List of World Map Changes - 20th Century - 1940s

1940s

1949
  • December 27 — Independence of the Republic of Indonesia from the Netherlands is internationally recognized as the Republic of the United States of Indonesia, the territories recognized as Indonesia were the following autonomous states:
    • Bangka Belitung and Riau Federation
    • Territory of Banjar
    • Central Java
    • Dayak Besar
    • East Indonesia
    • East Java
    • Federation of East Kalimantan
    • State of East Sumatra
    • State of Madura
    • Federation of Southeast Kalimantan
    • State of South Sumatra
    • Sundanese State
    • Special Territory of West Kalimantan
  • November 6 — The Australian administered Territory of New Guinea and the Territory of Papua merge to form the Territory of Papua and New Guinea
  • November 21 — The British administered proctorates of the Emirate of Cyrenaica, the occuptied territory of Tripolitania, and the French occupied territory of Fezzan merge to form a joint administered Libya
  • November 8 — The French Indochina remains form the French administered Kingdom of Cambodia
  • November — The British occupied territory of Italian Somaliland is transferred to Italy as the Trust Territory of Somalia
  • October 20 — The Soviet backed East Turkestan Republic is taken over by the People's Republic of China
  • October 7 — German Democratic Republic (East Germany) established in Soviet occupation zone of Germany
  • October 1 — The People's Republic of China claims victory in the Chinese Civil War, and is unrecognized by any country, gradually gaining recognition as time goes on, while the Republic of China is exiled to Taiwan, gradually losing recognition as time goes on
  • September 9 — The Kingdom of Tripura merges with India
  • August 20 — The Republic of Hungary is renamed the People's Republic of Hungary
  • August 8 — The Indian protectorate of the Kingdom of Bhutan declares independence
  • July 19 — The area of Laos in French Indochina becomes a separate entity under France as the Kingdom of Laos
  • June 20 — The 1948 Arab-Israeli War ends, resulting in former mandate territory split among Israel, Jordan, and Egypt
  • June 14 — The area of Vietnam in French Indochina becomes a separate entity under France as the State of Vietnam, but North Vietnam still claims independent
  • May 23 — Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and West Berlin established in U.S., British, and French occupation zones of Germany
  • April 3 — The Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan is renamed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
  • April 1 — The Dominion of Newfoundland joins Canada as its tenth province
  • March 2 — In the Dutch East Indies, the autonomous state of Central Java is established
  • March 1 — The British occupied territory of Cyrenacia is renamed the Emirate of Cyrenaica
1948
  • November 26 — In the Dutch East Indies, the autonomous state pf East Java is established
  • September 20 — Reorganization and naming of the Dutch colonies
    • Curaçao and Dependencies is renamed the Netherlands Antilles, as its dependencies gain equality in level of sovereignty
  • September 12 — The State of Hyderabad is reintegrated back into the Indian Union
  • September 9 — Establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea out of Soviet occupied Korea (North Korea)
  • August 30 — In the Dutch East Indies, the State of South Sumatra is established
  • August 15 — Establishment of the Republic of Korea out of British/American/United Nations occupied Korea (South Korea)
  • May 14 — Independence of the State of Israel after the British Empire ends the British Mandate for Palestine
  • April 24 — In the Dutch East Indies, the State of West Java is renamed the Sundanese State
  • April 18 — Ireland is renamed the Republic of Ireland
  • April 1 — The Faroe Islands becomes a self-governing dependency
  • February 26 — In the Dutch East Indies, the State of West Java is created
  • February 4
    • Independence of the Dominion of Ceylon from the United Kingdom
    • In the Dutch East Indies, the Siak Besar Territory is renamed the Federation of East Kalimantan
  • January 30 — In the United Kingdom, the Malayan Union is renamed the Federation of Malaya
  • January 23
    • In the Dutch East Indies, the states of Bangka Council, the Belitung Council, and the Riau Council are merged as the Bangka Belitung and Riau Federation
    • In the Dutch East Indies, the autonomous State of Madura is created
