Air Operations, Europe

There are two RAF 1,000-bomber raids this month on Essen and Bremen. Other targets include Emden, Osnabruck, St Nazaire, Le Havre and Dieppe. Bomber Command drops 6,950 tons of bombs, the largest total achieved until February 1943, flying 5,000 sorties and losing 240 aircraft.

This level of losses is about the average for the rest of the year. With each crew doing a tour of 30 operations and a rate of loss of about 1 in 20, the prospects for those involved are clearly not good. The normal front-line strength of the Command is about 420 aircraft, half of them Wellingtons and less than 100 Halifaxes and Lancasters. The numerical strength will remain similar for the rest of the year but quality will improve.

Battle of the Atlantic

Throughout the month there are about a dozen U-boats in the Caribbean and some more in waters off Brazil. Dönitz is hindered in his task by orders from Hitler to watch for an Allied move to take bases in the Atlantic islands. On the British side important developments include the entry into service of some aircraft fitted with Leigh lights for work in the Bay of Biscay. Some convoy escorts are now being refuelled at sea which eases routing problems since one of the previous limitations has been the restricted range of the escorts. The total Allied loss is 173 ships of 834,200 tons of which submarines sink 144 ships of 700,200 tons.(Allied Ships Lost to U-boats this month)

Air Operations, CBI

5 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack shipping and the dock area at Rangoon.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Bostons are sent to attack the Flushing docks and 2 Mosquitos to Cologne. 1 Mosquito is lost.
• In the second major effort by Bomber Command, 956 aircraft are sent to bomb Essen. This total includes 545 Wellingtons, 127 Halifaxes, 77 Stirlings, 74 Lancasters, 71 Hampdens, 33 Manchesters and 29 Whitleys. The bombing plan is similar to the recent Cologne raid except that more flares will be dropped to aid those planes later in the flight. The crews experience great difficulty in locating the target due to either ground haze or low level clouds. As a result, the bombing is very scattered. Reports from Essen say that 11 houses are destroyed and 184 damaged, mostly in the southern part of the city. 15 people are killed in Essen and 91 injured. Bombs fall in at least 11 other towns in the Ruhr. Oberhausen is especially hit hard as 83 people are killed there, 52 in Duisberg and 15 in Mülheim. RAF aicraft losses include 15 Wellingtons, 8 Halifaxes, 4 Lancasters, 1 Hampden, 1 Manchester, 1 Stirling and 1 Whitley.
• In support operations, 48 aircraft are dispatched to hit German airfields. Only 10 aircraft make attacks and 3 are lost.
• Stukas attack shipping at Murmansk.
• In reprisal for the RAF raid on Cologne, German bombers attack the English cathedral city of Canterbury.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 5th Air Force B-17s from the Bismarcks attack Rabaul. Other B-17s hit Lae and Salamaua.
• 8th Fighter Group P-39s shoot down 1 G3M 'Nell' bomber and score hits on 6 others over Port Moresby and the Port Moresby/Seven-Mile airfield between 1105 and 1150 hours.

Australia

Three Japanese pocket submarine enter Sydney harbor and attack shipping. All three are sunk but the logistics vessel HMAS Kuttabull is lost with 16 sailors. Fears are raised that the attack signals a full-scale Japanese invasion.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The US freighter West Notus (5492t) is shelled by U-404 off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina killing 4 of the men on board. 36 survivors make it in two lifeboats.
• The US freighter Illinois (5447t) is torpedoed by U-172 and loses 36 of her 38-man crew.

Burma, Politics

The Burmese Government is to be re-established at Simla, India.

Caribbean

The US freighter Knoxville City (5686t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-158 south of the Yucatan Channel losing two of her crew. 53 survivors abandon the ship in two lifeboats.

China

Japanese forces open large-scale attacks to clear the rail line between Canton and Hankow.

Diplomatic Relations

Mexico declares war on Germany, Italy and Japan.

Eastern Front

In the siege of Sevastopol the Germans use super-heavy mortars and the world's largest artillery piece, the 80-cm Dora, to bombard the fortifications. German aircraft are flying up to 18 bombing sorties per day.

Gen Hoth is appointed to command the 4th Panzer Army, which is completing its redeployment onto the northern flank of Army Group South. Gen Richard Ruoff takes over the 17th Army. In Germany the SS Panzer Corps is created. It comprises the 1st, 2nd and 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Divisions and is intended for deployment on the eastern front toward the end of the year.

