List of state leaders in 1940

This is a list of heads of state, government leaders, and other rulers in the year 1940.

Africa

• Egypt
  • Monarch - Farouk I, King of Egypt (1936–1952)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Ali Mahir Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt (1939–1940)
    2. Hassan Sabry Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt (1940)
    3. Hussein Sirri Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt (1940–1942)
•  Liberia
  • President - Edwin Barclay, President of Liberia (1930–1944)
•  South Africa
  • Monarch - George VI, King of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas (1936–1952)
  • Governor-General - Sir Patrick Duncan, Governor-General of South Africa (1937–1943)
  • Prime Minister - Jan Smuts, Prime Minister of South Africa (1939–1948)

Asia

• Afghanistan
  • Monarch - Mohammed Zahir Shah, King of Afghanistan (1933–1973)
  • Prime Minister - Mohammad Hashim Khan, Prime Minister of Afghanistan (1929–1946)
• China
  • Nationalist Government
    • Head of State - Lin Sen, Chairman of the National Government of China (1931–1943)
    • Premier - Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Executive Yuan of China (1939–1945)
  • Provisional Government (puppet state of Japan)
    • merged into the Reorganized National Government on 30 March 1940
    • Head of State - Wang Kemin, Chairman of the Provisional Government of China (1937–1940)
  • Reformed Government (puppet state of Japan)
    • merged into the Reorganized National Government on 30 March 1940
    • Chairman - Liang Hongzhi, Chairman of the Reformed Government of China (1938–1940)
  • Reorganized National Government (puppet state of Japan)
    • established on 30 March 1940
    • Chairman - Wang Jingwei, Chairman of the National Government of China (1940–1944)
  •  Manchukuo (puppet state of Japan)
    • Monarch - Puyi, Emperor of Manchukuo (1932–1945)
    • Prime Minister - Zhang Jinghui, Prime Minister of Manchukuo (1935–1945)
  • Tibet (unrecognized, de facto independent country)
    • Monarch - Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai Lama (1937–present)^[1]
    • Regent - Jamphel Yeshe Gyaltsen, Reting Rinpoche (1934–1941)
• Iran
  • Monarch - Reza Shah, Shah of Iran (1925–1941)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Ahmad Matin-Daftari, Prime Minister of Iran (1939–1940)
    2. Ali Mansur, Prime Minister of Iran (1940–1941)
•  Iraq
  • Monarch - Faisal II, King of Iraq (1939–1958)
  • Regent - Prince 'Abd al-Ilah, Regent of Iraq (1939–1941)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Nuri al-Said, Prime Minister of Iraq (1938–1940)
    2. Rashid Ali al-Gaylani, Prime Minister of Iraq (1940–1941)
• Japan
  • Monarch - Hirohito, Emperor of Japan (1926–1989)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Nobuyuki Abe, Prime Minister of Japan (1939–1940)
    2. Mitsumasa Yonai, Prime Minister of Japan (1940)
    3. Prince Fumimaro Konoe, Prime Minister of Japan (1940–1941)
• Mongolia
  • Communist Party Leader -
    1. Banzarjavyn Baasanjav, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (1936–1940)
    2. Dashiin Damba, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (1940)
    3. Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (1940–1954)
  • Head of State - Gonchigiin Bumtsend, Chairman of the Presidium of the State Little Khural of Mongolia (1940–1953)
  • Premier - Khorloogiin Choibalsan, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Mongolia (1939–1952)
• Muscat and Oman
  • Monarch - Said Bin Taimur, Sultan of Muscat and Oman (1932–1970)
• Nepal
  • Monarch - Tribhuvan, King of Nepal (1911–1950)
  • Prime Minister - Juddha Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, Prime Minister of Nepal (1932–1945)
•  Saudi Arabia
  • Monarch - Ibn Saud, King of Saudi Arabia (1902–1953)^[2]
•  Thailand
  • Monarch - Ananda Mahidol, King of Thailand (1935–1946)
  • Prime Minister - Plaek Phibunsongkhram, Prime Minister of Thailand (1938–1944)
•  Turkey
  • President - İsmet İnönü, President of Turkey (1938–1950)
  • Prime Minister - Refik Saydam, Prime Minister of Turkey (1939–1942)
•  Tuva
  • Communist Party Leader - Salchak Toka, General Secretary of the Tuvan People's Revolutionary Party (1932–1944)
  • Head of State -
    1. Oyun Polat, Chairman of the Presidium of the Little Hural of Tuva (1938–1940)
    2. Khertek Anchimaa-Toka, Chairman of the Presidium of the Little Hural of Tuva (1940–1944)
  • Premier -
    1. Bair Ondar, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Tuva (1938–1940)
    2. Saryg-Dongak Chymba, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Tuva (1940–1944)
• Yemen
  • Monarch - Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din, King of Yemen (1904–1948)^[3]

