About the day » Friday February 16, 1940Calender converter

• Hubertus Ignatius 't van Hek, Arcen († 1974)
• Hendrik Harms Mooiweer († 2017)
• Hendrika Petronella Eisses († 2018)
• Emile J. Motmans, Veulen, België († 1940)
• Henricus Jacobus Maria Toelen, Sint-Michielsgestel († 2001)
• Jan de Jong, Opsterland († 1940)
• Gustaaf DE MAEYER, Willebroek,2830,Anvers,Flandre,BELGIQUE († 1940)
• Jan Storm, Beilen,Drenthe,Niederlande,Drijber († 2021)
• Harry Robert Hans Nikken, Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, Nederland († 1954)
• Anne Maria van de Fliert, Ede († 2003)

• Alexander von Massow (70), Schloss Obernitz b. Saalfeld a.S
• Angie Nettie Friend (83), Franklin, Franklin, Nebraska, United States
• Arie van Soest (66), Delft, Nederland
• Theodorus Raes, Koewacht
• Berend Zewuster (72), Vries
• Aartje Lagrouw (65), Gouda, Zuid-Holland, Nederland
• Ariette "Etta" Ray (74), Jones, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Verenigde Staten
• Laurentius Kornelis Verburgh (70), Vlaardingen
• Carol Jean FRICK (0)
• Berend de Groot (92), Beekbergen

• 1937 » Paul Bailey, British novelist, critic, and biographer
• 1937 » Yuri Manin, Russian-German mathematician and academic
• 1938 » John Corigliano, American composer and academic
• 1939 » Adolfo Azcuna, Filipino lawyer and judge
• 1940 » Hannelore Schmatz, German mountaineer († 1979)
• 1941 » Kim Jong-il, North Korean commander and politician, 2nd Supreme Leader of North Korea († 2011)
• 1942 » Richard Williams, American tennis player and coach
• 1944 » Glyn Davies, Welsh farmer and politician
• 1944 » Richard Ford, American novelist and short story writer
• 1944 » Sigiswald Kuijken, Belgian violinist, violist, and conductor

• 1912 » Nicholas of Japan, Russian-Japanese monk and saint (b. 1836)
• 1917 » Octave Mirbeau, French journalist, novelist, and playwright ( (b. 1848)
• 1919 » Vera Kholodnaya, Ukrainian actress (b. 1893)
• 1928 » Eddie Foy Sr., American actor and dancer (b. 1856)
• 1932 » Edgar Speyer, American-English financier and philanthropist (b. 1862)
• 1932 » Ferdinand Buisson, French academic and politician, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1841)
• 1944 » Dadasaheb Phalke, Indian director, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1870)
• 1957 » Josef Hofmann, Polish-American pianist and composer (b. 1876)
• 1961 » Dazzy Vance, American baseball player (b. 1891)
• 1967 » Smiley Burnette, American singer-songwriter and actor (b. 1911)

• Koningin Wilhelmina (Huis van Oranje-Nassau) was from 1890 till 1948 sovereign of the Netherlands (also known as Koninkrijk der Nederlanden)
• In The Netherlands , there was from August 10, 1939 to September 3, 1940 the cabinet De Geer II, with Jonkheer mr. D.J. de Geer (CHU) as prime minister.
• In The Netherlands , there was from September 3, 1940 to July 27, 1941 the cabinet Gerbrandy I, with Prof. dr. P.S. Gerbrandy (ARP) as prime minister.
• The Netherlands had about 8.8 million citizens.
• April 23 » The Rhythm Club fire at a dance hall in Natchez, Mississippi, kills 198 people.
• June 5 » World War II: After a brief lull in the Battle of France, the Germans renew the offensive against the remaining French divisions south of the River Somme in Operation Fall Rot ("Case Red").
• June 22 » World War II: France is forced to sign the Second Compiègne armistice with Germany, in the same railroad car in which the Germans signed the Armistice in 1918.
• August 30 » The Second Vienna Award reassigns the territory of Northern Transylvania from Romania to Hungary.
• September 9 » Treznea Massacre in Transylvania.
• November 24 » World War II: The First Slovak Republic becomes a signatory to the Tripartite Pact, officially joining the Axis powers.

The temperature on February 16, 1940 was between -2.2 °C and 1.9 °C and averaged -0.2 °C. There was 2.0 mm of rain during 4.9 hours. The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the west-northwest.