What happened on the 29th December 1940?
On the evening of 29 December 1940 a German bombing raid caused what become known as the ‘Second Great Fire of London’. The attack targeted the City of London where the high explosive and incendiary bombs started a firestorm that destroyed an area greater than that devastated by the Great Fire of 1666.
What happened in December of 1940?
December 10, 1940 (Tuesday) The Battle of Sidi Barrani began as British forces launched an offensive to retake the Egyptian port of Sidi Barrani. Hitler issued Directive No. 19 on the German occupation of Vichy France, codenamed Operation Attila. Hitler made a speech to munitions workers in Berlin.
What happened on December 12 1940?
80 Years Ago—Dec. 12, 1940: Luftwaffe bombs Sheffield, England in a raid that lasts nine hours. Philip Kerr, Lord Lothian, British ambassador to the US, dies in Washington, DC. Britain begins “Potato Pete” potato promotion drive and begins opening government-run fish & chips shops.
How long did the blackout last in ww2?
The nation endured this enforced darkness until 23 April 1945, 10 days after the liberation of Belsen, when the allied armies were advancing rapidly towards Berlin in a final pincer movement.
Did the Germans bomb London on Christmas Day?
On the evening of December 29, 1940, London suffers its most devastating air raid when Germans firebomb the city.
What happened December 7th 1940?
It was on December 7th, 1941 that 353 Japanese bombers attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, destroying 19 ships, 188 aircraft and killing over 2,000 Americans. It was this act that drove the United States into World War II.
Why is 1940 significant?
1940. The first year of the 1940s was filled with war-related news. In 1940 or late 1939, the Nazis began “Operation T4,” the first mass killings of Germans and Austrians with disabilities, most by large-scale poison gas operations. This program alone resulted in the murder of an estimated 275,000 persons by war’s end.
What did they eat in ww2 at Christmas?
At first it was just bacon, butter and sugar that were rationed but by 1942 many other foods, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also ‘on the ration’. Those with gardens were encouraged to ‘grow their own’ and many families also kept chickens.
What was Christmas like for children in ww2?
Many children spent Christmas away from home as evacuees. By the end of the war, thousands of families had suffered the death of a family member either in action or from enemy bombing raids. Christmas luxuries were especially hard to come by at a time when even basic foods were scarce.
What day was Pearl Harbor attacked by the Japanese?
December 7, 1941
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Since early 1941 the U.S. had been supplying Great Britain in its fight against the Nazis. It had also been pressuring Japan to halt its military expansion in Asia and the Pacific.