First disaster research by Samuel Prince in 1917 Halifax Harbor explosion. U.S. military funded field research teams in late 1940s-1950s. Early studies focused on acute disasters, later expanded to broader emergencies
London was attacked with V2 rocket for first time in 1944. Germany joined League of Nations in 1926. Italy surrendered to Allies in 1943. German forces began siege of Leningrad in 1941