SEPTEMBER 1939

Nazi Germany invades Poland. France and Britain declare war on Germany. The British Expeditionary Force is deployed to Belgium.

JANUARY 1940

Rationing begins in Britain.

MAY 1940

Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister. Nazi forces invade Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and France. Operation Dynamo begins and the British Expeditionary Force evacuates at Dunkirk in Northern France. They retreat to the south coast of England under heavy Nazi bombardment. Over 80,000 people from both sides are killed or injured during the evacuation.

JUNE 1940

Nazi forces occupy France.

JULY 1940

The Battle of Britain begins. London is bombed intensively during a period known as the Blitz. Nazi bombers also attack other major cities in Britain. Civilians and industry are targeted.

By October 1941 the Battle of Britain was over and the concentrated bombing of Britain had ended, but sporadic raids continued throughout the war.
Only in 1945 did the bombs finally stop falling.