Overview
December 1940 was the twelfth month of the year 1940 in the Gregorian calendar, comprising 31 days. As the final month of the calendar year, it fell during the early stages of the Second World War, a period marked by extensive military operations, diplomatic activity, and significant civilian experience of wartime conditions across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Calendar and Temporal Context
- Gregorian designation: Month 12 of year 1940.
- Number of days: 31.
- Season (Northern Hemisphere): Winter.
- Season (Southern Hemisphere): Summer.
Global Context in December 1940
The month occurred within a phase of the war characterized by the following broad developments:
| Region / Front | General Situation in December 1940 |
|---|---|
| Western Europe | The United Kingdom continued its strategic bombing campaign against Germany (the “Blitz”). The Battle of Britain, which had begun in July, was effectively concluded with the RAF maintaining aerial superiority. |
| Eastern Europe | The Soviet Union, having annexed the Baltic states and parts of Romania in mid‑1940, was preparing for potential conflict with Germany, though open hostilities would not begin until June 1941. |
| Northern Africa | British Commonwealth forces were planning Operation Compass, the first large‑scale offensive against Italian forces in Egypt and Libya; this operation would commence in early December 1940. |
| Mediterranean | The Siege of Malta intensified, with the island enduring heavy aerial bombardment while serving as a critical Allied base. |
| Balkans | The Greco‑Italian War, which began in October 1940, continued with Greek forces repelling Italian advances; the front remained relatively static during December. |
| Asia–Pacific | Japan, while not yet at war with the United States, was expanding its influence in China and consolidating its holdings in French Indochina. |
| Americas | The United States, though still neutral, enacted the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 (the first peacetime draft) in September and began increasing aid to the United Kingdom under the Lend‑Lease program, discussions for which continued throughout December. |
Notable Events Reported for December 1940
- 1 December: The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force conducted its first major night raid on the German city of Bremen, marking an escalation in the nocturnal bombing campaign.
- 7 December: British forces launched Operation Compass against Italian positions in Egypt, achieving rapid territorial gains and capturing large numbers of Italian prisoners.
- 12 December: The Soviet Union formally annexed the Romanian region of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina, completing its territorial acquisitions of 1940.
- 13 December: A British Royal Navy convoy (Convoy HX 90) was attacked by German U‑boats in the North Atlantic, resulting in the loss of several merchant vessels.
- 16 December: Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, delivered a speech in the House of Commons emphasizing the necessity of continued resistance and the importance of the upcoming Winter Offensive in the Middle East.
- 31 December: The International Red Cross reported that the civilian death toll in the United Kingdom from aerial bombardment for the year 1940 had reached approximately 14,000.
The above events are documented in contemporary governmental and military records, as well as in historical analyses of World War II chronology.
Cultural and Societal Aspects
- Media: Radio remained the primary medium for news dissemination; the BBC’s Home Service provided daily bulletins on war developments, civil defense, and public morale.
- Civil Defense: In the United Kingdom, the Home Guard continued its training and local patrols, while air‑raid precautions (blackout regulations, sirens, and shelters) were strictly enforced.
- Economics: Wartime rationing, introduced in the United Kingdom in 1940, persisted throughout December, affecting the availability of foodstuffs, clothing, and fuel.
Historical Significance
December 1940 is regarded by historians as a pivotal month that demonstrated the shift from defensive to offensive operations for the Allies in certain theaters (notably North Africa) and solidified the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. The decisions made and actions taken during this month contributed to the shaping of subsequent campaigns in 1941, including the Battle of Greece, Operation Barbarossa, and the expansion of the Lend‑Lease program.
References
The information presented derives from primary source archives (government wartime reports, military operation orders), secondary scholarly works on World War II chronology, and established historical compendia that record the events of December 1940.