March 1939

15 Czechoslovakia, already shorn of the Sudetenland by the 1938 Munich Agreement, disappears from the map of Europe. German forces occupy the Czech provinces of Bohemia and Moravia, while pro-German Slovaks proclaim independent Slovakia. Mussolini is furious at Hitler's unilateral action; he decides to match him by occupying Albania.

April 1939

7-10 Italian forces land in Albania and swiftly gain control of the country.

12 Britain and France guarantee the independence of Greece and Romania.

June 1939

23 France awards Alexandretta to Turkey from Syria, satisfying Turkish claims.

September 1939

1 Germany invades Poland, starting the war that becomes World War II.

3 France and Britain declare war on Germany.

October 1939

19 France and Britain sign a treaty of alliance with Turkey. The provisions do not obligate Turkey to go to war.

June 1940

10 Italy declares war on France and Britain, as German panzers sweep across France. Italian forces subsequently invade France, but are repulsed.

26 The Soviet Union demands Bessarabia and northern Bukovina from Romania.

28 Romania submits to the Soviet ultimatum. Soviet forces enter the two provinces.

July 1940

Mussolini suggests a joint German-Italian invasion of Yugoslavia; Hitler rejects this notion.

1 Soviet forces complete the occupation of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina. Hungary masses troops along its border with Romania; Romania counters.

August 1940

Italy demands that Greece renounce Britain's guarantee of Greek independence. Greece refuses.

15 An Italian submarine torpedoes and sinks the neutral Greek cruiser, Helle, off Tenos Island. Italy at first denies responsibility but later admits a "mistake" may have occurred.

23 In the Treaty of Craiova, Romania cedes southern Dobrudja to Bulgaria.

30 In the Vienna Award imposed by Germany, Hungary receives northern Transylvania from Romania.

September 1940

6 King Carol of Romania abdicates in favor of son Michael, as fascist riots rock Bucharest. General Antonescu, given full powers by the king two day earlier, will effectively rule the country and closely ally it with Germany.

10 Italians increase their forces in Albania.

13 Italian forces in Libya invade British-dominated Egypt.

18 Italy's 10th Army in Egypt, facing minor opposition, halts after capturing Sidi Barani. It will remain inactive for the next three months.

27 Germany, Italy and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact, a 10-year military, political and economic alliance.

October 1940

7 German troops enter Romania, at Antonescu's invitation. Mussolini is said to be infuriated by the German unilateral action.

13 Mussolini makes the final decision to invade Greece. Italy does not inform Germany of its plans.

28 Italy invades Greece from Albania. Britain promises aid for Greece. Over the next few days, Italian forces slowly advance into Greece as Greek troops mobilize and move to the front.

31 British forces land on Crete.

November 1940

During this month, the RAF attacks ports in southern Italy and strikes ports and airfields in Albania.

3 Greeks defeat the Julia Division (3rd Alpine) in the Pindus Mountains. Meanwhile, RAF air elements arrive in southern Greece.

4 German OKH begins to plan Operation Marita.

5 Italians bomb Bitolj, a Yugoslav town near the Greek border.

8-10 Greeks halt the Italian invasion.

9 Earthquake kills 400 in Romania.

11/12 That night, British Swordfish from the carrier Illustrious torpedo bomb the Italian Fleet at Taranto. One battleship is sunk and two more are damaged. Meanwhile, British cruisers destroy an Italian convoy en route to Albania.

14 Greek counteroffensive begins. This will defeat the Italians and throw them back into Albania.

17 Bulgaria refuses to sign the Tripartite Pact.

20 Hungary signs the Tripartite Pact, officially joining the Axis.

22 Greeks capture the town of Koritsa in southern Albania.

23 Romania signs the Tripartite Pact.

24 Slovakia signs the Tripartite Pact.

December 1940

1 Italy begins rationing flour, rice, and other foods.

4 Greeks take most of southern Albania. Over the next three months, they will gain control of almost half of Albania.

6 Greeks advance toward Elbasani in central Albania. Italian Marshall Bagdoglio, Chief of the General Staff, is relieved.

9 General O'Connor launches "Operation Compass," against the Italians in Egypt. Over the next few days, the Italian forces are routed and suffer many losses.

12 "Friendship Pact" signed between Yugoslavia and Hungary.

13 Fuhrer Directive 20, "Operation Marita," calls for the invasion and occupation of Greece in the spring of 1941.

17 British desert offensive enters Libya. Over 20,000 Italians captured.

18 Hitler orders preparations for the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

18/19 At night, British battleships bombard port of Valona, Albania.

