What Happened in June?

Donald Duck, Disney character, makes its debut in the Silly Symphony short "The Wise Little Hen"  becoming one of the most recognizable cartoon characters, known for his sailor outfit, distinctive voice, and often volatile personality.

Germany, Chancellor and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler orders a political purge intended to consolidate his power and alleviate the concerns of the German military about the role of Ernst Röhm and the Sturmabteilung (SA), the Nazis' paramilitary organization, known colloquially as "Brownshirts". The purge resulted in the killing of hundreds of Nazis whom he believed had the potential to become political enemies including Röhm.  Expand +

Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (formerly Edward VIII), married American socialite Wallis Simpson (who became Duchess of Windsor). After abdicating, Edward was made Duke of Windsor by his brother and successor, George VI. Wallis married Edward six months later, after which she was formally known as the Duchess of Windsor, but was not allowed to share her husband's style of "Royal Highness".

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is passed and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The FLSA aimed to eliminate labor conditions detrimental to the well-being of workers, to ensure a minimum standard of living and to address issues like child labor, long working hours, and low wages, particularly in the context of the Great Depression. More

The first automobile drives across the new Lake Washington Floating Bridge. (US 10 now Interstate 90). The bridge floated on hollow concrete pontoons, a highly innovative technology at that time and it was the largest floating structure ever built. The official dedication ceremonies were held on July 2, 1940. More 

Italy declares war against France and Great Britain. The Italian entry into the war widened its scope considerably in Africa and the Mediterranean Sea.

Norway surrenders to Nazi Germany, two months after Germany attacked Denmark and Norway on April 9, 1940. On that same day, Denmark surrendered and was immediately occupied. The Norwegians resisted for two additional months.

The Franco-German Armistice formally ending hostilities between France and Germany during World War II is signed. The armistice resulted in the division of France into occupied and unoccupied zones, with the French State, becoming a collaborationist government under the leadership of Marshal Philippe Pétain. Expand +

Adolf Hitler visits Paris for a celebratory tour after the armistice agreement with France came into effect. During his short three-hour visit, Hitler, along with his entourage, including architects Albert Speer and Hermann Giesler, and sculptor Arno Breker, visited significant Parisian landmarks. More

General Charles de Gaulle, then a brigadier-general, rejects the French government's decision to sign an armistice with Germany and flees to London to continue the fight against Nazi Germany.  Expand +

The island of Crete falls to German forces after a week-long battle during WWII. The battle, which began on May 20, involved intense air bombardment and airborne assaults by German paratroopers and glider troops. Despite fierce resistance from Allied troops and Cretan civilians, the Germans ultimately captured key airfields and were able to reinforce and consolidate their position.

Nazi Germany Invades the Soviet Union during the Second World War. The Invasion, named Barbarossa, was the largest land offensive in human history, with over 10 million combatants taking part. More

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Executive Order 8802 prohibiting ethnic and racial discrimination in the country’s growing defense industry including in companies, unions, and federal agencies. It also set up the Fair Employment Practice Committee. It was the first federal action, although not a law, to promote equal opportunity and prohibit employment discrimination in the United States. More

British codebreakers at Bletchley Park successfully broke the German Enigma code used on the Eastern Front. This key, codenamed "Vulture," allowed British intelligence to gain insight into German military plans and operations, which ultimately aided the Allied war effort. Winston Churchill, recognizing the value of this intelligence, instructed that the information be shared with Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union. The code breaking remained classified for decades after the war.

194The battle of Midway - Early on the morning of June 4, aircraft from four Japanese aircraft carriers attacked and severely damaged the US base on Midway. Unbeknownst to the Japanese, the US carrier forces were just to the east of the island and ready for battle. More

The residents of the village of Lidice (present-day Czech Republic) were rounded up on orders from Adolf Hitler to kill all men in Lidice, aged 16 and older in reprisal for the assassination by Czech underground fighters of Reinhard Heydrich, deputy leader of the Nazi paramilitary SS group. The women and children were taken to concentration camps or gassed, and the village of Lidice was destroyed. More

Eisenhower is appointed by Army Chief of Staff Marshall to oversee all U.S. operations in Europe. 14 days later, on June 25, 1942, Eisenhower arrived at U.S. headquarters in London and took command.

General Dwight Eisenhower, is appointed to take command of all U.S. Operations in Europe by Army Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall. Eleven days later, on June 25, 1942, Eisenhower arrived at U.S. headquarters in London and took command.

General Dwight Eisenhower arrives at U.S. headquarters in London and takes command of all U.S. operations, 14 days after being appointed to that position by Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall.

The Zoot Suit Riots - A series of race riots involving American servicemen and Mexican American youth wearing zoot suits start in Los Angeles, California. These riots are considered to be some of the worst race riots in the city's history and were fueled by racial tensions during World War II. Zoot suits, characterized by long, baggy coats and wide-legged pants. were a popular style of clothing among young Mexican Americans at the time. Servicemen, along with some white civilians, attacked Mexican American youth, often beating them and ripping off their zoot suits. The violence was widespread, targeting not only young men wearing zoot suits but also extending to other minority communities, including African Americans and Filipino Americans.