nazis move toward Stalingrad USSR. Germans move toward Stalingrad.
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