January 1941

3 Italians launch unsuccessful offensive in Albania.

5 British capture Bardia, Libya.

21 Extremist right-wing Iron Guard attempts to overthrow Antonescu in Romania.

22 British capture Tobruk, Libya.

24 Iron Guard uprising crushed.

29 General Metaxas, President (and dictator) of Greece dies. Koryzis becomes president.

February 1941

5 Battle of Beda Fomm: British cut off Italians retreating in Libya. Italians attempt to break out, but are defeated.

7 British capture Benghazi, Libya. Over 130,000 Italians have surrendered to the British by now.

14 Initial elements of German Deutsches Afrika Korps arrive in Libya.

17 Bulgaria and Turkey forge a non-aggression agreement.

28 Germans begin bridging the Danube River between Romania and Bulgaria.

March 1941

1 Bulgaria signs the Tripartite Pact, joining the Axis. In Greece, an earthquake at Larisa leaves 10,000 homeless.

3 The Soviet Union denounces Bulgaria's signing of the Tripartite Pact.

5 British troops begin arriving in mainland Greece.

6 Greek attacks in Albania take important mountain peaks.

9 Italians begin their spring offensive in Albania. Greeks repel the attacks but suffer losses.

24 Rommel's Afrika Korps attacks in Libya, capturing El Agheila.

25 Italian spring offensive called off. Yugoslavia signs Tripartite Pact. Yugoslavia is to remain neutral and allow German supplies (but no troops) to use Yugoslav railroads. In return, Yugoslavia is promised the port of Thessalonike.

27 Yugoslav military launches a coup that topples the government and installs an anti-Nazi regime. Hitler orders the invasion of Yugoslavia. In Greece, British troops man the Aliakhmon Line.

28 Battle of Cape Matapan: British ships and torpedo bombers attack the Italian fleet, as it returns from a sortie in the Aegean. Italians have one battleship damaged and lose three cruisers.

31 Rommel breaks through at Mersa Brega.

April 1941

1 Anti-British Golden Square conspiracy seizes power in Iraq. Subsequently, the Iraqis will try to expel the British, and Germany will pressure Vichy France into granting the Axis air transit rights through Syria to Iraq.

2 Rommel reaches Agedabia.

3 British-Greek-Yugoslav meetings occur. British are concerned that lack of troops leaves gaps between the Albanian front and Aliakhmon Line and between the Aliakhmon Line and the Metaxas Line. Greeks refuse to abandon the Metaxas Line, which would free up troops. Instead, Greeks and Yugoslavs discuss joint operations against the Italians in Albania.

4 Rommel captures Benghazi.

5 Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union sign a friendship treaty, pledging non-aggression. Treaty includes no provision for Soviet aid in case Yugoslavia is invaded.

6 Germany invades Yugoslavia from Germany, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Luftwaffe terror bombs Belgrade, killing 17,000. Yugoslav government flees to Uzice. Germany also invades Greece, from Bulgaria. Luftwaffe bombs Piraeus, Athen's port, and heavily damages it.

7 Germans take Skoplje, Yugoslavia, clearing a path to Monastir Gap and Greece. In Libya, Rommel takes Derna and captures General O'Connor.

9 Germans enter Thessalonike, driving through the gap between the Aliakhmon and Metaxas Lines. Germans also break through the Metaxas Line, cutting off Greek forces in eastern Greece.

10 Germans capture Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.

10-12 Germans enter Greece through Monastir Gap, rushing through the void between the Albanian front and the Aliakhmon Line. British forces begin to withdraw.

11 Hungarian forces attack Yugoslavia from Hungary. Italian forces attack Yugoslavia from Italy and Albania.

12 Germans capture Belgrade. Croatian extremist leaders proclaim Croatia's independence from Yugoslavia. Greeks belatedly order their forces to pull back from Albania. In North Africa, Rommel takes Bardia.

13 The Afrika Korps and Italian forces begin the siege of Tobruk. In Moscow, the USSR and Japan sign a 5-year non-aggression pact.

14 Yugoslavia requests an armistice. King Farouk of Egypt sends a secret message to Hitler, requesting "liberation" from the British.