Europe

• Albania (Italian protectorate under occupation)
  • Monarch - Victor Emmanuel III, King of Albania (1939–1943)
  • Viceroy - Francesco Jacomoni, Lieutenant-General of Albania (1939-1943)
  • Prime Minister - Shefqet Vërlaci, Prime Minister of Albania (1939–1941)
• Andorra
  • Monarchs -
    • French Co-Prince -
      1. Albert François Lebrun, French Co-Prince of Andorra (1932–1940)
      2. Philippe Pétain, French Co-Prince of Andorra (1940–1944)
      • Co-Prince's Representative -
        1. Jean Baptiste Laumond (1937–1940)
        2. Jules Lamastres (1940–1944)
    • Episcopal Co-Prince -
      1. Justí Guitart i Vilardebó, Episcopal Co-Prince of Andorra (1920–1940)
      2. Ricard Fornesa i Puigdemasa, Acting Episcopal Co-Prince of Andorra (1940–1943)
      • Co-Prince's Representative - Jaume Sansa Nequí (1937–1972)
  • First Syndic - Francesc Cairat Freixes, First Syndic of Andorra (1937–1960)
• Belgium (under German occupation)
  • Belgium was occupied by Germany on May 10, 1940
  • German Governor -
    1. Gerd von Rundstedt, Military Governor of Belgium and Northern France (1940)
    2. Alexander von Falkenhausen, Military Governor of Belgium and Northern France (1940–1944)
  • Monarch - Leopold III, King of the Belgians (1934–1951)^[4] (under house arrest from May)
  • Prime Minister - Hubert Pierlot, Prime Minister of Belgium (1939–1940)
  • Belgian government in exile
    • the government went into exile on May 25, 1940
    • Prime Minister - Hubert Pierlot, Prime Minister of Belgium (1939–1945)
• Bohemia and Moravia (German protectorate under occupation)
  • German Governor - Konstantin von Neurath, Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia (1939–1943)
  • President - Emil Hácha, State President of Bohemia and Moravia (1938–1945)^[5]
  • Prime Minister - Alois Eliáš, Prime Minister of Bohemia and Moravia (1939–1941)
  • Czechoslovak government-in-exile
    • recognized on July 21, 1940
    • President - Edvard Beneš, President of Czechoslovakia (1940–1945)
    • Prime Minister - Jan Šrámek, Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia (1940–1945)
• Bulgaria
  • Monarch - Boris III, Tsar of the Bulgarians (1918–1943)
  • Premier -
    1. Georgi Kyoseivanov, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria (1935–1940)
    2. Bogdan Filov, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria (1940–1943)
• Denmark (under German occupation)
  • occupied by Germany on April 9, 1940
  • Monarch - Christian X, King of Denmark (1912–1947)
  • Prime Minister - Thorvald Stauning, Prime Minister of Denmark (1929–1942)
  • German Governor - Cécil von Renthe-Fink, Reich Plenipotentiary in Denmark (1940–1942)
• Estonia
  • occupied by the Soviet Union on June 17, Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic established on July 21, incorporated into the Soviet Union on August 6, 1940
  • President -
    1. Konstantin Päts, President of Estonia (1933–1940)
    2. Johannes Vares, Acting President of Estonia (1940)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Jüri Uluots, Prime Minister of Estonia (1939–1940)
    2. Johannes Vares, Prime Minister of Estonia (1940)
• Finland
  •  Republic of Finland
    • President -
      1. Kyösti Kallio, President of Finland (1937–1940)
      2. Risto Ryti, President of Finland (1940–1944)
    • Prime Minister -
      1. Risto Ryti, Prime Minister of Finland (1939–1940)
      2. Rudolf Walden, Acting Prime Minister of Finland (1940–1941)
  • Finnish Democratic Republic (unrecognized rival government)
    • disestablished on March 12, 1940
    • Chairman - Otto Wille Kuusinen, Chairman of the People's Government of Finland (1939–1940)
• France
  • the French Third Republic was superseded by the French State on July 11, 1940
  • President -
    1. Albert François Lebrun, President of France (1932–1940)
    2. Philippe Pétain, Chief of State of France (1940–1944)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Édouard Daladier, President of the Council of Ministers of France (1938–1940)
    2. Paul Reynaud, President of the Council of Ministers of France (1940)
    3. Philippe Pétain, President of the Council of Ministers of France (1940–1942)
• Germany
  • Head of State - Adolf Hitler, Führer of Germany (1934–1945)
  • Chancellor - Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany (1933–1945)
•  Greece
  • Monarch - George II, King of the Hellenes (1935–1947)^[6]
  • Prime Minister - Ioannis Metaxas, President of the Ministerial Council of Greece (1936–1941)
• Hungary
  • Head of State - Miklós Horthy, Regent of Hungary (1920–1944)
  • Prime Minister - Count Pál Teleki, Prime Minister of Hungary (1939–1941)
• Iceland
  • Monarch - Christian X, King of Iceland (1918–1944)
  • Regent - Hermann Jónasson + Stefán Jóhann Stefánsson + Eysteinn Jónsson + Jakob Ragnar Valdimar Möller + Ólafur Thors, Regency of Iceland (1940–1941)
  • Prime Minister - Hermann Jónasson, Prime Minister of Iceland (1934–1942)
•  Ireland
  • Monarch - George VI, King of Ireland (1936–1949)
  • President - Douglas Hyde, President of Ireland (1938–1945)
  • Prime Minister - Éamon de Valera, Taoiseach of Ireland (1932–1948)
•  Italy
  • Monarch - Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy (1900–1946)
