On this day in 1940, British forces, along with Australian, New Zealand, and Polish troops, begin to withdraw from Greece in light of the Greek army's surrender to the Axis invaders. A total of 50,732 men are evacuated quickly over a six-day period, leaving behind weapons, trucks, and aircraft.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- Easter Rebellion begins, 1916
- American Revolution
- Phillips and Arnold launch attack on Petersburg, Virginia, 1781
- Automotive
- German endurance driver killed in crash, 1983
- Civil War
- Union issues conduct code for soldiers, 1863
- Cold War
- The Bandung Conference concludes, 1955
- Crime
- Forensic evidence is introduced in Australia, 1922
- Disaster
- Tornado flattens towns in Louisiana and Mississippi, 1908
- General Interest
- Library of Congress established, 1800
- Churchill knighted, 1953
- Hostage rescue mission ends in disaster, 1980
- Hollywood
- Jane Fonda’s first Workout video released, 1982
- Literary
- Sue Grafton is born, 1940
- Music
- Patti LaBelle makes her debut on the pop charts, sort of, 1962
- Old West
- Author Willa Cather dies, 1947
- Presidential
- Truman is briefed on Manhattan Project, 1945
- Sports
- Penguins defeat Capitals in marathon hockey game, 1996
- Vietnam War
- Westmoreland makes controversial remarks, 1967
- North Vietnamese attack South Vietnamese installations, 1971
- World War I
- The Easter Rising begins in Dublin, 1916
- World War II
- Erich Raeder, commander in chief of the German navy, is born on this day, 1876
- Britain begins its evacuation of Greece in Operation Demon, 1940
Apr 24, 1940:
Britain begins its evacuation of Greece in Operation Demon
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
This Week in History, Apr 24 - Apr 30
- Apr 24, 1876
- Erich Raeder, commander in chief of the German navy, is born on this day
- Apr 24, 1940
- Britain begins its evacuation of Greece in Operation Demon
- Apr 25, 1945
- Americans and Russians link up, cut Germany in two
- Apr 26, 1894
- Rudolf Hess is born
- Apr 27, 1941
- German forces enter Athens
- Apr 28, 1945
- Mussolini is executed
- Apr 29, 1945
- Adolf and Eva marry
- Apr 29, 1946
- International Military Tribunal indicts Hideki
- Apr 30, 1945
- Adolf Hitler commits suicide in his underground bunker
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