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August 1940

The following events occurred in August 1940: August 1, 1940 (Thursday)Vyacheslav Molotov made a speech to the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union proudly recounting the recent annexation of the Baltic states and clearly signalling the USSR's wish to recover all the territories that had been "stolen" from it during the country's military weakness at the end of World War I.Japanese Foreign Minister Matsuoka Yosuke formally announced the concept of a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.Hitler issued Directive No. 17, declaring his intention to intensify air and sea warfare against the English in order to "establish the necessary conditions for the final conquest of England."Charles de Gaulle made a special appeal to French Canadians for their help.Born:Ram Loevy, television director and screenwriter, in Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine (d. 2025)Died:Temulji Bhicaji Nariman, 91, Indian physician and obstetricianAugust 2, 1940 (Friday)A French military court tried Charles de Gaulle in absentia for treason and sentenced him to death.The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic was established.Czech pilot Josef František joined the Royal Air Force.August 3, 1940 (Saturday)The Italian Army invaded British Somaliland.Born:Martin Sheen, actor, in Dayton, OhioDied:Willard Hershberger, 30, American baseball player (suicide); Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV, 56August 4, 1940 (Sunday)Operation Hurry ended in British success.American General John J. Pershing gave a nationwide radio broadcast urging that aid be sent to Britain.

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