Colonel
Appointed Colonel General after his 19th corps defeat the French at Sedan
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1940 in Germany — Page 6
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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26Named events on this page
13Named people on this page
11Places on this page
May
German Army Group Pressure Tightens around Flanders
Rundstedt's forces continue closing the corridor around Allied armies retreating through Flanders.
Invasion of Belgium
Commands 28 Divisions from the North Sea to Aix-la-Chapelle
Invasion of Belgium
Rommels Div earns the name "the Ghost Division" because of its sudden appearences
Invasion of France
Commands 28 Divisions from the North Sea to Aix-la-Chapelle
Invasion of France
Fall Gelb (Case Yellow), German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and surround the Allied units that had advanced into Belgium
Invasion of France
In the Battle of France commands Panzergruppe von Kleist, consisting of XLI Panzer Corps and XIX Panzer Corps (under Heinz Guderian), the two southernmost armoured corps in the drive to the English Channel
Invasion of France
The Germans had massed the bulk of their armoured force in Panzer Group von Kleist, which attacked through the comparatively unguarded sector of the Ardennes and achieved a breakthrough at Sedan with air support. Commands 5 Panzer & 3 motorised Divisions through the Ardennes
Invasion of France
Commands 17 Divisions from the Moselle to the Swiss border
Invasion of Netherlands, The
Commands 28 Divisions from the North Sea to Aix-la-Chapelle
Luftflotte Two Supports German Drive in Flanders
Kesselring's air fleet supports German armies attacking Allied positions across Belgium and Flanders.
Operation Fall Gelb
German armoured units push through the Ardennes to cut off and surround the Allied units that had advanced into Belgium
Operation Fall Gelb
Launched to prevent the Allies Treaty obligations to defend Belgium
Operation Fall Gelb
Operation Yellow is launched to lure the BEF out of France
Seventh Panzer Advance Threatens Allied Flanders Position
Rommel's rapid advance helps split Allied forces and threatens communications supporting troops in Flanders.
XXXVIII Army Corps
During the German campaign in France, Manstein commanded XXXVIII Army Corps. He directed his formation in the west after moving from the planning staff positions for which he had previously been known.
June
Front Line Tour
Hitler visits Rommel, Rommel is ordered to accompany Hitler on his front-line tour
Operation Marita
Rommel is ordered to accompany Hitler on the rest of his front-line tour
Bombing of Paris
The Germans begin bombing Paris
Evacuation
The final day of the Dunkirk evacuation
Battle of Dunkirk
The French rearguard surrenders
Capture of Dunkirk
Dunkirk is captured after its evacuation by the BEF
Evacuation
The British Royal Navy evacuates 300,000 from Dunkirk
Operation Dynamo
The British Royal Navy evacuates 300,000 from Dunkirk
Battle of France
Operation Fall Rot (Case Red) is began and German forces outflank the Maginot Line and push deeper into France
Commander of Second Battalion
Appointed Commander 2nd Battalion of the 36th Panzer Regiment
Commander of Second Battalion
Appointed Commander 2nd Battalion of the 36th Panzer Regiment
Invasion of France
Operation, Fall Rot (Case Red), German forces outflank the Maginot Line
Maginot Line
Operation, Fall Rot (Case Red), German forces outflank the Maginot Line
Operation Fall Rot
Operation Fall Rot (Case Red) is began and German forces outflank the Maginot Line and push deeper into France
Invasion of France
Rommels 7th Panzer Div crosses the River Somme
Battle of Narvik
Reoccupies Narvik after Allied forces complete their withdrawal.
Battle of Narvik
Uses Dietl's survival and Narvik's recovery as propaganda success.
Gneisenau Action
Commands Gneisenau during Operation Juno.
Narvik Propaganda Victory
Uses the survival of Dietl's force as a German propaganda success.
Operation Alphabet
Reoccupies Narvik after Allied forces complete their withdrawal.
Operation Juno
Leads German naval forces against Allied shipping during the evacuation.
Operation Juno
Marschall leads German heavy ships in a sortie intended to disrupt the Allied evacuation from Norway.
Retaking of Narvik
Reoccupies Narvik after Allied forces complete their withdrawal.
Retaking of Narvik
Dietl's troops reoccupy Narvik after Allied forces evacuate northern Norway.
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.