1 Apr 1940
  • Hitler set the date of the Denmark and Norway invasion to be 9 Apr 1940. 2 divisions were allocated for Denmark and 6 division for Norway, while a bulk of the German Navy was to support the overall operation. Coordinated support in the air from the Luftwaffe was also planned. ww2dbase [Invasion of Denmark and Norway | CPC]
  • British Royal Navy Vice Admiral Max Horton, in charge of submarines operating in Britain, dispatched 9 British submarines, 2 French submarines, and 1 Polish submarine to patrol the waters near Norway and Denmark in anticipation of a German invasion of the two countries. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • The towns of Ota, Kuai, Sawano, and Niragawa in Gunma Prefecture, Japan were merged to form a new town of Ota. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • The fourth group of the German Kampfgeschwader 55 wing was established. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • Otto Kretschmer stepped down as the commanding officer of U-23. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
  • Lieutenant Commander Edwin Layton was relieved of command of Wickes-class destroyer USS Boggs. ww2dbase [Edwin Layton | DS]
China French Antilles Germany
  • The work to convert fleet escort ship F2 was halted. ww2dbase [F2 | CPC]
  • Fleet escort ship F7 was assigned to the 25th Submarine Flotilla as a torpedo recovery vessel. ww2dbase [F7 | CPC]
  • Fleet escort ship F8 was assigned to the 25th Submarine Flotilla as a torpedo recovery vessel. ww2dbase [F8 | CPC]
United Kingdom
  • British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), created by Act of Parliament on 24 Nov 1939, took over the activities of British Airways and Imperial Airways. ww2dbase [AC]
United States Photo(s) dated 1 Apr 1940
South Dakota under construction at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, United States, 1 Apr 1940Men of D Company, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, UK 1st Division in a forward trench near Roches, France, 1 Apr 1940; Lance Corporal L. J. Harris seen shavingSubmarine Gar under construction, Groton, Connecticut, United States, 1 Apr 1940, photo 1 of 2; topside bow view looking aftSubmarine Gar under construction, Groton, Connecticut, United States, 1 Apr 1940, photo 2 of 2; topside stern view looking forward

1 Apr 1940 Interactive Map

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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