January: Due to the war, food rationing begins in Great Britain. Initially it is bacon, butter & sugar, but will soon be extended.

February: Following the success of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney's second full-length animated film 'Pinocchio' released.

March: Adolf Hitler & Benito Mussolini meet at Brenner Pass in the Alps. They agree an alliance against France & Great Britain.

April: Booker T. Washington is the first African-American to be depicted on a U.S. postage stamp. He will later appear on coinage.

May: Neville Chamberlain, resigns as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. His replacement is Winston Churchill.

June: The Dunkirk evacuation ends. It has rescued 338,226 British, French & Belgian troops trapped in the French harbor & beaches.

July: The 'Battle of Britain' begins. Germany fails to destroy Britain's air defences. It is the first turning point in World War II.

August: Leon Trotsky founder of the 'Red Army' is assassinated in Mexico, with an ice axe by NKVD agent Ramon Mercader.

September: Four French teenagers discover cave paintings in Lascaux, France. They depict hunting scenes & are over 17,000 years old.

October: Edison Arantes do Nascimento is born. Known as 'Pele' he is regarded by many as the all time best football (Soccer) player.

November: The city of Coventry, England is attacked by 500 Luftwaffe bombers. 60,000 of the city's 75,000 buildings are destroyed.

December: F. Scott Fitzgerald one of America's greatest writers, author of 'The Great Gatsby' & 'Tender Is the Night' dies aged 44.