Germany, Home Front

Himmler takes control of the Luftschutz, Air Raid Protection.

Gulf of Mexico

The unarmed Us freighter Hampton Roads (2689t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-106 in the Yucatan Channel losing 5 of her crew. 23 survivors are rescued by the freighter Alcoa Pathfinder.

India, Home Front

Martial law is declared in Sind following repeated outrages by the Hurs. Aircraft and paratroops are used to quell the distubances. Over the next 2 months 2,000 Hurs will be captured, 69 of them will be hanged.

Rumania's Gypsy Population Moved to Labor Camps

Air Operations, Europe

• 6 Bostons raid Dieppe and 2 Mosquitos Essen. There are no losses.
• In a follow up raid to the previous night's attempt, Essen is again the target. 195 aircraft including 97 Wellingtons, 38 Halifaxes, 27 Lancasters, 21 Stirlings and 12 Hampdens make the raid. The bombings are again widely scattered. Ground reports from Essen say only 3 high-explosive and about 300 incendiary bombs hit the city. There is no major damage or casualties reported.
• In minor operations, 6 Wellingtons raid Dieppe, 11 aircraft lay mines of Lorient and St Nazaire and 4 Hampdens make leaflet flights over France. 1 Hampden minelayer is lost.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-17s based in the Bismarcks hit the dock area and a military camp at Rabaul.

Aleutians

Kakuta's light carriers attack Dutch Harbor, but with their knowledge of Japanese intentions against Midway, the Americans are not of course distracted.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-159 torpedoes and sinks the unarmed US freighter City of Alma (5446t) about 400 miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. 10 survivors of the 36-man crew are rescued by the patrol craft YP-67.

Diplomatic Relations

Chinese Foreign Minister T. V. Soong and Cordell Hull sign a Lend-Lease agreement. The US will begin channelling large amounts of military equipment through to Chinese forces via Indian ports.

2-Pdr Anti-Tank Gun Passes a Destroyed German Tank

2-Pdr Anti-Tank Gun Passes a Destroyed German Tank

Eastern Front

In the southern sector the 11th Army begins an artillery barrage which will last for five days. This bombardment is in preparation for an assault on the fortress of Sevastopol in the Crimea by the Germans and Rumanians. Involved in the barrage are 1,300 artillery weapons including 2 60-cm 'Karl' mortars and the even more enormous 80-cm 'Dora' gun. They are also supported by the Fliegerkorps VII.

The thunderous detonation of 1,300 artillery pieces break the Crimean dawn in the hopes of breaking through the heavily defended port fortress of Sevastopol. This will not be an easy task as some of the fortress's defenses date back to the days before the Crimean War. These have now been reinforced with modern, concrete strongpoints. There are also numerous defense lines belted around the city, heavily entrenched in favorable mountainous terrain. Finally, there are heavy coastal batteries on the shores. By the end of the battle the 11th Army and the VIII Air Corps will have dropped more than half a million rounds on the port. von Manstein commits the full weight of his artillery to smashing the strongly build Soviet defenses, easing the difficult task for the infantry in the coming battle. The German forces are supplemented by the Rumanian VII Corps (10th and 19th Infantry Divs), 4th Mountain Div and 8th Cavalry Brigade. The VIII Air Corps is heavily committed on the first day of battle, flying hundreds of sorties over the burning city. Fierce artillery fire continues for a week before the main attack will be launched.

Afrika Korps 88mm Anti-Tank Gun in Action

Crew of German Supply Truck Surrenders to British Infantryman

Air Operations, CBI

6 11th Medium Bomb Group B-25s leave Dinjan, India for Kunming, China. On the way the airfield at Lashio, Burma is bombed. 3 of the 6 crash in the mountains, 1 other runs out of fuel, but its crew parachutes safely. Only 2 of the B-25s reach their new base.

Air Operations, Europe

There is a night raid on Poole, England by the Luftwaffe.