  • January 14 — In the Dutch East Indies, the autonomous state of the Territory of Banjar is created
  • January 4 — Independence of the Union of Burma from the United Kingdom
1947
  • December 30 — The Kingdom of Romania is renamed the Romanian People's Republic
  • December 26 — Sovereignty over the Heard Island and McDonald Islands is transferred from the United Kingdom to Australia
  • December 25 — In the Dutch East Indies, the Special Territory of East Sumatra is renamed the State of East Sumatra
  • December 15 — France claims the Saar as a protectorate from allied-occupied Germany
  • November 25 — The Dominion of New Zealand ceases to be a dominion of the British Empire
  • November 1 — The League of Nations Mandate of Nauru is transferred as a United Nations Trust Territory
  • October 8 — In the Dutch East Indies, the autonomous state of the Special Territory of East Sumatra is created
  • September 15 — Creation of the Free Territory of Trieste
  • August 27 — In the Dutch East Indies, the Siak Besar Territory is created
  • August 15 — Independence of the Union of India (with the protecterate of the Kingdom of Bhutan) and the Kingdom of Sikkim, and the unrecognized countries of Jammu and Kashmir and the State of Hyderabad from the United Kingdom
  • August 14 — Independence of the Dominion of Pakistan from United Kingdom
  • July 18 — The South Pacific (League of Nations) Mandate, governed by Japan, is transferred to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (under the United Nations, administered by the United States)
  • July 12 — In the Dutch East Indies, the following autonomous states are created:
    • Bangka Council
    • Riau Council
  • May 12 — In the Dutch East Indies, the Federation of West Kalimantan is renamed the Special Territory of West Kalimantan
  • February 10 — Italian Tientsin
  • January 25 — The New Zealand administered League of Nations Mandate of Western Samoa is transferred as a United Nations Trust Territory
  • January 8 — In the Dutch East Indies, the autonomous state of the Federation of South Kalimantan is established
1946
  • December 27 — In the Dutch East Indies, the autonomous state State of Great East is renamed the State of East Indonesia
  • December 24 — In the Dutch East Indies, the State of Great East is established
  • December 15 — The Soviet occupied area of the Republic of Mahabad is given back to Iran
  • Transfer of League of Nations Mandates to United Nations Trust Territories:
    • December 16 — British Cameroons and Cameroun (French administered)
    • December 13 — British Togoland, French Togoland, and the Belgian administered Ruanda-Urundi
    • December 11 — Tanganyika Territory is renamed Tanganyika (British administered)
    • December 8 — Territory of New Guinea (Australian administered)
  • December 10 — In the Dutch East Indies, the autonomous state Belitung Council is established
  • December 7 — In the Dutch East Indies, the autonomous state Dayak Besar is established
  • November — The Soviet occupied area of the Azerbaijan People's Government is returned to Iran
  • October 27 — Reorganization of French territories to overseas territories:
    • Uninhabited possessions:
      • Adélie Land
    • Colonies:
      • Comoros (separated from Madagascar)
      • French Equatorial Africa
      • French Establishments in India
      • French Establishments in Oceania is renamed the French Settlements in Oceania
      • French Somaliland is renamed the Territory of French Somaliland
      • French West Africa
      • Madagascar
      • New Caledonia and Dependencies is renamed the Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
      • Saint Pierre and Miquelon is renamed the Territory of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • October 22 — In the Dutch East Indies, the autonomous state of the Federation of West Kalimantan is established
  • October 14 — The Provisional Government of the French Republic is renamed the French Republic
  • September 15 — The Kingdom of Bulgaria is renamed the People's Republic of Bulgaria
  • July 26 — The Spanish colonies of Ifni and Spanish Sahara merge to form Spanish West Africa
  • July 13 — In Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia), the city of Podgorica is renamed Titograd
  • July 4
    • Independence of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from the United States as the Republic of the Philippines
    • The city of Königsberg is renamed Kaliningrad in the Soviet Union
  • June 2 — The Kingdom of Italy is renamed the Italian Republic
