World Events in 1940
Dunkirk Evacuation
Between 26 May and 4 June, over 338,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk, France. A flotilla of military and civilian vessels crossed the English Channel in what Churchill called a 'miracle of deliverance'.
The Blitz Begins
On 7 September, the Luftwaffe began sustained bombing of London and other British cities. The Blitz would continue for eight months, killing over 43,000 civilians and destroying more than a million homes.
Fall of France
Germany invaded France in May and Paris fell on 14 June. France signed an armistice on 22 June, leaving Britain as the sole major Allied power fighting in Western Europe.
Battle of Britain
From July to October, the Royal Air Force defended Britain against large-scale attacks by the German Luftwaffe. The RAF's victory was the first major defeat for Hitler's military forces and prevented a German invasion.
Winston Churchill Becomes Prime Minister
On 10 May, Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister. His rousing speeches rallied the nation, famously offering nothing but 'blood, toil, tears, and sweat'.
Music in 1940
"We'll Meet Again"
Vera Lynn
Became the defining anthem of wartime Britain, offering hope to separated families and servicemen heading overseas.
"In the Mood"
Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
This big band swing classic topped the charts and became one of the most recognisable instrumentals of the era.
#1 Film of 1940
Rebecca
Box Office: $6 million
Alfred Hitchcock's first American film, starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Born in 1940
John Lennon
Co-founder of The Beatles, singer-songwriter and peace activist
Pelé
Brazilian footballer widely regarded as the greatest player of all time
Ringo Starr
Drummer of The Beatles
Bruce Lee
Martial artist and actor who became a global cultural icon
Tom Jones
Welsh singer known for hits like 'It's Not Unusual'
Lost in 1940
Neville Chamberlain
British Prime Minister known for the Munich Agreement and policy of appeasement
Age 71
Leon Trotsky
Russian revolutionary and Marxist theorist, assassinated in Mexico
Age 60
F. Scott Fitzgerald
American novelist who wrote The Great Gatsby
Age 44
Paul Klee
Swiss-German artist whose work influenced Expressionism and Surrealism
Age 60
Technology in 1940
Radar was being rapidly developed for military use, and the cavity magnetron was invented in Britain. Television broadcasting was suspended in the UK for the war, but radio dominated every household. Jeeps entered military production and penicillin was first used to treat a patient.
- ● Cavity magnetron invented, enabling compact radar systems
- ● First successful helicopter flight by the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300
- ● Penicillin first used clinically by Howard Florey's team at Oxford
- ● Jeep prototype delivered to the US Army for testing
Cost of Living in 1940
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £550 | $3,200 |
| Average salary | £200 | $1,725 |
| Pint of milk | 2d | $0.13 |
| Loaf of bread | 4d | $0.08 |
| Dozen eggs | 1s 6d | $0.33 |
| Pint of beer | 6d | $0.15 |
| Cinema ticket | 9d | $0.24 |
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The Zeitgeist of 1940
The phoney war ended abruptly as Germany swept through Western Europe and the Dunkirk evacuation gripped the nation. In Britain, the Blitz began and blackout curtains became part of daily life. Americans watched nervously from across the Atlantic, still formally neutral but increasingly drawn toward the conflict.
In the News in 1940
Nylon stockings went on sale for the first time in the US, causing long queues at department stores. The first McDonald's restaurant opened in San Bernardino, California. Bugs Bunny made his official debut in the Warner Bros cartoon 'A Wild Hare'.