September 1940
- 1: Germany's Jews are ordered to wear yellow stars for identification.
- 2: The Destroyers for Bases Agreement is completed. Britain obtains 50 destroyers in exchange for giving the United States land grants in various British possessions for the establishment of US naval and air bases, on ninety-nine-year rent-free leases.
- 3: Hitler postpones the invasion of Britain, as the Luftwaffe fails to break the British defenses. Fears of the forthcoming invasion continue, however, to haunt Britain.
- 6: King Carol abdicates the Romanian throne in favour of his son Michael while control of the government is taken by Marshal Antonescu.
- 7: In one of the major misjudgements of the war, the Luftwaffe shifts its focus to London, away from the RAF airfields. Success may be measured only in the estimated 2,000 civilian dead. Other British cities are hit.
- 9: During the Western Desert Campaign, Italian colonial forces in Libya under General Mario Berti launch the invasion of Egypt. The first objective is to advance from defensive positions within Libya to the border with Egypt.
: Tel Aviv in the British Mandate of Palestine is bombed by Italian aircraft causing 137 deaths. - 10: Operation Sea Lion is now set for 24 September.
: The Italian Air Corps is formed to fight in the Battle of Britain. - 13: After re-taking Fort Capuzzo just inside Libya, Italian colonial forces cross the border and advance into Egypt. The Italians take the small port of Sollum, but the only resistance to the invasion is a light British screening force which withdraws as the Italians advance.
- 14: Operation Sea Lion is postponed until 27 September, the last day of the month with suitable tides for the invasion.
- 15: Massive German bombing flights on English cities; most are driven off. The RAF begins to claim victory in the Battle of Britain.
- 16: Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 introduces the first peacetime conscription (this time for men between 21 and 35) in United States history.
The Italian invasion of Egypt comes to a halt when approximately five Italian divisions set up defensively in a series of armed camps after advancing about 95 km to Sidi Barrani. The Italians never approach the main British positions at Mersa Matruh. - 17: Decoded messages now reveal that Hitler has postponed Operation Sea Lion until further notice.
- 22: Heavy convoy losses to U-boats in the Atlantic.
The Japanese occupy Vietnam and establish several bases in French Indochina; local French administrators become only figurehead authorities. - 23: Free French and British forces attempt landing at Dakar, West Africa; Vichy French naval forces open fire sporadically for two days, and the expedition is called back.
- 24: Berlin suffers a large bombing raid by the RAF.
: In response to Dakar, the Vichy French Air Force bombs Gibraltar for the first time since 18 July. - 25: Vichy French aircraft return to Gibraltar for a second day of bombings.
: Japanese 5th Division march into Hanoi, North Vietnam. - 27: The Tripartite Pact is signed in Berlin by Germany, Italy, and Japan, promising mutual aid. An informal name, "Axis", emerges.
- 28: Vidkun Quisling becomes head of state in Norway.
Read more about this topic: Timeline Of World War II (1940)
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