  • May 25 — The Emirate of Transjordan declares independence from the United Kingdom as the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan
  • April 1 — Formation of the colony of the Malayan Union from the following protectorates
    • Federated Malay States
    • State of Johor Darul Ta'zim
    • State of Kedah Darul Aman
    • State of Kelantan Darul
    • State of Perlis Indera Kayangan
    • State of Terengganu Darul Iman
    • Straits Settlements (Singapore became a separate crown colony)
  • March 19 — The following French colonies became overseas department:
    • French Guiana (Inini is reintegrated back into French Guinea)
    • Guadeloupe
    • Martinique
    • Réunion
  • February 28 — The following French Concessions are ceded to the Republic of China:
    • Shanghai
    • Tientsin
    • Guangzhouwan renamed Zhanjiang
  • February 2 — The Kingdom of Hungary is renamed the Hungarian Republic
  • January 31 — The Democratic Federal Yugoslavia is renamed the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia
  • January 22 — The Soviet Union occupies part of northwestern Iran, and that area forms the puppet state of the Republic of Mahabad
  • January 11 — The Democratic Government of Albania is renamed the People's Republic of Albania
1945
  • December 29 — The Netherlands New Guinea is separated from the Dutch East Indies
  • December 26 — Independence of the Republic of Poland
  • November 29 — The Democratic Federal Yugoslavia is renamed the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia
  • November — The Soviet Union invades northwest Iran and creates the puppet state of the Azerbaijan People's Government
  • October 25 — In occupied Japan, Taiwan is given to the Republic of China
  • October 17 — Soviet Union annexes northern East Prussia
  • October 16 — The Japanese puppet state of the Kingdom of Cambodia is taken over by France and put back under French Indochina
  • October 10 — In occupied Japan, the Banaba Island are given back over by the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, under the United Kingdom
  • October 7 — In occupied Japan, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are given back to the British Raj
  • October — In occupied Japan, Christmas Island is given back to the United Kingdom
  • September 23 — The Kingdom of Laos, which was under Japanese occupation, is taken back by France as part of the French Indochina
  • September 16 — The British occupation of the Faroe Islands ends and handed back to Denmark
  • September 15 — The Soviet Union occupied People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) ends
  • September 13 — Nauru is taken back over by allied forces and put under a U.N. trusteeship, administered by Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom
  • September 12
    • Malaya is given back to the United Kingdom from occupied Japan, split into the Federated Malay States and the State of Johor Darul Ta'zim
    • Syonan-to is taken back over by the United Kingdom from Japan as the Straits Settlements
  • September 11 — In occupied Japan, Timor is split between the Portuguese East Timor and the Dutch West Timor
  • September 10 — Bourneo Kita and the occupation of the British protectorate of the Kingdom of Sarawak is taken back over by the United Kingdom as North Borneo
  • September 9 — Nanjing is taken over by the Republic of China
  • September 8 — The following states were freed from the Empire of Japan (which became occupied), and became their own states from Malaya
    • The State of Kedah Darul Aman, the State of Kelantan Darul Naim, the State of Perlis Indera Kayangan, and the State of Terengganu Darul Iman
  • September 4 — The United States occupies Wake Island from Japan
  • September 3 — The United States occupies the Bonin Islands and Volcano Islands from Japan
  • September 2
    • World War II ends, and the capital of the Republic of China is moved from Chongqing back to Nanking
    • The Democratic Republic of Vietnam declared independence from France
  • September
    • The Concessions of Shanghai, Tientsin, and Guangzhouwan are re-controlled by France from Japan
  • August 28 — British Hong Kong becomes a crown colony
  • August 22 — The Kwantung Leased Territory is given to the Republic of China
  • August 18 — The Japanese create a separate political entity for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
  • August 17
    • The Dutch East Indies declares independence, after being freed from Japanese forces by allied powers, from the Netherlands as the Republic of Indonesia
