1940World War II: The Dunkirk evacuation ends: the British Armed Forces completes evacuation of 338,000 troops from Dunkirk in France. To rally the morale of the country, Winston Churchill delivers, only to the House of Commons, his famous "We shall fight on the beaches" speech.^[†]

World War II or the Second World War was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many nations mobilising all resources in pursuit of total war. Tanks and aircraft played major roles, enabling the strategic bombing of cities and delivery of the first and only nuclear weapons ever used in war. World War II is the deadliest conflict in history, causing the death of 70 to 85 million people, more than half of whom were civilians. Millions died in genocides, including the Holocaust, and by massacres, starvation, and disease. After the Allied victory, Germany, Austria, Japan, and Korea were occupied, and German and Japanese leaders were tried for war crimes.

Headlines from June 4, 1940

The International Situation; On the Battle Fronts Repercussions Elsewhere

NEW GERMAN BLOW AWAITED BY ALLIES; Paris Makes Counter-Moves as Nazis Mass Troops and Launch Test attacks

ITALY POSTPONES 1942 WORLD'S FAIR; Decision Viewed as Assuring Early Entry Into the War-- Cabinet Meets Today

PRESIDENT MOVES FOR FIRM WARNING AGAINST INVASION; Legislation Backed by White House Is Offered to Point Up Monroe Doctrine Stand NO 'BACK-DOOR' ENTRY Labor Peace Sought--Economy Plans Mapped to HelpMeet Burden of Defense

'Better Learn German,' Nazi Says to a Brazilian

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