Video: 'The Invasion of Norway and Denmark - WW2 - 033 - April 13 1940' (Apr. 9, 1940, at 3:57)

(Tuesday, April 9, 1940, 5:15 a.m. Central European Time; during Operation Weserübung, part of World War II) — Nazi Germany occupied Denmark and invaded Norway early this morning, ostensibly as a preventive manoeuvre against a planned, and openly discussed, Franco-British occupation of Norway known as Plan R 4.

German envoys in Oslo and Copenhagen had presented the Norwegian and Danish governments with a German ultimatum demanding that they immediately accept the “protection of the Reich.”

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary) 02.Distant War (September 1939 – May 1940)' (Operation Weserübung at 36:31)

Denmark capitulated so as to not provoke mass bloodshed at the hands of the Germans, and the country was invaded in six hours.

Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Halvdan Koht, however, responded with the defiant words “Vi gir oss ikke frivillig, kampen er allerede i gang” (“We will not submit voluntarily; the struggle is already underway”).

Video: 'World War II - Blitzkrieg to the Bomb Documentary' (Operation Weserübung at 10:29)

The entire Norwegian government including King Haakon VII fled the capital this morning for the mountains in the north.

Video: 'Hitler & Mussolini at Brenner Pass - 1940 | Today In History | 18 Mar 17'

(Monday, March 18, 1940, morning local time; during World War II) — German Führer Adolf Hitler and Italian Duce Benito Mussolini met today at the Brenner Pass in the Alps to celebrate their Pact of Steel, a military and political alliance between Italy and Germany. Continue reading Hitler and Mussolini plot war strategy at Brenner Pass 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1940) →

Video: 'The Soviets Finish a Costly Winter War - WW2 - 029 - March 16 1940'

(Wednesday, March 13, 1940, 11:00 a.m. Eastern European Time; during the Winter War, part of World War II) — The 105-day Winter War, a war between the Soviet Union (USSR) and Finland, ended today after both sides signed the Moscow Peace Treaty, which gave Russia 16,000 square miles of Finnish territory. Continue reading Winter War ends as Finland agrees to cede 16,000 square miles to Soviets 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 13 1940) →

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary) 02.Distant War (September 1939 – May 1940)' (Feb. 23, 1940, at 26:46)

(Friday, February 23, 1940; during World War II) — The Lord Mayor of London gave a luncheon party today at the Guildhall to officers and ratings of the Exeter and Ajax to celebrate their Dec. 13, 1939, victory at the Battle of the River Plate. Continue reading London acclaims naval heroes from crusiers Exeter and Ajax 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1940) →

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary) 02.Distant War (September 1939 – May 1940)' (Feb. 16, 1940, at 30:43)

(Friday, February 16, 1940, 10:20 p.m. Central European Time; part of World War II and Phoney War) — Forces of the Royal Navy seized the German steamer Altmark today in Norwegian waters and freed 299 prisoners of war whose ships were sunk by the pocket battleship Graf Spee in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Continue reading British raid Altmark in Norway waters, free 299 Spee captives 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 16 1940) →

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary) 02.Distant War (September 1939 – May 1940)' (Dec. 13, 1939, at 23:18)

(Wednesday, December 13, 1939, 6:18 a.m. local time; during the Battle of the River Plate, part of the American Theatre of World War II) — The German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee was critically damaged in a battle with the British warships Exeter, Ajax and Achilles today off the River Plate estuary in Argentina and Uruguay. Continue reading British defeat Germans in first naval battle of World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 13 1939) →

Video: 'Soviets invade Finland'

(Thursday, November 30, 1939, 6:50 a.m. Eastern European Time; during the Winter War, part of World War II) — The Winter War began this morning as Soviet troops crossed the border on the Karelian Isthmus after a half-hour artillery bombardment. Continue reading Winter War begins as Soviets invade Finland 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 30 1939) →

Video: 'the sinking of the royal oak-2009'

(Saturday, October 14, 1939, 1:04 a.m. British Summer Time; during  World War II) — German submarine U-47 today torpedoed and sank the HMS Royal Oak, a British battleship anchored at Scapa Flow in Scotland’s Orkney Islands; 833 of the more than 1,200 men aboard were killed, including Rear Admiral Henry Blagrove. Continue reading 833 men killed as German U-boat sinks HMS Royal Oak at Scapa Flow 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 14 1939) →

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Video: 'Warsaw Surrenders - 1939 | Today In History | 27 Sep 18'

(Wednesday, September 27, 1939, 12:00 p.m. Central European Time; during the Siege of Warsaw (1939), part of the Invasion of Poland during World War II) — The city of Warsaw surrendered today to forces from Nazi Germany on the 20th day of a siege that saw the Polish capital bombed and burned “into an unspeakable inferno.” Continue reading Warsaw surrenders to Nazi Germany 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 27 1939) →