The year of 1940 went much as it did historically, the Battle of Britain was still fought in the skies over Great Britain, the British people remained resilient, even through the horrors of the Blitz, and the Royal Navy continued to fight on the high seas. In North Africa the British army quickly routed the Italian forces, driving them back hundreds of miles.
Churchill remained determined to continue the war, and made several speeches the were to become famous, however one staple of his speeches were subtle references to a secret weapon that are only noticeable to historians who have studied the war.
However, there were many minor changes that would result in a very different war occurring.
May of 1940
Very little changed during the remainder of the month of May. The evacuation at Dunkirk went as it should have done, however when the numbers came in for the number of men evacuated the girls were surprised to see that it was over 400000. When they investigated this change, the girls found out that the Brigadier they met in Cassel, Nigel Somerset, was able to pull back most of his Somer Force in time for them to be evacuated. The Brigadier himself was able to catch the last boat out of Dunkirk and was met on the docks by the Prime Minister and the King.
June of 1940
The evacuation of the British and French armies from Dunkirk was a resounding success. More ships of the Royal Navy braved the English Channel, with battleships anchoring off Dunkirk to provide cover for the evacuation. The increased British naval presence provided an effective deterrent for German planes and u-boats which would have otherwise harassed the evacuation fleet.
It was during the month of June that some bigger changes happened.
The Italian declaration of war on the 10th of June had been expected by British High Command, and as a result the British forces in North and East Africa had been mobilised to attack immediately.
With subtle hints and advice from the girls, Churchill was prepared for the French surrender on the 22nd of June and had made preparations for an evacuation of any remaining French forces, and for the French fleet to be sailed from its bases to the nearest British naval base. When the French fleets arrived, they were immediately placed under the command of Admiral Darlan, Admiral of the French Fleet. His original proposal had been refused by the Admiral Darlan who was determined to keep the French fleet out of German hands. However, Churchill was advised by one of the girls who had an almost divine ability to get people to do things she wanted. A meeting between Churchill and Admiral Darlan, with Anzu present, only two days before the surrender resulted in every available French ship being sailed to a British port. This resulted in over 200 extra vessels being available to the Allies.
July 1940
The month of July was the beginning of the air battle known as the Battle of Britain. German aircraft were determined to destroy the RAF and prepare the way for a ground invasion. However, it proved ineffective. With advice from the girls Churchill had ordered the fighter groups further north, away from the southernmost air bases, in which were left decoys, so as to prevent losses on the ground. The fighter groups were still kept close enough to protect southern installations such as the radar posts.
July also unveiled the new and improved weapons and vehicles that had been designed following examination of the Senshado tanks, and with assistance from the automobile club who knew how to get the most out of every engine. With the new prototype tanks and aircraft proving a resounding success on all fronts, they were quickly put into mass production. The new vehicles also proved quicker and easier to build. In the first two weeks over 50 aircraft were produced in only one factory. By the end of August factories nationwide were building the new and improved Spitfire models. These fighters were faster and much more agile than the historical Spitfires, and were armed with faster firing machine guns, and even 2 20mm cannons in space of two Browning machine guns.
August 1940
The battle of Britain heats up, more and more German planes were being sent across the channel to destroy British forces. However the tactic still proves ineffective and German losses kept climbing. British losses were relatively small by comparison, the new fighters being deployed to the southernmost air groups first. In frustration at Goring's incompetence, Hitler ordered the bombing of southern towns and cities in an attempt to drain British morale. This did not go as planned. In retaliation to a devastating bombing of the naval port at Portsmouth, the RAF launched their own bombing raid on Germany, with bombers going so far as to reach Berlin.
September 1940
The Blitz began in earnest. Following the bombing of Berlin, Hitler ordered that British cities should be wiped off the map. German bombers blackened the sky as hundreds of them headed for London in the beginning of one of the most destructive bombing campaigns of the war. Prominent members of the British leadership, up to the King and Queen, were often seen touring the areas most heavily affected by the bombings, and despite pleading from many politicians, the Royal Family refused to leave London. It was during these tours that rumours begin to spread, when a previously unknown fair-haired girl was often seen with the heir presumptive. This new girl was often seen helping wounded, offering food and water to the homeless, and not against clambering through rubble to help find trapped people. The willingness of this girl, to help those in need, endeared her greatly to the British people. Her name was heard by a journalist and soon the name Darjeeling became a household name, on the same stage as Churchill and King George.
In mid September, the Italians attempt an invasion of Egypt, it doesn't go well and the Italians are held off, but the British don't attack.
In late September an alliance was signed between Germany, Italy and Japan. In preparation for a war with Japan, large numbers of Allied vessels were deployed to the Far East.
October 1940
The improved British tanks were circulated through the British Army and were deployed to the divisions still in the British Isles first. The training British soldiers in tank warfare is stepped up, those who had objections to being taught by girls, soon found their objections unfounded.
In late October, the Italians invaded Greece. Minimal support was sent by Britain, but the Greeks proved effective at holding of the Italian forces.
This month was the end of the Battle of Britain, after suffering extremely heavy losses Hitler ordered that German attacks be limited to a lower number of planes, and to the bombing of cities.
December 1940
The British launch a major offensive from Egypt into Libya, driving the Italian back hundreds of miles. By the next month Tobruk has fallen to the British and Australian forces.
February 1941
Worried about the British advances in North Africa, and the predicted Italian collapse, Hitler dispatched General Erwin Rommel to North Africa, with a Panzer regiment, and orders to halt the British advance. Rommel took the orders further, and began a counter attack in late March.
April 1941
Rommel's counter attack proved devastatingly successful, by April the 8th the Libya city of Tobruk, under occupation by Commonwealth forces, had been surrounded by Rommel's Afrika Korps. The speed and efficiency with which he had launched the offensive earned him the name the Desert Fox. However, because of the siege of Tobruk, he could not continue into Egypt. But there was not way for the British forces to either break out of Tobruk, or break the siege from outside.
Seeing the stalemate that had arisen in North Africa, and realising that the siege of Tobruk couldn't carry on, Churchill finally made the decision to call up the girls. He wanted the war in North Africa over as soon as possible.