Paris falls under German occupation and German troops march past theArc de Triomphe, following exactly the same route that the victorious French troops coming home from the First World War, 22 years previously.
Operation Aerial begins –Allied troops start to evacuate France, following Germany's takeover of Paris and most of the nation.
LuftwaffeJunkers Ju 88 bomber sinksRMS Lancastria, serving as a Britishtroopship evacuating troops and nationals from nearSaint-Nazaire, with the loss of at least 4,000 lives, immediate news of which is suppressed in the British press.
24 June –Vichy France signs armistice terms with Italy.
28 June – GeneralCharles de Gaulle is officially recognized by Britain as "Leader of allFree Frenchmen, wherever they may be."
3 July –Attack on Mers-el-Kébir: British naval units sink or seize ships of the French fleet anchored in theAlgerian ports ofMers El Kébir andOran to prevent them from falling into German hands.
4 July –Vichy France breaks off diplomatic relations with Britain.
12 September –Lascaux: 17,000-year-oldcave paintings are discovered by a group of young Frenchmen hiking through Southern France. The paintings depict animals and date to theStone Age.
24 October – Pétain meets with Hitler atMontoire and shakes his hand.
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