  • Prime Minister - Benito Mussolini, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy (1922–1943)
• Latvia
  • occupied by the Soviet Union on June 17, superseded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic on July 21, incorporated into the Soviet Union on August 5, 1940
  • President -
    1. Kārlis Ulmanis, President of Latvia (1936–1940)
    2. Augusts Kirhenšteins, Acting President of Latvia (1940)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Kārlis Ulmanis, Prime Minister of Latvia (1934–1940)
    2. Augusts Kirhenšteins, Prime Minister of Latvia (1940)
•  Liechtenstein
  • Monarch - Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein (1938–1989)
  • Head of Government - Josef Hoop, Head of Government of Liechtenstein (1928–1945)
• Lithuania
  • occupied by the Soviet Union on June 15, superseded by the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic on July 21, and incorporated into Soviet Union on August 3, 1940
  • President -
    1. Antanas Smetona, President of Lithuania (1926–1940)
    2. Antanas Merkys, Acting President of Lithuania (1940)
    3. Justas Paleckis, Acting President of Lithuania (1940)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Antanas Merkys, Prime Minister of Lithuania (1939–1940)
    2. Justas Paleckis, Prime Minister of Lithuania (1940)
    3. Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius, Acting Prime Minister of Lithuania (1940)
•  Luxembourg
  • occupied by Germany on May 10, and annexed in June 1940
  • Luxembourg government-in-exile
    • the government went into exile on May 10, 1940
    • Monarch - Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1919–1964)^[7]
    • Prime Minister - Pierre Dupong, President of the Government of Luxembourg (1937–1953)^[8]
•  Monaco
  • Monarch - Louis II, Prince of Monaco (1922–1949)
  • Head of Government - Émile Roblot, Minister of State of Monaco (1937–1944)
• Netherlands (under German occupation)
  • Netherlands was occupied by Germany in May and turned into Reichskommissariat Niederlande on May 29, 1940
  • German Governor -
    1. Fedor von Bock, Military governor for the Netherlands (1940)
    2. Alexander von Falkenhausen, Military governor for the Netherlands (1940)
    3. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Reich Commissioner for the occupied Dutch territories (1940–1945)
  • Dutch government-in-exile
    • the government went into exile on May 14, 1940
    • Monarch - Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands (1890–1948)^[9]
    • Prime Minister -
      1. Dirk Jan de Geer, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands (1939–1940)
      2. Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands (1940–1945)
• Norway (under German occupation)
  • Norway was occupied by Germany from April and turned into Reichskommissariat Norwegen
  • German Governor - Josef Terboven, Reich Commissioner for the occupied Norwegian territories (1940–1945)
  • Head of Government -
    1. Vidkun Quisling, Prime Minister of Norway (rival government) (1940)
    2. Ingolf Elster Christensen, Chairman of the Administrative Council of Norway (1940)
  • Norwegian government-in-exile
    • the government went into exile on June 7, 1940
    • Monarch - Haakon VII, King of Norway (1905–1957)^[10]
    • Prime Minister - Johan Nygaardsvold, Prime Minister of Norway (1935–1945)^[11]
• Poland (annexed by Germany and the Soviet Union)
  • Polish government-in-exile
    • President - Władysław Raczkiewicz, President of Poland (1939–1947)
    • Prime Minister - Władysław Sikorski, Prime Minister of Poland (1939–1943)
• Portugal
  • President - Óscar Carmona, President of Portugal (1926–1951)
  • Premier - António de Oliveira Salazar, President of the Council of Ministers of Portugal (1932–1968)
•  Romania
  • Monarch -
    1. Carol II, King of the Romanians (1930–1940)
    2. Michael I, King of the Romanians (1940–1947)
  • Premier -
    1. Gheorghe Tătărescu, President of the Council of Ministers of Romania (1939–1940)
    2. Ion Gigurtu, President of the Council of Ministers of Romania (1940)
    3. Ion Antonescu, President of the Council of Ministers of Romania (1940–1944)
•  San Marino
  • Captains Regent -
    1. Marino Michelotti and Orlando Reffi, Captains Regent of San Marino (1939–1940)
    2. Angelo Manzoni Borghesi and Filippo Mularoni, Captains Regent of San Marino (1940)
    3. Federico Gozi and Salvatore Foschi, Captains Regent of San Marino (1940–1941)
• Slovakia (partially recognized state)
  • President - Jozef Tiso, President of Slovakia (1939–1945)
  • Prime Minister - Vojtech Tuka, Prime Minister of Slovakia (1939–1944)
•  Soviet Union
  • Communist Party Leader - Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1922–1953)
  • Head of State - Mikhail Kalinin, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union (1919–1946)^[12]
  • Premier - Vyacheslav Molotov, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union (1930–1941)
• Spain
  • Head of State - Francisco Franco, Head of State of Spain (1936–1975)
  • Prime Minister - Francisco Franco, President of the Government of Spain (1938–1973)
•  Sweden
  • Monarch - Gustaf V, King of Sweden (1907–1950)
  • Prime Minister - Per Albin Hansson, Prime Minister of Sweden (1936–1946)
•   Switzerland
  • Federal Council:^[13]

