|
1940 |
May 1940 |
10 |
Germany launches invasion of western Europe. |
June 1940 |
|
10 |
Italy declares war on Great Britain and France. |
17 |
Pro-Russian government established in Lithuania. |
20 |
Latvia and Estonia occupied by Russians. |
22 |
Franco-German armistice signed at Compiegne. |
26 |
Russia occupies Bessarabia and northern Bukovina. |
July 1940 |
|
13 |
Hitler discusses reason for continuance of British resistance at daily situation conference. |
21 |
During a staff meeting, Hitler first mentions possibility of a campaign against Russia. |
31 |
Hitler orders preparations for a campaign against Russia in spring of 1941. |
August 1940 |
|
21 |
Romania cedes the southern Dobrudja to Bulgaria. |
30 |
Vienna Arbitration Award: Romania yields one third of Transylvania to Hungary. |
September 1940 |
|
13 |
Italy begins drive into Egypt. |
27 |
Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact. |
October 1940 |
|
7 |
German troops enter Romania. |
12 |
Hitler postpones invasion of Great Britain until spring 1941. |
28 |
Italy invades Greece from Albania. |
31 |
British occupy Crete and Limnos. |
November 1940 |
|
4 |
Hitler orders preparations for eventual interventionin Greece. |
4 |
Royal Air Force begins to operate from Greek airfields. |
12 |
Directive No. 18 issued, enumerating the followingobjectives: capture of Gibraltar via Spain, seizureof Egypt and Suez Canal from Libyan bases, and invasion of Greece from Bulgaria. |
November 1940 |
12-13 |
Molotov visits Berlin and confers with Hitler on future relationship between Germany and SovietUnion. |
18 |
Hitler confers with King Boris of Bulgaria. |
20 |
Hungary adheres to Tripartite Pact. |
23 |
Romania joins Tripartite Pact. |
28 |
Hitler confers with Yugoslav Foreign Minister Cincar-Marcovic and asks Yugoslavia to join TripartitePact. |
December 1940 |
|
5 |
Hitler conference, Army plans for campaigns against Greece and Russia
presented. |
9 |
British start counterattack in North Africa and advance across Libya. |
11 |
Hitler abandons plan to capture Gibraltar. |
13 |
Directive No. 20 is issued, outlining Operation MARITA, the campaign
against Greece. |
18 |
Directive No. 21 issued, ordering preparations for Operation BARBAROSSA,
the campaign against Russia. |
|
1941 |
January 1941 |
|
13 |
British offer to send ground forces is rejected by Greece. |
18-20 |
Hitler meets Mussolini and informs him about intended German attack on Greece. |
February 1941 |
|
14 |
Hitler urges Yugoslav Premier Cvetkovic to join Tripartite Pact. |
17 |
Bulgaria and Turkey conclude treaty of friendship. |
28 |
German troops bridge the Danube. |
28 |
At a conference in Ankara, British Foreign Secretary Eden and President Inoenue of Turkey stress mutual respect and adherence to Turkish-British alliance, but Turkey refuses to intervene in Balkans. |
March 1941 |
|
1 |
Bulgaria joins Tripartite Pact. |
2 |
German troops enter Bulgaria. |
4 |
Hitler sends message to President Inoenue of Turkey. |
4 |
Hitler confers with Prince Regent Paul of Yugoslavia. |
7 |
British Expeditionary Force begins to land in Greece. |
March 1941 |
9-16 |
Italian spring offensive in Albania. |
18 |
Yugoslav privy council decides to join Tripartite Pact. |
24 |
Rommel starts drive through weak British defenses in North Africa. |
25 |
Yugoslavia signs Tripartite Pact. |
26-27 |
Yugoslav coup d'etat. |
27 |
General Simovic assumes power in Yugoslavia. |
27 |
Directive No. 26 is issued, outlining Operation 25, the campaign against Yugoslavia. |
29 |
Conference of German Army commanders responsible for campaign in Balkans. |
April 1941 |
|
3 |
Croat leaders join Simovic government. |
5 |
Soviet Union signs treaty of friendship and non aggression with Yugoslavia |
6 |
German air bombardment of Belgrade. |
6 |
Twelfth Army invades southern Yugoslavia and Greece. |
6 |
Second Army launches limited-objective attacks against Yugoslavia. |
7 |
Operation BARBAROSSA postponed to 22 June. |
7 |
German troops enter Skoplje. |
7 |
Metaxas Line pierced by German mountain troops. |
8 |
First Panzer Group starts drive toward Belgrade. |
9 |
2d Panzer Division elements capture Salonika; Greek Second Army
capitulates. |
10 |
XLVI Panzer Corps enters the race for Belgrade. |
10 |
Start of Second Army drive on Zagreb and capture of the city. |
10 |
Croatia proclaims itself an independent state. |
10 |
XLIX Mountain and LI Infantry Corps cross northwestern Yugoslav border. |
10 |
First Panzer Group reaches point forty miles from Yugoslav capital. |
11 |
XLI Panzer Corps advances to within forty-five miles of Belgrade. |
11 |
German mountain troops cross the Vardar. |
12 |
Fall of Belgrade. |
13 |
Greek First Army begins to withdraw from Albania. |
14 |
XVIII Mountain Corps pierces Mount Olympus defenses. |
14 |
Beginning of Yugoslav armistice negotiations. |
15 |
German troops enter Sarajevo. |
15 |
Seizure of Lamia. |
15 |
General Student submits his plan for the seizure of Crete to Goering. |
17 |
Capture of Thasos. |
17 |
Yugoslav representatives sign unconditional surrender. |
18 |
German armistice with Yugoslavia becomes effective at 1200. |
19 |
5th Panzer Division enters Plain of Thessaly. |
19 |
XVIII Mountain Corps captures Larisa. |
20 |
Seizure of Samothraki. |
21 |
Greek First Army offers to surrender to Germans. |
21 |
British withdraw air force from Greece. |
21 |
Redeployment of German troops from Balkans begins. |
23 |
Greek First Army signs surrender agreement with Germans and Italians. |
24 |
Last British stand at Thermopylae. |
25 |
Directive No. 28 covering Operation MERKUR, the seizure of Crete, is issued. |
25 |
Seizure of Limnos. |
26 |
German parachute troops seize the Isthmus and town of Corinth. |
27 |
Panzer elements enter Athens. |
29 |
German forces reach south coast of the Peloponnesus. |
30 |
Hostilities cease in Greece. |
May 1941 |
|
15 |
Tentative date for beginning of Operation BARBAROSSA. |
20 |
Beginning of airborne invasion of Crete. |
21 |
German mountain troops begin to land at Maleme airfield. |
21-22 |
British Navy intercepts German seaborne invasion force approaching Crete. |
22 |
Air-sea battle in Crete waters. |
22 |
German forces secure the Maleme airhead. |
23 |
British planes return to Heraklion airfield. |
26 |
Canea falls. |
27 |
Capture of Heraklion airfield. |
28 |
British begin to withdraw to south coast of Crete. |
May 1941 |
|
28 |
Italian landings at Sitia Bay. |
28-29 |
British garrison evacuates Retimo. |
29 |
German troops establish contact with Retimo force. |
30 |
Relief of Heraklion forces. |
June 1941 |
|
1 |
German forces reach Sphakia and complete seizure of Crete. |
22 |
D-day for German invasion of Russia.
|