Air Operations, Europe

The first daylight operation by RAF 4-engined Fortress I bombers occurs as Wilhelmshaven is bombed. These bombers are B-17C Flying Fortresses.

China

After being damaged repeatedly in previous Japanese air raids on Chungking, the British Embassy there is completely destroyed.

Diplomatic Relations

The Soviet Military Mission arrives in London.

Finnish Tank Crew, July 8, 1941

Eastern Front

In the advance on Leningrad, Hoeppner's 4th Pzr Group takes Pskov, near the southern tip of the lake of the same name, and advances northeast towards Novgorod.

The XLI Panzer Corps enters Pskov.

Commanders Discuss Operations

Field Marshal von Bock (left), General of Panzer troops Herman Hoth, and Major-General von Richthofen (with his back to the camera) confer on operations on July 8, 1941, during the initial massive thrust into Russia.

Timoshenko's counterattack fails to stop the German advance as XXXIX Panzer Corps attacks the flanks of the 20th and 22nd Armies near Vitebsk, and then becomes involved in heavy street fighting with Konev's 19th Army in Vitebsk itself. The V and VII Mechanized Corps fail to smash through at the juncture of the 2nd and 3rd Panzer Groups. the LVII Panzer Corps advances from the Dvina and the Germans take Polotsk.
SOUTHERN SECTOR

In an effort to halt the German advance toward Kiev, Kirponos commits the IX, XV, XIX and XII Mechanized Corps to a counterattack northwest of the city. However, it is stopped by the III Panzer Corps and infantry from the 6th Army.[MORE]
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Yugoslavia

The Germans and Italians formally announce their plans for the dismemberment of Yugoslavia. Croatia is to be an 'independent' nation under Tomislav II (Ajmone, Duke of Spoleto, nephew of Victor Emmanuel III). The province of Ljubljana, part of Dalmatia and some of the Adriatic islands are to be annexed by Italy. Bosnia is to be under Italian protection. Germany takes Montenegro, Carinthia and Cariola. Hungary also takes some territory between the Sava and the Mur, the part of Barania allocated to Yugoslavia in 1918, and part of the Bachkra in Serbia. Bulgaria receives part of Macedonia.