    Giuseppe Motta (1911–1940), Marcel Pilet-Golaz (1928–1944, President), Rudolf Minger (1929–1940), Philipp Etter (1934–1959), Johannes Baumann (1934–1940), Hermann Obrecht (1935–1940), Ernst Wetter (1938–1943), Enrico Celio (1940–1950), Eduard von Steiger (1940–1951), Karl Kobelt (1940–1954), Walther Stampfli (1940–1947)

•  United Kingdom
  • Monarch - George VI, King of the United Kingdom (1936–1952)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1937–1940)
    2. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1940–1945)
•   Vatican City
  • Monarch - Pope Pius XII, Sovereign of Vatican City (1939–1958)
  • Governor - Marquis Camillo Serafini, Governor of Vatican City (1929–1952)
  • President of the Governorate - Cardinal Nicola Canali, President of the Governorate of Vatican City (1939–1961)
  • Holy See (sui generis subject of public international law)
    • Secretary of State - Cardinal Luigi Maglione, Cardinal Secretary of State (1939–1944)
•  Yugoslavia
  • Monarch - Peter II, King of Yugoslavia (1934–1945)^[14]
  • Regent - Prince Paul + Radenko Stanković + Ivo Perović, Regency of Yugoslavia (1934–1941)
  • Prime Minister - Dragiša Cvetković, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia (1939–1941)

