1940
Contents |
Events
Dated Events
- Real World: March 18. Italy and Germany join together as the Axis Powers.
- Real World: April 9. Nazi Germany invades Denmark and Norway.
- DC (Post-Crisis), DC (Post-Zero Hour): Nathaniel Adam, later Captain Atom, is born. (Captain Atom #1)
- Real World: May 10. Nazi Germany invades Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- GURPS Infinite Worlds: May 10. The history of Reich-2 diverges from Homeline's history when Lord Halifax becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. (GURPS Infinite Worlds)
- Real World: May 13. Nazi Germany crosses the Meuse River and begins their invasion of France.
- Real World: May 14. The Netherlands surrender to Nazi Germany.
- Real World: May 15. The first McDonald's opens in San Bernardino, California.
- Real World: May 24. The first successful single-rotor helicopter is flown by Igor Sikorsky.
- Real World: May 25. The Battle of Dunkirk begins in France. The next day, Allied forces begin a mass evacuation from Dunkirk.
- Real World: May 28. Belgium surrenders to Nazi Germany.
- Real World: June 4. The evacuations from Dunkirk are completed.
- Real World: June 4. Winston Churchill delivers his famous 'We shall Fight on the Beaches' speech.
- GURPS Infinite Worlds: June 4. The history of Reich-1 diverges from Homeline's history when the British Expeditionary Force is destroyed during the Battle of Dunkirk. (GURPS Infinite Worlds)
- Real World: June 10. Norway surrenders to Nazi Germany.
- Real World: June 14. Paris is occupied by Nazi German forces.
- Real World: July 10. The Vichy France government is established. The Battle of Britain begins.
- Real World: September 7. German aircraft begin bombing London in what becomes known as the Blitz.
- Real World: October 28. Italy invades Greece.
- Real World: October 31. The Battle of Britain ends; England stops Germany from invading.
- Real World: November 1. The Lascaux caves are discovered in France, which contain paintings made by early humans over 15,000 years ago.
- Real World: November 5. Franklin D. Roosevelt re-elected President of the United States.
- Real World: November 20. Hungary, Romania and Slovakia join the Axis Powers.
Undated Events
- DC (Generations): Dick Grayson's parents are killed, and he is adopted by Bruce Wayne; soon thereafter, Grayson becomes Robin. (Superman & Batman: Generations)
- Indiana Jones (Expanded Universe), Star Wars (Expanded Universe): c. 1940 (125 ABY). In an alternate timeline, Indiana Jones is led by Native American guides to the wreck of the Millennium Falcon while searching for a legendary sasquatch. (Star Wars Tales #19; although it seems to be implied (mainly due to Short Round's presence) that this takes place around the time of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Jones mentions his visit to Atlantis. Since there's an open slot in the Indiana Jones timeline in 1940, and Short Round could conceivably be five years older here, we can presume this date. See 1814 for the Star Wars dating.)
New Fictional Works
Notable Books
Synthetic Men of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Notable Films
The Ape, Before I Hang, Beyond Tomorrow, Black Friday, Charlie Chan in Panama, Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise, Dr. Cyclops, Drums of Fu Manchu, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (serial), Green Archer (serial), Hi-Yo Silver (serial), The Invisible Man Returns, The Mark of Zorro, The Mummy's Hand, Murder Over New York, The Mysterious Dr. Satan, One Million B.C., Pinocchio, The Thief of Bagdad, Young Bill Hickok.
Notable Comic Books
Flash Comics #1 (first Flash and Hawkman), Whiz Comics #2 (first Captain Marvel), More Fun Comics #52 (first Spectre), Detective Comics #38 (first Robin), Action Comics #23 (first Lex Luthor), Batman #1 (first Joker, Catwoman), first The Spirit comic strips, All-American Comics #16 (first Green Lantern), Marvel Mystery Comics #9 (first meeting between two super-heroes (Human Torch and Sub-Mariner)), All-Star Comics #3 (first Justice Society of America).
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