Date in year · 1940 · The 1940s

May 26, 1940

On May 26, 1940, world War II: Operation Dynamo: In northern France, Allied forces begin a massive evacuation from Dunkirk, France. The Battle of Dunkirk begins simultaneously as Allied defenders fight to slow down the German offensive. Susan Howatch, Willie John McBride, Tom Jones would arrive in the same year.

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1940

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Featured · May 26, 1940

World War II: Operation Dynamo: In northern France, Allied forces begin a massive evacuation from Dunkirk, France. The Battle of Dunkirk begins simultaneously as Allied defenders fight to slow down the German offensive.

World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated. Tanks and aircraft played major roles, the latter enabling the strategic bombing of cities and delivery of the only nuclear weapons used in war.

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Around 1940

The year in brief

1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1940th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 940th year of the 2nd millennium, the 40th year of the 20th century, and the 1st year of the 1940s decade.

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What happened

On May 26, 1940

  1. 1940 World War II: Operation Dynamo: In northern France, Allied forces begin a massive evacuation from Dunkirk, France. The Battle of Dunkirk begins simultaneously as Allied defenders fight to slow down the German offensive.

    1939–1945 global conflict

    World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated. Tanks and aircraft played major roles, the latter enabling the strategic bombing of cities and delivery of the only nuclear weapons used in war.

  2. 1940 World War II: The Siege of Calais ends with the surrender of the British and French garrison.

    1940 battle during the Nazi German invasion of France

    The siege of Calais (1940) was a battle for the port of Calais during the Battle of France. The siege was fought at the same time as the Battle of Boulogne, just before Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) through Dunkirk. After the Franco-British counter-attack at the Battle of Arras, German units were held back to be ready to resist a resumption of the counter-attack on 22 May, despite the protests of General Heinz Guderian, the commander of the XIX Armee Korps, who wanted to rush north up the Channel coast to capture Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk.

Elsewhere that year

Other moments from 1940

The class of 1940

Others born in 1940

Susan Howatch 1940– English author and academic
Willie John McBride 1940– Northern Irish rugby player who toured with the British Lions five times
Tom Jones 1940– Welsh singer and actor
Ronald Pickup 1940– English actor (died 2021)
James L. Brooks 1940– American director, producer, and screenwriter
Susan Howatch 1940– English author and academic

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The full year 1940 Every may 26, through history May 26 One year earlier 1939