Operation Barbarossa
Army Groups A, B & C, are moved to the Eastern Front
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1940 in Germany — Page 12
Explore 575 historical events and records for Germany in 1940.
Historical records for Germany in 1940
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 575 unique records.
575Unique records
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30Named events on this page
6Named people on this page
7Places on this page
September
October
Meeting with On the Brenner Pass
Ciano, Mussolini & Htler meet on the Brenner Pass
Invasion of Great Britain
Hitler calls off the invasion until the Spring
Operation Sea Lion
The British invasion forces are released. After pressure from the Army & the Navy calls off Operation Sea Lion until the Spring
Meeting with Hitler at Hendaye
Franco meets Hitler at Hendaye but Franco declines to enter the war
Commander of 18th Panzer Division
Appointed Commander of the 18th Panzer Division
Commander of 18th Panzer Division
Appointed Commander of the 18th Panzer Division
Invasion of Switzerland
The plan plan to invade Switzerland continued to undergo revision until October, when Twelfth Army submitted its fourth draft, now called "Operation Tannenbaum". Although the Wehrmacht feigned moves toward Switzerland in its offensives, it never attempted to invade. After D-Day, the operation was put on hold and Switzerland remained neutral for the duration of the war
Neutrality
Although the Wehrmacht feigned moves toward Switzerland in its offensives, it never attempted to invade. After D-Day, the operation was put on hold and Switzerland remained neutral for the duration of the war
Operation Sea Lion
Preparations are deferred to the Spring but only to keep pressure on the British. Operation Sea Lion is called off
Operation Tannenbaum
The plan plan to invade Switzerland continued to undergo revision until October, when Twelfth Army submitted its fourth draft, now called "Operation Tannenbaum"
Twelfth Army
The plan plan to invade Switzerland continued to undergo revision until October, when Twelfth Army submitted its fourth draft, now called "Operation Tannenbaum"
Wehrmacht
Although the Wehrmacht feigned moves toward Switzerland in its offensives, it never attempted to invade. After D-Day, the operation was put on hold and Switzerland remained neutral for the duration of the war
November
Battle of Greece
Hitler intervened on November 4, 1940, four days after the British took both Crete and Lemnos
Invasion of Greece
The Fuhrer orders his Army General Staff to prepare for an invasion of Northern Greece via Romania and Bulgaria. Hitler's plans for this campaign are incorporated into a master plan aimed at depriving the British of their Mediterranean bases. Hitler intervened on November 4, 1940, four days after the British took both Crete and Lemnos
Eastern Campaign Preparations Continued
Jodl initials a directive ordering continuation of preparations for a future campaign against the Soviet Union.
Felix
Hitler issues directive 18 for Operation Felix, the invasion of Gibraltar
Invasion of Gibraltar
Hitler issues directive 18 for Operation Felix, the invasion of Gibraltar
Invasion of Greece
The German Armed Forces High Command issued Directive No. 18, in which they scheduled simultaneous operations against Gibraltar and Greece for the following January. Hitler issues directive 18 for Operation Marita, the invasion of Greece
Operation Marita
Hitler issues directive 18 for Operation Marita, the invasion of Greece
Bombing of Berlin
British bombers conduct a night raid on Berlin
Battle of Britain
Coventry is destroyed during a night raid
Battle of Britain
The Luftwaffe cannot gain permanent air control but sporadic night raids continue
Battle of Britain
Coventry is blitzed by 500 bombers & almost demolished
Bombing of Coventry
449 German planes bomb Coventry
Luftwaffe
The Luftwaffe cannot gain permanent air control but sporadic night raids continue
Bombing of Gelsenkirchen
British bombers conduct a raid on the Gelsenkirchen oil plant
Bombing of Southampton
150 German aitcraft bomb Southampton
Alliance Adolf Hitler and Axis Powers
Hungary joins the Axis Powers
Pact between Germany, Italy, Japan and Hungary
Hungary joins the Tripartite Pact
Alliance Adolf Hitler and Axis Powers
Romania joins the Axis Powers
Pact between Germany, Italy, Japan and Romania
Romania joins the Tripartite Pact
Alliance Adolf Hitler and Axis Powers
Slovakia joins the Axis Powers
Pact between Germany, Italy, Japan and Slovakia
Slovakia joins the Tripartite Pact
Operation Barbarossa
The XIX Corps is expanded for the invasion of Russia
December
Invasion of Russia
Hitler received military plans for the invasion, and approved them all, with the start scheduled for May 1941
Operation Otto
Hitler's staff present their plan for Operation Otto, the invasion of Russia
Operation Otto
Announces plan to surround & the Red Army north & south of the Pripet marshes
Red Army
Announces plan to surround & the Red Army north & south of the Pripet marshes
Invasion of Greece
The Armed Forces High Command issued Directive No. 20 on December 13, 1940, the document outlines the Greek campaign under the code designation, "Operation Marita". Orders 24 divisions to assemble in Rumania & advance on Greece through Bulgaria
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.