    • The Government in exile, Commonwealth of the Philippines, while semi-independent self-governing of the United States, takes over the Japanese occupied independent Republic of the Philippines
  • August 16 — The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong ends, being liberated by allied forces and put under British rule
  • August 15
    • The Great Empire of Manchuria is taken over by the Soviet Union
    • French Indochina is recovered by France
    • Chōsen is occupied by allied forces as Korea, as the Soviet Union occupies northern Korea
  • August 11 — The Japanese occupied Empire of Vietnam is taken back over by France
  • June 29 — A treaty is signed between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia having the Soviet Union annex Subcarpathian Ruthenia
  • June 14 — The State of Brunei is retaken by the United Kingdom and is classified as a protectorate
  • May 13 — The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia is integrated back into Czechoslovakia
  • May 9 — The Reichskommissariat Norwegen (Norway) is liberated by allied forces, and is given back its possessions (Bouvet Island, Peter I Island, and Queen Maud Land)
  • May 8
    • The Flensburg Government surrenders to the allies and is occupied
    • The Independent State of Croatia is taken over by allied forces and given back to Yugoslavia
  • May 7 — The Dodecanese Islands are taken over by allied forces and given to Greece
  • May 5
    • The occupation of the Kingdom of Denmark by the Flensburg Government (while given back Greenland from United States protection) ends
    • The Reichskommissariat Niederlande (the Netherlands) is liberated, and the colonies loyal to the government in exile of Curaçao and Dependencies and the Surinam are merged to form the Kingdom of the Netherlands
  • May 1 — Due to the death of Adolf Hitler, and the allied victory of the Battle of Berlin, the government was moved to Flensburg, and the Flensburg Government was created
  • April 27 — Anschluss is taken over by allied forces and was treated as the first victim of Nazi Germany, and occupied as the Republic of Austria
  • April 25 — The Italian Social Republic is taken over from Nazi Germany and given to the Kingdom of Italy
  • April 8 — The Kingdom of Laos declares independence under Japanese occupation, while Japanese Indochina ceases to exist as a political entity
  • April 4 — The Slovak Republic is liberated and given to the Czechoslovak Republic
  • April 3
    • The Czechoslovak Republic is liberated from Nazi Germany
    • The United States takes over the Ryukyu Islands and administers it as the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands
  • March 27 — The State of Burma is taken back over by allied forces and becomes the British crown colony of Burma
  • March 20
    • France regains Alsace-Lorraine
    • The Channel Islands are liberated from Nazi Germany to the United Kingdom as the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey
  • March 18 — The Kingdom of Cambodia declares independence from Japan under its occupation
  • March 11 — The Empire of Vietnam declares independence from Japan under its occupation
  • March 8 — The Kingdom of Hungary is liberated from Nazi Germany
  • January 17 — The Polish area of the General Government is liberated from Nazi Germany by allied forces
1944
  • December 31 — The Republic of Poland gains independence
  • December 15 — The Kingdom of Montenegro, a puppet state of Italian Social Republic (which is a puppet state of Nazi Germany), is taken over by allied forces
  • November 13 — The Independent State of Macedonia is liberated from axis powers, and Yugoslavia takes it back
  • November 12 — The East Turkestan Republic declares independence from the Republic of China
  • November 3 — The Hellenic State is completely liberated from the axis powers, with the Kingdom of Greece taken over the rest of it
  • October 20
    • The Albanian Kingdom is liberated from the axis powers as the Democratic Government of Albania
    • The Military Administration in Serbia is liberated from the axis powers, and Yugoslavia takes it back over
  • October 16 — The Kingdom of Hungary becomes a puppet state of Nazi Germany, keeping the name of the Kingdom of Hungary
  • October 13
    • The Kingdom of Greece returns to power after Athens is recovered
    • The Reichskommissariat Ostland is completely taken over by allied forces, and integrated into the Soviet Union
  • October 11 — The Soviet Union annexes the Tuvan People's Republic
  • September 11 — The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is liberated from Nazi Germany
