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12/02/1940 |
Germany and Russia agree new trade pact, that provides for the delivery of vital war materials (grains, oil, strategic minerals) by the Russians, in return for German manufactured goods. |
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06/03/1940 |
A Finnish delegation arrives in Moscow. |
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12/06/1940 |
The Soviet Union issues an ultimatum to Lithuania, demanding that the Red Army be allowed to occupy the country. |
| 15/06/1940 |
New Russo-German frontier agreement announced. The Red Army advances across the Lithuanian border. |
| 16/06/1940 |
The Red Army occupies Latvia. Tens of thousands of "hostile' natives and their families are rounded up and deported to NKVD prison camps around the Soviet Union. Estonia is also occupied by the Soviet Union. |
| 28/06/1940 |
Following an ultimatum to the Romanian government, the Red Army occupies Bessarabia and the northern part of Bukovina. |
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05/07/1940 |
Romania announces its alignment with the Axis powers. |
| 21/07/1940 |
Hitler orders preliminary planning for invasion of Russia. |
| 23/07/1940 |
The Soviets officially absorbs Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia into the Soviet union, as per the Soviet-German non-aggression pact. |
| 28/07/1940 |
The Slovakian President and Premier meet Hitler and von Ribbentrop at Berchtesgarden. |
| 31/07/1940 |
Hitler formally announces to his military commanders that he has decided to invade Russia. |
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| 01/08/1940 |
Russian Foreign Minister Molotov reaffirms Soviet neutrality and the Russo-German pact while verbally attacking both Britain and the USA. |
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26/08/1940 |
Hitler orders an initial redeployment of two Panzer and ten Infantry divisions from western Europe to Poland in preparation for the invasion of Russia. |
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30/08/1940 |
In an effort to avert war between her allies Romania and Hungary and to secure his southern flank prior to attacking the Soviet Union, Germany and Italy under the second Vienna Award compel Romania to cede large chunks of her territory to Hungary and Bulgaria, in exchange for a German guarantee of security for the rump Romanian state. |
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| 03/09/1940 |
Romania is forced to cede Transylvania to Hungary and Dobrudja to Bulgaria under the Vienna award. |
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06/09/1940 |
King Carol of Romania abdicates the throne to his son, Michael and appoints Marshal Antonescu head of state. |
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07/10/1940 |
German troops enter Romania to ‘help restrain the Army’. |
| 12/10/1940 |
A German military mission is set up in Bucharest, Romania, for the purpose of aiding in the training of the Romanian Army. |
| 22/10/1940 |
British Ambassador in Moscow Sir Stafford Cripps tries to woo Russians with three-point co-operation plan. |
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12/11/1940 |
Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov arrives in Berlin to discuss the mutual spheres of interest, especially the presence of German troops in Finland. The talks show serious disagreements between the participants. |
| 20/11/1940 |
Hungarian Premier and Foreign Minister in Vienna agree to join Tripartite. |
| 23/11/1940 |
The Romanian leader Antonescu agrees to joins the Tripartite pact. |
| 24/11/1940 |
Slovakian Prime Minister joins the Tripartite pact in Berlin. |
| 27/11/1940 |
Romanian extremists, ‘Iron Guard’, begin a murder campaign with 64 ‘executions’. |
| 29/11/1940 |
German High Command issues draft plan for invasion of Russia. [View Battle Plan]
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| 05/12/1940 |
The German draft plan for the Invasion of Russia Operation 'Otto' is presented to Hitler. |
| 13/12/1940 |
Twenty four German divisions begin their redeployment to Romania, through Hungary as part of Directive No. 20, Hitler's order for the preparation of Operation 'Marita', the attack on Greece. |
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18/12/1940 |
Hitler issues Directive No. 18, confirming plans for Operation 'Barbarossa', [View Battle Plan] previously Operation 'Otto', the attack against the Soviet Union. The
aim of this new plan was to destroy the Red Army in western Russia, before moving against Moscow. All preparations were to be completed by the 15th May 1941. |
