The Darkest Hour is a phrase coined by British prime minister Winston Churchill to describe the period of World War II between the fall of France in 1940 and the Nazi invasion of Russia in 1941, when the British Commonwealth stood alone. It is particularly used for the time when the UK was under threat of invasion after Dunkirk, before victory in the Battle of Britain. The darkest moment is usually considered to have been 10 May 1941, when over 1,500 civilians died in London alone. The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was an English statesman, best known as prime minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb. ... In World War II, Battle of France or Case Yellow (Fall Gelb in German) was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, executed 10 May 1940 which ended the Phony War. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Original German plan Operation Barbarossa (Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the German codename for Nazi Germanys invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that commenced on June 22, 1941. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about a Second World War battle in 1940, for the 1658 battle of the same name see Battle of the Dunes (1658) The Battle of Dunkirk (French: Bataille de Dunkerque) was a major battle during World War II which lasted from around May 26 to June 4... A major campaign of World War II, the Battle of Britain is the name for the attempt by Germanys Luftwaffe the German airforce to gain air superiority of British airspace and the Royal Air Force (RAF). ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Although the British Commonwealth was alone fighting the Germans during the period, it was not the only major force fighting the Axis. China had been engaging the Japanese since 1937, after the Japanese launched an all-out invasion. 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants National Revolutionary Army, Republic of China Imperial Japanese Army, Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Zhu De,He Yingqin Tojo Hideki, Matsui Iwane, Minami Jiro,Kesago Nakajima,Toshizo Nishio,Neiji Okamura. ...