Timeline of The United Kingdom Home Front During World War II - 1940

1940

8 January 1940

First food rationing introduced.

7 May 1940

The debate on the recent debacle in Norway leads (on May 10) to Chamberlain's resignation.

10 May 1940

Germany invades France and the Low Countries, ending the Phony War.

Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister and forms an all-party coalition government.

14 May 1940

In a BBC radio broadcast Anthony Eden calls for the creation of the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) militia - renamed on 23 July the Home Guard.

22 May 1940

The Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940 is passed, granting the government even more authority to control persons and property for the duration of the war.

3 July 1940

Cardiff is bombed for the first time.

9 July 1940

Official start date of the Battle of Britain.

7 September 1940

German bombing raid on South London's formal beginning of The Blitz.

31 October 1940

Official end date of the Battle of Britain.

14 November 1940

Massive German bombing raid on Coventry.