Operation Dynamo
The British, although besieged, had been spared from annihilation when Operation Dynamo evacuated 300,000 troops from Dunkirk
Role range: 1939-1945
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill Biography and Timeline — Page 21
Follow Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill through 1,398 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
1,398Distinct records
21 of 35Page
1940–1940Years on this page
1940
Battle of Mers-el-Kebir
The Royal Navy destroys most of the French Navy at Mers-el-Kebir. Engagement off the coast of French Algeria where a British Royal Navy task force attacked and destroyed much of the French fleet stationed there, in an attempt to avoid its falling into the hands of the German Navy
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Oran
Churchill says the sinking of the French Navy shows how serious Britain is. Britain sinks the French fleet which refuses to surrender
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Mers-el-Kebir
Orders action against French naval forces to deny them to Germany.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Mers-el-Kebir Statement
Explains the attack on the French fleet to Parliament.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Espionage-Silent Column
Instructs the Ministry of Information to campaign against rumors which help the enemy
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Mers-el-Kebir
Ark Royal sinks Dunkerqueat at Mers-el-Kebir
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Britain
Opening day of the Battle of Britain
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Britain
Says, "there is a time to live & a time to die"
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Britain
Oversees Britain's air defence as the Luftwaffe begins sustained attacks.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Home Guard
Encourages mobilisation of local defence volunteers against invasion.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Ambassador
Commando raid on the Channel island of Guernsey, failes to achieve its objective
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
SOE
Churchill invites Hugh Dalton to establish the Special Operations Executive
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Agreement on Provide Britain with 50 ex-US Navy destroyers
The US agrees to provide Britain with 50 ex-US Navy destroyers in return for access to British naval bases in the western hemisphere
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
SOE
Forms the Special Operations Executive, supports resistance in German occupied Europe
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Special Operations Executive
Approves creation of a body to support resistance in occupied Europe.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Mers-el-Kebir
Winston Churchill ordered that the French Navy (Marine Nationale) should either join forces with the British Royal Navy or be neutralised in some way, to prevent the ships from falling into German or Italian hands
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Neutrality
Winston Churchill ordered that the French Navy (Marine Nationale) should either join forces with the British Royal Navy or be neutralised in some way, to prevent the ships from falling into German or Italian hands
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Invasion Defence
Orders continued preparations against a possible German landing.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Britain
"Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few"
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Britain
Germany has lost 1,733 planes compared to British loses of 915
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Britain
Directs national resistance as the Luftwaffe launches Eagle Day.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Invasion of Egypt
Churchill sends reinforcements to Wavell in Egypt to be used against the Italians
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Blockade of British Isles
Hitler declares a blockade of the British Isles
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
British Isles Blockade Declared
The German declaration presents waters around the British Isles as subject to wartime maritime restriction.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
The Few Speech
Praises Fighter Command pilots in his speech on the Few.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Bombing of London
1st air raids take place on central London
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Night Bombing Response
Responds to German bombing raids on British cities and airfields.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Bombing of Berlin
The RAF makes its 1st bombing raid on Berlin
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Britain
Britain retaliates for attacks on London with a raid against Berlin.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Britain
The Berlin raid influences German decisions about subsequent bombing strategy.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Destroyers for Bases
Welcomes the deal bringing American destroyers to Britain.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Possesses 8 of 50 destroyers from America agreed under the Lend-Lease scheme
Possesses 8 of 50 destroyers from America agreed under the "Lend-Lease" scheme
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Bombing of London
The Luftwaffe begin to systematically bomb London, the blitz
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Luftwaffe
The Luftwaffe begin to systematically bomb London, the blitz
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
The Blitz Begins
Faces the start of sustained German bombing of London.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Bombing of London
The Chancellor agrees with Churchill & air-raid damage is charged to the state
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Invasion of Egypt
Rodolfo Graziani and the Italian Army make a rapid advance into Egypt
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Britain
Oversees defence during the decisive daylight air battle.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
Battle of Britain
Observes Fighter Command committing its available squadrons against the raids.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945
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.