15 Rommel drives into Egypt.

16 Germans capture Sarajevo. British temporarily pause at Servia Pass by Mt. Olympus, then continue withdrawing.

17 British decide to evacuate mainland Greece. Yugoslav Army surrenders, while RAF flies Yugoslav King Peter II to safety. Over 340,000 soldiers become POWs; total German losses are 558. Over the next few weeks, Yugoslavia is dismantled. Germany annexes most of Slovenia. Italy annexes Dalmatia, Montenegro, and the rest of Slovenia; Kosovo and part of Macedonia are added to Italian-owned Albania. Croatia is nominally independent and divided into German and Italian zones of influence. Croatia annexes Bosnia-Hercegovina. Serbia becomes an Axis puppet state, under heavy German control. Hungary annexes the Backa portion of Vojvodina; the rest of Vojvodina -- the Banat -- nominally remains part of Serbia but is run by local German inhabitants. Bulgaria annexes most of Macedonia.

18 Koryzis, President of Greece, commits suicide. Martial law is declared in Athens.

20 Greek forces in Albania, cut off, surrender.

20-24 British rearguards halt the Germans at Thermopylae for several days.

21 New Greek government under Tsouderos formed.

21-24 Luftwaffe smashes Greek naval and merchant forces in Greek coastal waters.

22 Greek forces in eastern Greece surrender. Elsewhere, the USSR protests violation of Soviet air space by German recon planes.

24-29 British evacuate tens of thousands of British troops to Crete and Egypt, losing two destroyers and four transports to bombing. Evacuated troops abandon their heavy equipment.

26 German paratroops capture Corinth, gateway to the Peloponnesus.

27 Germans take Athens.

28 Germans capture last port on mainland Greece.

29 Iraqi forces surround RAF airbase at Habbaniya.

30 Germans finish mopping up in Greece. Greeks have suffered 16,000 casualties and about a quarter of a million POWs (estimates range from 220-270,000); British losses are about 13,000, including 9,000 POWs. Italian losses number about 90,000 for the entire campaign, while German losses are around 5,100. In North Africa, Axis forces attack Tobruk. By May 4, they have driven a salient into the perimeter but fail to defeat the defenders.

May 1941

3 British repel Iraqi attempt to take Basra.

4 Hitler proclaims a great victory in the Balkans and predicts Nazi Germany will last 1,000 years.

6 British lift the siege of Habbaniya.

9 USSR withdraws its recognition of the Yugoslav government in exile.

11 Axis completes the occupation of the Aegean islands, short of Crete.

14 Luftwaffe attacks airfields on Crete.

15 British launch "Operation Brevity" in North Africa; Halfaya Pass recaptured but British quickly halt.

18 Croatians offer Italian Duke of Spoleto the crown of Croatia. He subsequently becomes King Tomislav II, but spends little time in Croatia.

20 "Operation Mercury": German airborne forces land in Crete at Maleme airfield, Rethymnon, and Erakleion.

21 German paratroopers cannot capture entire Maleme airfield from the New Zealanders. The tide is turned when Ju 52s, under fire, crash land at Maleme, bringing in mountain troops. At sea, the Royal Navy scatters a German naval invasion force. (The Royal Navy subsequently turns back a second naval invasion force.)

22 Germans completely control Maleme airfield and pour in reinforcements by air. Luftwaffe sinks a cruiser and a destroyer, damages a battleship and another cruiser. Royal Navy evacuates King George of Greece from Crete.

26 Germans take Khania, capital of Crete. RN carrier Formidable launches strike against German Stukas on Scarpanto Island; in return, the Luftwaffe badly damages Formidable.

27 Rommel recaptures Halfaya Pass.

28 British begin to abandon Crete; 15,000 will evacuate by the end of the month. An Italian force from Rhodes lands by sea in eastern Crete.

30 Iraqi regime collapses; Britain controls Iraq.

June 1941

1 Germans control all of Crete. British losses are about 18,000 (including seamen), of which 12,000 are POWs. The Royal Navy was hit hard, with 3 cruisers and 6 destroyers sunk, and 3 battleships, 1 carrier, 6 cruisers and 7 destroyers damaged. German losses are 5,700 and come from the elite parachute and mountain troops. The Crete campaign convinces Hitler that large-scale airborne assaults have lost their value, while persuading Britain and the US that large-scale airborne assaults are a powerful weapon.

8 British invade Syria and Lebanon, to close the door to Axis penetration there.

14 British launch "Operation Battleax," to relieve Tobruk.

17 Croatia signs the Tripartite Pact. In Africa, Rommel counterattacks the British, who soon abandon their operations.

18 Germany and Turkey agree to a non-aggression pact.

21 Free French troops take Damascus; Vichy French in Syria and Lebanon shortly surrender to the British.

22 Germany invades the Soviet Union. By the end of the month, Italy, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Finland all declare war on the USSR. The course of World War II is altered. Britain's hope of ultimate victory is renewed, and Communist partisans in the Balkans begin a guerrilla war against the Axis.