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1940
— German armies invade Denmark, Norway, Holland,
Belgium and Luxembourg. Dutch and Belgium armies surrender.
British expeditionary forces of 250,000 evacuate the
beaches of Dunkirk. The Germans invade France and
enter Paris. Occupied France (Vichy) under Henri Pétain
signs an armistice with Germany. the Vichy government
breaks off relations with the British government.
The British sink or capture the French fleet at the
Battle of Oran to prevent it from falling into German
hands.
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Italy declares war on Britain and France. Italy
and France conclude an armistice agreement.
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Congress creates the Selective Service System, the
first U.S. peacetime program of compulsory military
service. It requires all men between the ages of
21 and 36 to register.
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Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain
after Chamberlain resigns; he gives his famous “blood,
toil, tears and sweat” speech to rally the
British.
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