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Major Events of November 1940: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from November 1940 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of November 1940: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 03 Nov 1940 Greek Counteroffensive Against Italian Invasion: On November 3, 1940, Greek forces launched a counteroffensive against the Italian invasion, recapturing several villages, including Vovousa, and effectively encircling the Italian 'Julia' division. source: hellenicaworld.com
  • 05 Nov 1940 Walter Johnson loses Maryland congressional race: Walter Johnson, renowned for his 416 wins with the Washington Senators, lost his bid for a congressional seat in Maryland on November 5, 1940. source: brainyhistory.com
  • 06 Nov 1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt wins third presidential term: Franklin D. Roosevelt secured his third term as U.S. President in the election held on November 6, 1940.
  • 07 Nov 1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse: On November 7, 1940, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, known as "Galloping Gertie," collapsed into Puget Sound due to high winds. The bridge had been in operation for just four months, and its failure became a significant event in engineering history. source: wsdot.wa.gov
  • 08 Nov 1940 Release of The Mark of Zorro: "The Mark of Zorro," a 1940 American black-and-white swashbuckling film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, and Basil Rathbone, was released on November 8, 1940. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 09 Nov 1940 Death of Neville Chamberlain: Neville Chamberlain, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, died on November 9, 1940, at the age of 71. He had resigned as Prime Minister in May 1940 and passed away from cancer in Heckfield, Hampshire. source: britannica.com
  • 10 Nov 1940 Devastating Vrancea Earthquake in Romania: On November 10, 1940, a powerful earthquake struck the Vrancea region of Romania, registering 7.7 on the Richter scale and resulting in approximately 1,000 fatalities. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 11 Nov 1940 Battle of Taranto: First Aircraft Carrier Naval Strike: On November 11, 1940, British aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious conducted a successful attack on the Italian naval base at Taranto, marking the first all-aircraft ship-to-ship naval attack in history. source: nationalww2museum.org
  • 12 Nov 1940 Deadly Midwestern US Blizzard Claims 154 Lives: The Armistice Day Blizzard struck the Midwest on November 11-12, 1940, causing 154 fatalities. The storm brought heavy snow, high winds, and a rapid temperature drop, leading to significant loss of life and property damage. source: iowadnr.gov
  • 13 Nov 1940 Disney's Fantasia Premieres with Revolutionary Sound Technology: Disney's 'Fantasia' premiered on November 13, 1940, introducing innovative sound technology that synchronized music with animation, marking a significant advancement in film production. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 14 Nov 1940 Coventry Blitz: German bombing of Coventry: On November 14, 1940, during the Coventry Blitz, German bombers conducted a devastating air raid on Coventry, England, causing significant destruction and loss of life. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 15 Nov 1940 Coventry Blitz: Devastating German air raid: The German air raid on Coventry on November 15, 1940, was part of the ongoing Blitz campaign, resulting in widespread damage and civilian casualties in the city. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 16 Nov 1940 Sealing of the Warsaw Ghetto: On November 16, 1940, German authorities sealed off the Warsaw Ghetto, a walled-off area in Warsaw, Poland, confining approximately 400,000 Jews to a small part of the city. This action led to severe overcrowding, starvation, and disease among the residents. source: 1943.pl
  • 17 Nov 1940 Birth of Luke Kelly: Luke Kelly, an Irish singer, folk musician, and actor, was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was a founding member of the band The Dubliners in 1962. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 18 Nov 1940 New York City's Mad Bomber First Strike: George Metesky, known as the 'Mad Bomber,' planted his first bomb on November 16, 1940, at the Consolidated Edison building in New York City. The bomb was discovered before it could detonate. source: britannica.com
  • 20 Nov 1940 Hungary joins the Tripartite Pact: On November 20, 1940, Hungary formally joined the Axis Tripartite Pact, aligning itself with Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II. The signing ceremony took place in Vienna, Austria, with Hungarian Foreign Minister István Csáky representing Hungary. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 22 Nov 1940 Greek counterattack in Albania during World War II: On November 22, 1940, Greek forces captured the city of Korçë in southern Albania, marking a significant victory in the Greco-Italian War. source: greekcitytimes.com
  • 23 Nov 1940 Student protest against Nazi occupation in Delft: On November 23, 1940, hundreds of students at the Technical University of Delft went on strike to protest the suspension of Jewish professors by the Nazis. This was the first large-scale protest in the Netherlands against the German occupation. source: delta.tudelft.nl
  • 24 Nov 1940 Slovakia joins Axis powers: On November 24, 1940, Slovakia officially joined the Axis powers, aligning itself with Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II. This move was part of Slovakia's efforts to gain territorial and political support from Germany. source: britannica.com
  • 25 Nov 1940 Patria disaster in Haifa: The Patria disaster occurred on November 25, 1940, when a ship carrying Jewish refugees was sunk in Haifa harbor. The incident resulted in significant loss of life and highlighted the perilous conditions faced by refugees during World War II. source: britannica.com
  • 26 Nov 1940 Warsaw Jewish ghetto establishment: On November 26, 1940, the establishment of the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto was officially announced by the Nazi authorities. This marked a significant step in the persecution of Jews in Poland during the Holocaust. source: britannica.com
  • 27 Nov 1940 Battle of Cape Spartivento in Mediterranean: On November 27, 1940, the Battle of Cape Spartivento occurred between the British Royal Navy and the Italian Regia Marina. The engagement was inconclusive, with both sides sustaining minimal damage, but it disrupted Italian efforts to intercept a British convoy to Malta. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 30 Nov 1940 Romania joins Tripartite Pact: On November 30, 1940, Romania officially joined the Tripartite Pact, aligning itself with Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II. This move was part of a broader strategy to secure territorial integrity and military support from the Axis powers. source: britannica.com