North America

• Canada
  • Monarch - George VI, King of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas (1936–1952)
  • Governor General -
    1. John Buchan, Baron Tweedsmuir, Governor General of Canada (1935–1940)
    2. Sir Lyman Duff, Administrator of the Government of Canada (1940)
    3. Alexander Cambridge, Earl of Athlone, Governor General of Canada (1940–1946)
  • Prime Minister - William Lyon Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada (1935–1948)
• Costa Rica
  • President -
    1. León Cortés Castro, President of Costa Rica (1936–1940)
    2. Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia, President of Costa Rica (1940–1944)
• Cuba
  • President -
    1. Federico Laredo Brú, President of Cuba (1936–1940)
    2. Fulgencio Batista, President of Cuba (1940–1944)
  • Premier - Carlos Saladrigas Zayas, Premier of Cuba (1940–1942)
• Dominican Republic
  • De facto Head of State - Rafael Trujillo, de facto ruler of the Dominican Republic (1930–1961)
  • President -
    1. Jacinto Peynado, President of the Dominican Republic (1938–1940)
    2. Manuel de Jesús Troncoso de la Concha, President of the Dominican Republic (1940–1942)
• El Salvador
  • President - Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, President of El Salvador (1935–1944)
•  Guatemala
  • President - Jorge Ubico, President of Guatemala (1931–1944)
•  Haiti
  • President - Sténio Vincent, President of Haiti (1930–1941)
• Honduras
  • President - Tiburcio Carías Andino, President of Honduras (1933–1949)
•  Mexico
  • President -
    1. Lázaro Cárdenas, President of Mexico (1934–1940)
    2. Manuel Ávila Camacho, President of Mexico (1940–1946)
•  Nicaragua
  • President - Anastasio Somoza García, President of Nicaragua (1937–1947)
•  Panama
  • President -
    1. Augusto Samuel Boyd, Acting President of Panama (1939–1940)
    2. Arnulfo Arias, President of Panama (1940–1941)
•  United States of America
  • President - Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States (1933–1945)

Oceania

• Australia
  • Monarch - George VI, King of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas (1936–1952)
  • Governor-General - Alexander Hore-Ruthven, Baron Gowrie, Governor-General of Australia (1936–1945)
  • Prime Minister - Robert Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia (1939–1941)
• New Zealand
  • Monarch - George VI, King of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas (1936–1952)
  • Governor-General - George Monckton-Arundell, Viscount Galway, Governor-General of New Zealand (1935–1941)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Michael Joseph Savage, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1935–1940)
    2. Peter Fraser, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1940–1949)

South America

• Argentina
  • President - Roberto María Ortiz, President of Argentina (1938–1942)
• Bolivia
  • President -
    1. Carlos Quintanilla, Provisional President of Bolivia (1939–1940)
    2. Enrique Peñaranda, President of Bolivia (1940–1943)
• Brazil
  • President - Getúlio Vargas, President of Brazil (1930–1945)
• Chile
  • President - Pedro Aguirre Cerda, President of Chile (1938–1941)
• Colombia
  • President - Eduardo Santos, President of Colombia (1938–1942)
• Ecuador
  • President -
    1. Andrés Córdova, Acting President of Ecuador (1939–1940)
    2. Julio Enrique Moreno, Acting President of Ecuador (1940)
    3. Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río, President of Ecuador (1940–1944)
•  Paraguay
  • President -
    1. José Félix Estigarribia, President of Paraguay (1939–1940)
    2. Higinio Moríñigo, President of Paraguay (1940–1948)
•  Peru
  • President - Manuel Prado Ugarteche, President of Peru (1939–1945)
  • Prime Minister - Alfredo Solf y Muro, President of the council of ministers of Peru (1939–1944)
•  Uruguay
  • President - Alfredo Baldomir, President of Uruguay (1938–1943)
•  Venezuela
  • President - Eleazar López Contreras, President of Venezuela (1936–1941)

References

1. Tenzin Gyatso was only enthroned in 1950, Tibet accepted Chinese sovereignty in 1951, the Dalai Lama went into exile in 1959, and his political role in the government-in-exile ended in 2011.
2. Ibn Saud was Emir of Nejd and Hasa between 1902 and 1921, Sultan of Nejd between 1921 and 1927, King of Nejd between 1927 and 1932 additionally King of Hejaz between 1926 and 1932 (collectively referred to as King of Nejd and Hejaz), and King of Saudi Arabia from 1932.
3. Yemen only became independent in 1918.
4. German prisoner between 1940 an 1945, in exile between 1945 and 1950.
5. Hácha was President of Czechoslovakia between 1938 and 1939.
6. In exile between 1941 and 1946.
7. In exile between 1940 and 1945.
8. In exile between 1940 and 1944.
9. In exile between 1940 and 1945.
10. In exile between 1940 and 1945.
11. In exile between 1940 and 1945.
12. Kalinin was head of state of Russia (Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets) from 1919 to 1938, and head of state of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1946.
13. The seven member Swiss Federal Council is the collective head of state and the government of Switzerland. Within the Council, the President of the Swiss Confederation serves solely in a primus inter pares capacity for one year.
14. In exile from 1941.

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