Home Front France: Government Decree authorizes construction of 53 warships: 2 battleships, 1 carrier, 3 cruisers, 27 destroyers and 20 submarines.

China, Sino-Japanes War: Japanese-sponsored 'Central Government of China' established at Nanking, under Wang Ching-wei, a former colleague of Chiang Kai-shek. The Government is not recognized by Western Powers.

TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1940

Air War: German aircraft raid Scapa Flow; on return flight they attack lighthouses, at Duncansby Head and Stroma Island.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1940

Air War: Sunderland flying boat disperses formation of 6 Ju88s attacking convoy in North Sea (one Ju 88 shot down; second makes crash-landing in Norway and crew are interned).
First Spitfire lost on home defence duties - while shooting down He111 off Yorkshire coast.

Sea War: (MAIN EVENT) First German Norway invasion ships sail.

Picture: German soldiers embarking ships for the invasion of Norway. There were 11 task forces for landings at Narvik, Trondheim, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Nyborg, Copenhagen and other cities. They were covered by two battlecruisers, 3 heavy and 4 light cruisers, 14 destroyers and 31 submarines.

Home Front Britain: Government reshuffle: Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield, Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, resigns. First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Churchill, to head new committee of Service Ministers. Lord Woolton becomes Minister of Food. General Sir Hugh Elles appointed National ARP Controller.

Home Front Canada: Earl of Athlone appointed Government-General in succession to Lord Tweedsmuir (John Buchan).

THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1940

Air War: RAF bombers attack German destroyers off Wilhelmshaven.

Sea War: Norwegian passenger ship Mira reaches home port after surviving numerous German air attacks during 6-day, tortuous crossing of North Sea. None of 107 passengers and crew seriously injured.

Home Front Britain: Chamberlain tells Conservative Party meeting in London that, by not taking maximum advantage of Germany's military superiority over Britain in September 1939, Hitler 'missed the bus'.
British trade with the Balkans to be fostered by new trading corporation (attempt to combat German economic penetration of the Balkans).

Home Front Germany: Goering broadcasts to German young people: Germany will strike decisive blow against Britain and France and create the world's greatest empire; German youth must behave with decency and morality 'not only in the light of day but also in the blackout !'.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1940

Sea War: First captured German merchant ship - the Uhenfels (renamed Empire Ability) - brought up river Thames.

Diplomacy: Anglo-French note to Norway: warning of possible counter-measures against flagrant German violations of Norwegian neutrality.

Picture: exercise of German soldiers in rocky terrain for the invasion of Norway.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1940

Air War: RAF Bomber Command ends its leaflet ('Operation Nickel') raids on Germany: 65 Million leaflets and propaganda 'newspapers' dropped since September 3, 1939.

Picture: loading leaflets in a RAF bomber.