20 February Anthony Eden resigns as Foreign Secretary in protest over Chamberlain s diplomacy on Abyssinia.

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1 February Anthony Eden resigns as Foreign Secretary in protest over Chamberlain s diplomacy on Abyssinia. 13 March Germany annexes Austria. 7 April PEP s Report on the British Press published. 7 September The Times publishes article advocating the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia to settle the Sudeten question. 15 September Chamberlain and Churchill agree in secret at Berchtesgarden to separation of Sudeten Germans from rest of Czechoslovakia. 22 September Chamberlain returns for further discussions, but Hitler ups demands on Czech territory. 24 September Chamberlain returns from Munich; intensification of civil defence measures in anticipation of war. 30 September Chamberlain returns from Germany again; Peace in our time. Daily Express: Britain will not be involved in a European war, this year or the next. The last four words appended by Beaverbrook. 1 October Duff Cooper resigns from Cabinet in protest at Munich agreement March Germany occupies the remainder of Czechoslovakia. 31 March Chamberlain draws line in the sand, promising to defend Poland if attacked. June Reuters and its owner the Press Association move into new joint headquarters. 3 July The Telegraph publishes editorial asking that Churchill be included in the Government, amid speculation in other sections of press on his inclusion. 4 August Parliament adjourned until 3 October. 24 August Parliament recalled on news of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. 25 August British support for Poland if attacked formalised. 1 September Germany invades Poland; ARP system is called into action, and the blackout begins. 3 September Britain declares war on Germany. The SS Athenia is sunk by a German U-boat. 4 September Ministry of Information formed under Lord Macmillan. 17 September Russia invades eastern Poland. 11 October First deployment of British Expeditionary Force to France is completed. 14 October The battleship Royal Oak is sunk by a German submarine at Scapa Flow. 30 November Soviet forces invade Finland. 17 December German battleship Admiral Graf Spee is sunk by three British destroyers at the Battle of the River Plate, South America. 1940

2 5 January Sir John Reith takes over as Minister of Information. 13 March Finland surrenders to Russia. 21 March The Times announces it will reduce its print run by one sixth to save newsprint. 9 April Germany begins Scandinavian campaign by attacking Denmark. 30 April Heinkel mine-layer crashes in Clacton-on-Sea. First civilian casualties of the war (two deaths), and first test of ARP services. May Newsprint Supply Company established. 7-8 May Debate on the Norwegian campaign held in Parliament; government wins vote of censure with substantially reduced majority. 10 May Chamberlain resigns, Churchill becomes Prime Minister; German army sweeps into Holland and Belgium. 12 May Duff Cooper takes over as Minister of Information. 13 May German army crosses the Meuse. 15 May German bombing attack on Rotterdam; permission given for Bomber Command to begin attacks on German territory. 20 May German army reaches the Channel, trapping British and French armies. 22 May The Emergency Powers (Defence) (No.2) Act, 1940, is passed, with increased powers to limit the press under Regulation 2D. 26 May 4 June The evacuation of Dunkirk; 224,000 British and 95,000 French troops rescued. 14 June German army enters Paris. 17 June France surrenders. De Gaulle arrives in London. 18 June Churchill: The battle of France is over. I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin. July Newsprint rationing begins; newspapers voluntarily restrict space given to advertising. 2 August Beaverbrook made Minister of Aircraft Production. 8 August Date Air Ministry would later assign as the beginning of the Battle of Britain, though probing attacks by Luftwaffe begin in early June through to July. 20 August Churchill in speech to parliament: Never in the field of conflict... 25/26 August Bomber Command attacks Berlin. 4 September Hitler announces that focus of Luftwaffe will shift from attacking fighter stations to bombing of cities. 7 September Beginning of the Blitz. 25 September British fail to take port of Dakar from Vichy French forces, prompting criticism from left press. The Times becomes the first newspaper office to be bombed in the blitz. 7 October Churchill argues in Cabinet meeting that Daily Mirror and Sunday Pictorial are publishing material designed to bring about a situation in which the country would be ready for a surrender peace. In response, Herbert Morrison defends both papers. Approach made to papers through NPA to restrain content, at Beaverbrook s suggestion. 14 November Large raid on Coventry. 1941