  • September 8 — The Independent State of Macedonia is created in Bulgarian controlled Macedonia
  • September 3 — The Military Administration in Belgium and North France are liberated from Nazi Germany and the Kingdom of Belgium is reformed, as Belgian Congo is put under the Belgian government control after being loyal to the government in exile
  • September — The Principality of the Pindus is disestablished and put back under Nazi German occupation of Greece
  • August 20 — The French State (Vichy France) is renamed the Provisional Government of the French Republic. All of its colonies remained loyal to the Free French Forces until Vichy France was disestablished, and Clipperton Island is returned
  • August 10 — Omiya Jima is taken over by the United States from Japan
  • June 17 — The Republic of Iceland declares independence from Denmark, under United States protection
  • February 2 — The Reichskommissariat Ukraine (Ukraine) is taken back over by the Soviet Union
1943
  • December 1 — The National Republic State of Italy is renamed the Italian Social Republic
  • November 22 — The Mandate of Syria, made up of the State of Greater Lebanon and the Syrian Republic, are given independence as the Lebanese Republic and the Syrian Republic, respectively
  • October 23 — The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are taken back over by allied forces
  • October 14 — The Philippines under the Japanese, is given independence as the Republic of the Philippines
  • September 23 — The part of Italy under German occupation is made into a separate country as the National Republican State of Italy
  • September 11 — The Dodecanese Islands becomes an occupied territory under Nazi Germany from Italy
  • September 10 — The Kingdom of Montenegro becomes a protectorate under Nazi Germany from Italy
  • September 8
    • The Albanian Kingdom becomes a protectorate of Nazi Germany from Italy
    • The Principality of Pindus and Voivodship of Macedonia becomes a protectorate of Nazi Germany from Italy
  • September — The French Antilles and Guiana is split into French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Inini, Martinique, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • August 15 — Kiska is taken over by allied forces
  • August 1 — Burma is given independence under Japanese occupation as the State of Burma
  • July 30 — The Shanghai French Concession and the Tianjin French Concession are taken over by Japan
  • June 26 — The German Reich is officially renamed the Greater German Reich
  • May 30 — Attu Island is taken back over by the United States
  • February — Guangzhouwan is taken over by Japan
  • January 13 — Italian Libya (Fezzan) is taken over by allied forces from Italy, and was under the Free French Forces
1942
  • December 28 — The allied forces took back over French Somaliland from Vichy France, and is loyal to the Free French Forces
  • December 14 — The allied forces took back over Madagascar from Vichy France, and is loyal to the Free French Forces
  • November 28 — The allied forces took back over Réunion from Vichy France, and is loyal to the Free French Forces
  • November 8 — The allied forces took back over the Kingdom of Morocco from Vichy France, and is loyal to the Free French Forces
  • November 1 — The Karafuto Prefecture is integrated into Mainland Japan
  • November — The allied forces took back over French West Africa from Vichy France, and is loyal to the Free French Forces
  • October 23 — The allied forces takes over Tripolitania from Italy, and it becomes an occupied territory of the United Kingdom
  • October 9 — The Commonwealth of Australia ceases to be a dominion within the British Empire
  • August 26 — The Japanese occupy Banaba Island and Nauru from the United Kingdom
  • August 1 — The Japanese occupy Burma from the United Kingdom
  • June 7 — The Japanese occupy Atsuta Jima and Narukami Jima from the United States
  • March 31 — The Japanese occupy Christmas Island and the Straits Settlements (which is integrated into Japanese occupied Malaya) from the United Kingdom
  • March 23 — The Japanese occupy the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from the United Kingdom
  • March 8 — The Japanese occupy the Netherlands East Indies from the Netherlands as Indonesia
  • February 20 — The Japanese occupy Portuguese Timor and Dutch Timor and combine them as Timor
  • February 15 — The Japanese occupy Singapore from the United Kingdom as Syonan-to
