Air Operations, Europe

German aircraft bomb and strafe Jersey and Guernsey. 33 people are killed and 40 injured.

Air Operations, North Africa

Marshal Italo Balbo, Governor of Libya, dies in the air above Tobruk. He was on a reconnaissance flight when his SM-79 is mistakenly shot down by Italian anti-aircraft fire.

Marshal Italo Balbo

Atlantic

The Canadian destroyer Fraser and the British cruiser Calcutta collide in the Gironde Estuary. The Fraser sinks.

Britain, Home Front

The Channel Islands are demilitarized and 26,700 civilians are evacuated.

Realizing occupation was inevitable, some islanders and many local children were evacuated just before the German invasion. They vacated their homes, businesses and schools and headed for the harbor with all the possessions they could physically carry. With very few boats available to take them to relative safety, children and Jewish inhabitants were prioritized, and set sail for the unknown. About 30,000 people of a total population of 104,000 evacuated the islands.

Lining Up to Register for Evacuation at the Jersey Town Hall

Diplomatic Relations

• Britain recognizes the Free French government of de Gaulle.
• Having no support form germany, Romania is forced to give in to Moscow, and the Red Army occupies Bessarabia and Northern Bukovino. Romanian impotene will encourage Hungary to seize northern Transylvania and Bulgaria to take the southern Dobruja, a region located between the lower Danube River and the Black Sea, during the next few weeks.

East Africa

The Battle of Moyale begins. Powerful Italian forces attack the small British garrison (King's African Rifles) on Kenya-Ethiopia border. The garrison counterattacks on July 2. There is a heavy Italian bombardment on July 9. The garrison withdraws on July 14.

Mediterranean

The Italian destroyer Espero is sunk in gallant action with 5 cruisers while carrying supplies to Tobruk.

Occupied France

Former French P.M. Reynaud is injured in a car accident near Bordeaux; his mistress, Countess de Portès is killed.

Rumania

The Rumanian government submits to the Soviet ultimatum of June 26 losing 17% of its territory and about 3.5 million people. Soviet paratroops and armored forces occupy Bessarabia and northern Bukovina.

Western Front

The Channel Islands are demilitarized and partly evacuated.