1940

Facts and Events That Happened in This Year

Dec 30

California's first freeway, Arroyo Seco Parkway, officially opened to traffic.

Dec 29

The worst German air raid of the Blitz occurred.

Nov 13

Disney's animated feature 'Fantasia' was released to movie theaters in the US.

Oct 25

Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first African American US Army brigadier general.

Oct 15

Charlie Chaplin's satirical movie 'The Great Dictator' was released in the US.

Oct 14

The Blitz bombing of London's Balham Tube Station was bombed, killing over 60 people.

Sep 12

17,000-year-old cave art was discovered in France.

Sep 10

Buckingham Palace, London, was blasted during The Blitz mass air bombings by Germany.

Sep 7

The Blitz began.

Sep 3

Adolf Hitler made plans to invade Britain starting on September 21, 1940.

Aug 20

Exiled Soviet leader Leon Trotsky was assassinated with an ice axe in Mexico City.

Jul 27

Billboard magazine started ranking sales of recorded songs.

Jul 19

Adolf Hitler offered peace to Great Britain if they would surrender and allow Germany to dominate the country.

Jul 16

Adolf Hitler planned to invade Britain under the guise name 'Operation Sealion.'

Jul 10

Nazi forces moved on Britain for the first time after attacking shipping containers in the English Channel.

May 15

The world's first Mcdonald's opened in San Bernardino, California.

May 13

Winston Churchill made his famous speech to the House of Commons.

Apr 27

Heinrich Himmler ordered the construction of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

Apr 9

Nazi Germany invaded and attacked Denmark.

Apr 7

Booker T. Washington became the first Black person pictured on a US postage stamp.

Mar 6

The first US telecast was made from an airplane flying over New York City.

Feb 29

Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Gone With the Wind,' making her the first African American woman to win an Oscar.

Feb 27

Two scientists from the University of California Radiation Laboratory discovered carbon-14, a new isotope of carbon.

Feb 10

Tom and Jerry made their debut appearance.

Feb 10

Glenn Miller's 'In the Mood' hit number one on this day and stayed there for 12 weeks.

Feb 7

Walt Disney released their second feature-length movie, 'Pinocchio,' in New York City.