Historical Events in December 1940

  • Dec 6 Gestapo arrest German resistance fighter/poster artist Helen Ernst
  • Dec 6 Pietro Badoglio resigns as viceroy of Ethiopia
  • Dec 7 28th CFL Grey Cup (Game 2): Toronto Balmy Beach defeats Ottawa, 12-5
  • Dec 7 North Africa: British counter offensive under general O'Connor
  • Dec 7 The first prototype Fairey Barracuda flew
  • Dec 8 1st NFL championship on national radio; Bears beat Redskins 73-0
  • Dec 9 British assault on Benghazi, Libya: first major allied offensive in North Africa
  • Dec 9 Illegal Jewish immigrants to Haifa are deported to Mauritius
  • Dec 9 South Australia all out for 47 v NSW, O'Reilly 5-11
  • Dec 10 British anti-offensive in Libya (Sidi Barrani)
  • Dec 10 1941 NFL Draft: Tom Harmon from University of Michigan first pick by Chicago Bears

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Dec 11 Russian general Georgy Zhukov warns of German assault

Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Georgy Zhukov
  • Dec 12 British troops conquer Sidi el-Barrani
  • Dec 16 British air raid on Mannheim

Sport defeatBoxing Title Fight

Dec 16 Joe Louis KOs Al McCoy in 6 for heavyweight boxing title in Chicago

Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis
Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion
Joe Louis
  • Dec 17 British troops occupy Sollum, Egypt

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Dec 20 Connie Mack acquires controlling interest in the Athletics for $42,000

Baseball Legend Connie Mack
Baseball Legend
Connie Mack
  • Dec 22 World War II: HimarĂ« is captured by the Greek army.
  • Dec 23 John Van Druten's "Old Acquaintance" premieres in NYC

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Dec 25 Bradman out 1st ball for South Australia v Victoria before 6213

Cricket Legend Donald Bradman
Cricket Legend
Donald Bradman
  • Dec 25 Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Harts "Pal Joey" premieres in NYC
  • Dec 26 1st-class cricket debut of Arthur Morris, who scores 148
  • Dec 26 JA Fields/J Chodorov's "My Sister Eileen," premieres in NYC

Film release premierFilm Release

Dec 26 "The Philadelphia Story" film directed by George Cukor, based on the Broadway play of the same name and starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, is released (Academy Awards Best Actor 1941)

Actress Katharine Hepburn
Actress
Katharine Hepburn
  • Dec 28 Cricketer Arthur Morris scores 111 in 2nd innings of 1st game after 148
  • Dec 29 Germany drops its 1st incendiary bombs on London during the Blitz
  • Dec 29 NFL Pro Bowl: Chicago Bears beats NFL All-Stars 28-14
  • Dec 30 California's 1st freeway, (Arroyo Seco Parkway), opens