Battle of Britain
Hitler holds a meeting of his army and navy chiefs in his Berghof
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Adolf Hitler Biography and Timeline — Page 25
Follow Adolf Hitler through 1,628 dated historical records for Germany.
Adolf Hitler, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
1,628Distinct records
25 of 41Page
1940–1940Years on this page
1940
Invasion of Russia
Originally intended to last 5 months. Announces Russian invasion plans to his military commanders
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Barbarossa
Originally intended to last 5 months. Announces Russian invasion plans to his military commanders
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Battle of Britain
The OKW (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht or "High Command of the Armed Forces") issues its plan
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL)
Hitler gives the Luftwaffes Commander in Chief, Reichsmarschall (Empire Marshal) Hermann Goring and the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (High Command of the Air Force) a (Directive No. 17) to launch the air assault
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Adler
Hitler gives the Luftwaffes Commander in Chief, Reichsmarschall (Empire Marshal) Hermann Goring and the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (High Command of the Air Force) a (Directive No. 17) to launch the air assault
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Sea Lion
Issues a directive for launching Operation Sea Lion
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Wehrmacht
The OKW (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht or "High Command of the Armed Forces") issues its plan
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Adlertag
Goring had promised Hitler that Adlertag and Adlerangriff would achieve the results required within days, or at worst weeks. It had meant to be the beginning of the end of RAF Fighter Command, but Adlertag and the following operations failed to destroy the RAF, or gain the necessary local air superiority. As a result, Operation Sea Lion was postponed indefinitely
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Adler
Eventually, it was carried out on 13 August 1940. Goring had promised Hitler that Adlertag and Adlerangriff would achieve the results required within days, or at worst weeks.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Adler
It had meant to be the beginning of the end of RAF Fighter Command, but Adlertag and the following operations failed to destroy the RAF, or gain the necessary local air superiority. As a result, Operation Sea Lion was postponed indefinitely
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Adler
The essential target was RAF Fighter Command. The services destruction would deny the British their air superiority asset. Throughout July and early August, the Germans made preparations for Adlertag. The date of the assault was postponed several times because of bad weather.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Battle of Britain
Directive no 17 intensifies the air war against England
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Fuhrer Directive No. 17
Directive no 17 intensifies the air war against England
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Adlertag
The Operation begins on Adlertag ("Eagle Day") by German forces, elimination of British air cover had been set as one of the prerequisites for Sea Lion - the amphibious assault of Britain. A series of Luftwaffe attacks beginning on 13 August 1940 known as Operation Eagle Attack (Unternehmen Adlerangriff) set to begin on Adlertag ("Eagle Day")
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Battle of Britain
The Operation begins on Adlertag ("Eagle Day") by German forces, elimination of British air cover had been set as one of the prerequisites for Sea Lion - the amphibious assault of Britain. The engagements resulting from Eagle Day are later dubbed the Battle of Britain
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Battle of Britain
The engagements resulting from Eagle Day are later dubbed the Battle of Britain
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Luftwaffe
A series of Luftwaffe attacks beginning on 13 August 1940 known as Operation Eagle Attack (Unternehmen Adlerangriff) set to begin on Adlertag ("Eagle Day")
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Adler
A series of Luftwaffe attacks beginning on 13 August 1940 known as Operation Eagle Attack (Unternehmen Adlerangriff) set to begin on Adlertag ("Eagle Day")
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Eagle Attack
The Operation begins on Adlertag ("Eagle Day") by German forces, elimination of British air cover had been set as one of the prerequisites for Sea Lion - the amphibious assault of Britain
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Battle of Britain
Adlertag, eagle day, opening of the decisive phase of the battle. 1,786 sorties are flown
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Blockade of Britain
Germany begins its blockade of Britain
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Britain Maritime Blockade Declared
Germany announces measures intended to isolate Britain and threaten shipping serving the British war economy.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Invasion of Russia
Sets Spring 1941 for an invasion of Russia which should last no longer than 5 months
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Barbarossa
Sets Spring 1941 for an invasion of Russia which should last no longer than 5 months
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Invasion of Poland
2 panzer & 10 infantry divisions move into Poland to secure Romanian oil fields
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Invasion of Romania
2 panzer & 10 infantry divisions move into Poland to secure Romanian oil fields
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Autumn Journey
Orders are given to carry deception maneuvers along Britains east coast
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Sea Lion
Says victory is dependent on vicory in the Air. Issues a directive for Naval & Army operations for the invasion of England
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Sea Lion
At the request of the Services the invasion of England is postponed to 21st September
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Invasion of Great Britain
The OKW issues a command saying the earliest date for sailing will be Twentieth Sept. Issues a directive with the decision to invade England be taken by 11th September
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Sea Lion
Issues a directive with the decision to invade England be taken by 11th September
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Bombing of London
The Germans begin their 1st large scale bombing of London
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Invasion of Russia
A memo is issued to increase the Army from 143 to 180 Divisions
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Barbarossa
A memo is issued to increase the Army from 143 to 180 Divisions
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Invasion of Great Britain
Hitler postpones his order for invasion from 11th Sept to 14th Sept
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Sea Lion
The 11th Septmber deadline is passed & the invasion of England is cancelled. Postpones Operation Sea Lion by 3 days to the 24th September
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Invasion of Great Britain
Raeder advises Hitler that there is not enough air cover for an invasion of Britain
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Operation Sea Lion
Postpones Operation Sea Lion awaiting orders to be issued September 17. Postpones Operation Sea Lion
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Battle of Britain
Bomber command destroys 200 barges in France & Low Country ports
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1934-1945
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.