3 21 January The Daily Worker is closed down by the Government under Regulation 2D. 4 February Roderick Jones resigns as chairman and managing director of Reuters after suggestion that he concealed MoI influence in how Reuters made appointments. 1 May Beaverbrook ends term as Minister of Aircraft Production. 5 May Astor asks Barrington-Ward to edit The Times, Dawson to step down. 7 May Churchill wins vote of confidence. 10 May Last raid of the Blitz, as Luftwaffe moves resources towards the east. 24 May HMS Hood sunk by the Bismarck. 27 May Bismarck sunk by Royal Navy. 22 June Germany begins Operation Barbarossa against Russia. 29 June Beaverbrook made Minister of Supply. 12 July Britain and Russia sign alliance against Germany. 20 July Brendan Bracken takes over as Minister of Information. 30 September Dawson edits The Times for the last time. 1 October Barrington-Ward begins as editor of The Times. 13 October Citizen Kane released in cinemas. 17 October - Arrangements are formalised for the joint ownership of Reuters, to be held in trust by PA and NPA through equal shares. 1 December Barrington-Ward [editor of The Times]has first meeting with Churchill, along with Bracken. 7 December The Japanese attack Pearl Harbour. 8 December Japanese forces occupy Guam. Great Britain declares war on Japan. 23 December - Wake Island occupied by Japanese forces. 24 December American forces withdraw from Manila. 25 December Hong Kong surrenders to Japanese forces January Japanese forces enter Manila. 4 February Beaverbrook appointed Minister of War Production. 15 February Allied forces in Singapore surrender to Japanese. 19 February Beaverbrook dropped as Minister of War Production. 27 February Allied fleet defeated in Java Sea by Japanese Navy. 5 March - Controversial Philip Zec cartoon in published in Daily Mirror, causing War Cabinet to decide to shut paper down under Regulation 2D. Parliamentary opposition prevents this, and leads to lifting of ban on Daily Worker. 16 March Formal restrictions on advertising space in newspapers comes into force. 21 March Lift the Ban conference in support of Daily Worker held in Westminster, as part of wider campaign. 21 June Tobruk falls to Axis forces.

4 1 July Churchill survives second vote of confidence. 27 July Axis advance halted by Allies at El-Alamein. 26 August Ban on Daily Worker lifted. 2 November The Times begins to produce Stars and Stripes for American servicemen based in Europe. 4 November Allied forces push Axis into full retreat at second battle of El-Alamein. 2 December Beveridge Report published February Russian victory at the Battle of Stalingrad. 3 March - Bethnal Green station disaster. 28 November to 1 December Tehran Conference March The Times publishes article on Russian policy over Poland, sparking diplomatic argument over breach of secrecy. 16 April William Crozier, editor of the The Guardian, dies. 29 April AP Wadsworth is announced as editor of The Guardian. 6 June - Battle of Normandy begins. 29 July Correction over Times article signed by Churchill and issued to Russia. 3 August 1944 Education Act (Butler Act) given Royal Assent. 25 August - Liberation of Paris. 5 December The Times opens rift with government over policy on involvement in fighting Greek leftist forces, arguing against British intervention January Churchill castigates the British press in Parliament, to loud cheering February Yalta Conference. 30 April [?] Lumby and Barber of The Times identify Mussolini s body for American forces in Milan. 8 May VE Day 23 May Churchill disbands coalition government. 25 May Geoffrey Lloyd takes over as Minister of Information. 6 June Daily Express runs the front page headline National Socialists to describe Labour.

5 4 July Final day of election campaign. 5 July Election day. 8 July News of the World claims Churchill secures majority. 17 July (until 2 August) Potsdam Conference. 26 July Poll results released; Labour landslide victory. 6 August The atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima. 15 August VJ Day. 15 October Production of Stars and Stripes at The Times ends October Motion for establishment of commission on press discussed in House of Commons. Motion carried by 270 votes to April Members of Royal Commission on the Press appointed.