Chronology of World War II
Third British sub lost in Heligoland
Tuesday, January 9, 1940 www.onwar.com

In the North Sea... A German minesweeper depth charges the Royal Navy submarine Starfish in the Heligoland Bight. The sub is scuttled afterwards. Following this third incident, British submarine operations in the Heligoland Bight are temporarily suspended. Meanwhile, off the southeast coast of England, the British ocean liner Dunbar Castle is minded and sunk.

In Britain... Prime Minister Chamberlain makes the first in a series of "morale-boosting" speeches by Cabinet Ministers. Meanwhile, there is public surprise that, after only 4 months of war, the British employment figure for January stands at 1.6 million (about 120,000 higher than the average for 1939). This increase is despite of the call-up of 1.5 million men for military duty.

In France... The first colonial contingent, of Cypriot troops, arrives to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force.

In Berlin... The West Prussian SS chief reports the successful elimination of 4000 incurable mental patients in Poland.
This chronological study of the Second World War provides a comprehensive day-by-day account of WWII. While focused on the military history of the war, with an emphasis on the battles and campaigns fought, the timeline includes social and political history as well. Some Holocaust related events are already recorded and additional updates are pending. In so far as possible, the images included in this presentation are pictures from the given days. Additional information and images are welcome through the feedback form found on the index.