  • January 31 — The Japanese occupy the State of Johor Darul Ta'zim and the Federated Malay States from the United Kingdom and integrated into what is captured by the Japanese Malaya
  • January 18 — The Japanese occupy Boruneo Kita from the United Kingdom
  • January 6 — The Japanese occupy the State of Brunei Darussalam from the United Kingdom
  • January 2 — The Japanese occupy the Commonwealth of the Philippines from the United States as the Philippines
1941
  • December 25 — The Japanese occupy British Hong Kong as the Hong Kong Occupied Territory
  • December 24 — The Japanese occupy the Kingdom of Sarawak, as Sarawak
  • December 23 — Wake Island is taken over by Japan from the United States as Otori Jima
  • December 22 — Within British Malaya, the State of Kelantan Darul Naim is taken over by Japan
  • December 14 — Within British Malaya, the State of Kedah Darul Aman is taken over by Japan
  • December 11 — The Japanese occupy the State of Terengganu Darul Iman from the United Kingdom as part of Japanese Malaya
  • December 10 — The Territory of Guam is taken over by Japan from the United States as Omiya Jima
  • December 8 — The Japanese begin the invasion of Malaya in the State of Perlis Indera Kavangan, as Malaya
  • November 28 — Italian East Africa is taken over by allied forces
  • July 17
    • After the invasion of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Nazi Germany creates the Reichskommissariat Ostland
    • After the invasion of around Ukraine, Nazi Germany creates the Reichskommissariat Ukraine
  • July 12 — After Italy invades Montenegro, it creates the protectorate of the Kingdom of Montenegro
  • July — The French shares French Indochina with Japan
  • May 19 — Eritrea is taken over by the United Kingdom
  • May 5 — The Ethiopian Empire is revived after being under Italian control
  • April 30 — The Military Administration in Serbia is created after Nazi Germany invades it
  • April 17 — The Kingdom of Yugoslavia is dissolved due to axis invasions
  • April 9 — Greenland and the Kingdom of Iceland are put under United States protection from the Danish government-in-exile
  • April 6 — The Kingdom of Greece is taken over by axis forces
  • March 16 — The British Somaliland protectorate is taken back over by allied forces
  • February 26 — Allied forces take over Italian Somaliland, and is put under the United Kingdom
  • February — Cyrenaica is taken over by the United Kingdom
1940
  • November 12 — French Equatorial Africa is taken back over by allied forces, loyal to the Free French Forces (FFF)
  • November 4 — The international city of Tangier is taken over by Spain
  • September 22 — New Caledonia and Dependencies are taken back over by allied forces, loyal to the FFF
  • September 9 — French India is taken back over by allied forces, loyal to the FFF
  • September 2 — French Oceania is taken back over by allied forces, loyal to the FFF
  • August 19 — British Somaliland is taken over by Italian forces, and put under Italian East Africa
  • July 31 — The General Government for the Occupied Polish Territories is renamed the General Government
  • July 1 — The Bailiwick of Jersey is taken over by Nazi Germany
  • June 30 — The Bailiwick of Guernsey
  • June 22 — The French Republic is renamed the French State (Vichy France)
  • June 17 — The Soviet Union invades and annexes the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Estonia
  • June 15
    • The Soviet Union invades and annexes the Republic of Lithuania
    • Germany annexes Alsace-Lorraine
  • June 7 — The Kingdom of Norway and its possessions (Bouvet Island, Peter I Island, and Queen Maud Land) is taken over by Nazi Germany
  • May 17 — The Kingdom of Belgium is taken over by Nazi Germany as the Military Administration in Belgium and North France, while Belgian Congo remains loyal to the government-in-exile
  • May 14 — The Kingdom of the Netherlands is taken over by Nazi Germany as the Reichskommissariat Niederlande, and its colonies remain loyal to the government-in-exile
  • May 10 — The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is taken over by Nazi Germany
  • April 12 — The Faroe Islands are put under British occupation
  • April 9 — The Kingdom of Denmark is taken over by Nazi Germany, while Greenland is self-governing
  • March 30 — The Provisional Government of China and the Reformed Government of the Republic of China merge to form the Reorganized National Government of China (Republic of China)
  • March 12 — The Finnish Democratic Republic is taken over by Finland

Read more about this topic:  List Of World Map Changes, 20th Century