Air Operations, Carolines
Air Operations, CBIBURMA
Air Operations, EuropeRAF BOMBER COMMANDDaylight Ops:
Air Operations, Marianas
Air Operations, New Guinea
AtlanticBritish MTBs virtually destroy a convoy near Cherbourg. [ | ]ChinaBy agreement between the American Vice-President Wallace and Chiang Kai-shek a group of American observers is to be sent to the Chinese Communist army in the north of the country. [ | ]Diplomatic RelationsThe US and Britain resume diplomatic relations with Bolivia. [ | ]Eastern FrontAfter the bombardment lifts, the Russians begin their attacks in Byelorussia. The front stretches from just north of Vitebsk in a long curve past Mogilev to the Pripet River or about 350 miles. The 1st Baltic Front and 3 Belorussian Fronts fall on the German salient at Minsk, exerting intense pressure in the Vitebsk and Bobruysk sectors. Advances of up to 11 miles are claimed in the first day. The German troops are too thin on the ground to hold such a huge front. As well as their massive artillery superiority the Russians have almost complete dominance in the air to speed them on their way. They have been building such strength for some time but in recent weeks many Luftwaffe units have been transferred to fight the British and American bomber offensive. In the Finnish sector Alexei N. Krutikov's troops manage to cross the Svir. Russian Marines land behind the Finnish lines north of Lake Ladoga. Col-Gen Eduard Dietl, commander of the German forces on the Arctic front is killed in an air crash. He was 54. FINNISH SECTORThe Soviet 7th Army pursues Finnish forces to the Svir. CENTRAL SECTORThe Soviet 6th Guards and 43rd Armies smash through German lines and head for the Dvina, cutting the road west out of Vitebsk. The German VI Corps is severely mauled, and near Orsha the Soviet 5th, 11th Guards and 31st Armies pummel XXVII Corps. The Stavka moves the 5th Guards Tank Army from the reserves ready to exploit the situation. The 2nd Belorussian Front's 33rd, 49th and 50th Armies attack the German 4th Army as they aim for Orsha and Mogilev. Soon, the German XXXIX Corps is under pressure.[MORE] [ | ]ItalyAfter bitter fighting some units of the British XIII Corps enter Chiusi, but a German counterattack cuts them off. The 4th Div takes over the XIII Corps's central sector, between Vaiano and Lake Chiusi, relieving some units of the 78th Div. [ | ]MarianasOn Saipan unsuccessful attacks by the Americans on Mount Tapotchau, on the slopes of which the Japanese have set up strong points in caves. However, the Marines manage to take some heights near the mountain and to make some small progress in what has already been christened 'Death Valley'. The Japanese counterattack along this valley with tanks during the night, but are driven back. In the south of the island the 105th Inf Regt is still not able to wipe out the 500 or so Japanese defending the Point Nafutan area. The battle of Mount Tapotchau continues with attacks and counterattacks being sent in by both sides. [ | ]New GuineaMopping-up of the western caves on Biak continues; the Japanese will fight to the death. In the Sarmi area, on the mainland, the Japanese attack the American lines west of the beachhead, inflicting heavy losses on the Americans, who are only just able to hole them off. The 2 American battalions cut off in the Snaky River sector are unable to reopen the way back to their lines. [ | ]Western FrontThe outer defenses of Cherbourg are penetrated slightly in some sections but the battle continues to be intense. On the left the 60th Regt of the 9th Div takes the Flottemanville sector while the 47th completes the capture of Height 171. In the center of the Allied line the 79th Div advances in the direction of La Mare-à-Canards but is unable to take this strongpoint. On the right wing, too, the 4th Div advancing toward Tourlaville is in some difficulty. In the British sector of the Normandy front, 5th Div takes St Honorine to the northwest(ne?) of Caen. [ | ]Images from June 23, 1944
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[June 22nd - June 24th] |