Alliance Italy and Germany
Tells Ciano Italy will enter the war on the German side
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1940 in Italy
Explore 50 historical events and records for Italy in 1940.
Historical records for Italy in 1940
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 50 unique records.
50Unique records
1 of 2Page
22Named events on this page
8Named people on this page
9Places on this page
May
June
Declaration of War
Declares war on Britain & France after Germany has occupied France
Invasion of France
Mussolini enters the war against France
Suez Canal
Declares war on Britain and France, making Egypt and the Suez Canal a strategic objective for Italian forces in Libya.
Suez Canal
Commands Italian forces in Libya as Rome plans operations threatening Egypt and the Suez Canal.
August
Invasion of Somaliland
Italy commences the occupation of British Somaliland
Rule of British Somaliland
Italy commences the occupation of British Somaliland
Invasion of Egypt
Orders the invasion of Egypt on the day that the invasion of Britain was mounted
Invasion of Somaliland
Italy completes the occupation of British Somaliland
Rule of British Somaliland
Italy completes the occupation of British Somaliland
September
Capture of Sollum
Italy captures Sollum, Egypt
Invasion of Egypt
Rodolfo Graziani and 5 Italian divisions began a rapid advance into Egypt
Invasion of Egypt
Orders the Italian advance from Libya into Egypt, beginning a campaign aimed at threatening British positions guarding the Suez Canal.
Tripartite Pact
The Tripartite Pact is signed by Germany, Italy & Japan
Commander of 6th Corps
Appointed Commander of 6th Corps when Italy enters the war
Invasion of Egypt
Leads the Italian Tenth Army, nearly 250,000, into Egypt
Tenth Army
Leads the Italian Tenth Army, nearly 250,000, into Egypt
October
Operation Sea Lion
Visits Hitler, notes in his diary there was no talk about Operation Sea Lion
Invasion of Greece
Mussolini and his closest advisers finalise their decision to invade Greece
Invasion of Greece
Mussolini decides to proceed with the planned invasion of Greece despite German reservations about widening the Balkan war.
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece becomes a continuation of the Greco-Italian War
Invasion of Greece
Metaxas rejected the ultimatum (the refusal is commemorated as Ohi Day, a national holiday in Greece), but even before its expiration, Italian troops had invaded Greece through Albania. Italian Ambassador Emmanuel Grazzi presents Metaxas with a three-hour ultimatum, in which he demands free passage for troops to occupy unspecified "strategic sites" within Greek territory
Invasion of Greece
Metaxas rejects the Italian ultimatum (commemorated as Ohi Day, a national holiday in Greece)
Invasion of Greece
The failed invasion attempt diverts German divisions from the Russian front
November
Battle of Elaia-Kalamas
During the Battle of Elaia-Kalamas the Italians fought their way across the Thyamis (Kalamas) river, but were then forced to a halt
Invasion of Greece
During the Battle of Elaia-Kalamas the Italians fought their way across the Thyamis (Kalamas) river, but were then forced to a halt
Battle of Greece
Hitler intervened on November 4, 1940, four days after the British took both Crete and Lemnos
Invasion of Greece
Hitler intervened on November 4, 1940, four days after the British took both Crete and Lemnos
Battle of Greece
Within weeks the Italians are driven out of Greece and Greek forces pushed on to occupy much of southern Albania
Invasion of Greece
Within weeks the Italians are driven out of Greece and Greek forces pushed on to occupy much of southern Albania
December
Invasion of Egypt
The Italians are driven out of Egypt in the 1st major british offensive of the War
Bombing of Naples
Churchill says Mussolini is "the one man" who brought Italy into the war
Bombing of Valona
The RAF bombs Valona
Invasion of Albania
The Italians cannot form a line of defence & the Greeks advance on Valona
Bombing of Bardia
The British bomb Bardia
Other events (month unknown)
Battle of Mersa Matruh
Stopped by the British defences at Mersa Matruh
Chief of Staff
Appointed Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
Appointed Chief of Staff
Fascist Grand Council
Appointed Member of Fascist Grand Council
Fascist Grand Council
Appointed Member of Fascist Grand Council
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.