Diplomacy: Mussolini meets Hitler at Brenner in Austro-Italian Alps (their first meeting since Munich, 1938). Mussolini declares readiness to join war against Britain and France 'at the decisive hour'.

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1940

Air War: 50 RAF bombers (1 lost) attack Sylt seaplane base, northwest Germany (night March 19-20) in reprisal for Scapa Flow raid of March 16; little damage caused.

Home Front Britain: Chamberlain makes detailed statement in Commons on British plans and actions on Finland's behalf. 100,000-strong Anglo-French expeditionary force could not be sent due to refusal of entry by Norway and Sweden; but large quantities of arms, ammunition, equipment and aircraft (152) had been delivered or promised.

Picture: the port of Le Havre in March 1940. French Renault FT-17 tanks were ready for embarking on ships for Finland.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1940

Home Front France: (MAIN EVENT) Prime Minister DALADIER RESIGNS, following severe criticism of his Finland policy.

Home Front Germany: Dr. Todt appointed Minister of Armaments and War Supplies.

Sea War: German aircraft attack convoy (4 ships damaged). Goebbels boasts 9 ships totalling 42,000 t. sunk. British Admiralty describes German claims as '42,000 tons in excess of the actual facts'.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1940

Home Front France: PAUL REYNAUD FORMS NEW GOVERNMENT. Daladier appointed Minister of War.

Sea War: First German merchant ship (Heddernheim) sunk by British submarine (Ursula) in WW2, off Danish coast.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1940

Air War: RAF bombers on recce/leaflet dropping operations over the Ruhr and northwest Germany have first encounters with German night fighters. Hampden slightly damaged by Me 110.

Picture: the Handley Page Hampden I bomber was perhaps the RAF bomber that most closely followed the philosophy of the Luftwaffe bombers, like the Do17Z, He111 and Ju88. The Hampden was oustandingly manoeuvrable, but was found to be a death-trap in daylight against Bf109s.