• 12 Bostons are sent to attack the Cherbourg docks and the power station at Le Havre. The results are poor at Cherbourg but good at Le Havre.
• In the first large raid on Bremen since October 1941, 170 aircraft are sent to attack. Crews report only indifferent bomb results, but reports from Bremen indicate the raid was highly successful. Housing areas are heavily hit with 6 streets being affected by serious fires. There is little damage to the U-boat construction yards or the Focke-Wulf factory, but the harbor area is hit with damage to piers, warehouses and the destroyer Z-25. 83 people are killed and 258 injured. 11 aircraft including 4 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings and 1 Manchester are lost.
• In minor operations, 4 Wellingtons raid Dieppe, 9 Blenheim Intruders to airfields, 7 aircraft lay mines in the Gironde River and off St Nazaire and 5 planes make leaflet flights to France. There are no losses.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

British air raids hit Cagliari and Sant' Antioco island in Sardinia.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-17s based in the Bismarcks hit the dock area and a military camp at Rabaul.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The US tanker M. F. Elliott (6940t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-502 off the Florida Keys losing 13 of her 38-man complement.
• The unarmed fishing boats Ben and Josephine (102t) and Aeolus (41t) are abandoned, then shelled and sunk by U-432 as they were en route to Sea Island, Nova Scotia.

East Africa

Half a brigade of British troops embarks for Madagascar to relieve the troops garrisoning the island.

France

British Commandos raid the Boulogne-La Touquet area on the coast of France.

Malta

Another batch of 31 Spitfires is flown from HMS Eagle to Malta; 27 arrive safely. The Axis air raids on the island continue with emphasis on Micabba airfield.

North Africa

Ignoring Operation LIMERICK, British 8th Army Commander Ritchie plans and assault on 'The Cauldron' in Operation ABERDEEN.[MORE]

Air Operations, CBI

2 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack Rangoon, but they themselves are attacked by Japanese fighters. 1 of the B-17s is lost and the other heavily damaged.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Bostons raid the Boulogne and Dunkirk docks with accurate bombing results. 1 Boston is lost.
• In minor operations, 20 aircraft raid Dieppe, 13 Blenheims to the Schiphol airfield and 2 aircraft make leaflet flights over France. There are no losses.

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler visits Marshal Mannerheim in Finland to offer congratulations on the Finn's 75th birthday, and to strengthen the mutual relationships between Germany and Finland. The two men meet near the quiet Finnish border town of Imatra. The meeting is not a success: at one point Hitler demands that Finnish Jews be deported; Marshal Mannerheim answers, 'over my dead body'.

Aleutian Islands

Japanese carrier-borne aircraft attack Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island, damaging an American ship and hitting gasoline tanks. American reconnaissance aircraft and bombers search all day for the Japanese fleet but without success.

Japanese Air Strike on Dutch Harbor, Alaska

Battle of Midway

Believing that the Americans will not yet have left Hawaii, 14 Japanese submarines patrol between Midway and Hawaii. The Japanese operations around Midway begin according to plan with 108 aircraft from the carrier force being sent to attack the island. The American forces on the island detect the strike on the way in and send off one of their own.

The Japanese massacre the defending fighters but in their commander's view, fail to inflict sufficient damage on the island. He signals for a second strike to be prepared. The mixed bag of aircraft attacking the Japanese carriers are also roughly handled, losing 17 of 52 and scoring no hits.

The US carriers begin searching for Nagumo at dawn and the first strikes are launched around 0800. At 0700 the Japanese begin to rearm their reserve planes for a second attack on Midway but, reports of the American Fleet, vague at first, begin to arrive during the next hour and a quarter. When the presence of an enemy carrier is finally confirmed. Nagumo is presented with a terrible problem. His decks are cluttered with aircraft, torpedoes and bombs, his defending fighters need fuel, having just finished repelling the attack from Midway, and his first strike force is shortly due to return. He decides to recover all his aircraft first and then send a coordinated strike against the American ships.

At about 0930, the first American carrier planes come into action. The American strike is badly coordinated and at this stage only the 41 torpedo bombers attack. 35 are shot down and no hits achieved. They have managed, however, to lure almost all the Japanese Zeros down to low level and the tight cruising formation of the Japanese ships has been disrupted, weakening their AA defense. Just before 1030, when the Japanese have at last organized their strike, the American dive-bombers arrive, and within 5 minutes Akagi, Kaga and Soryu, their decks packed with aircraft ready to take off, have all been fatally hit. Hiryu is at this stage undamaged and launches strikes which find and critically damage the Yorktown (CV-5).

Late in the afternoon planes from Enterprise (CV-6) and Hornet (CV-8) inflict similar damage on the Hiryu. All 4 Japanese carriers sink or are scuttled within the next 24 hours.

Torpedo Bombers Ready to Launch from Enterprise

Grumman F4F-4 Fighter Takes Off from Yorktown

Japanese Carrier Hiryu Maneuvers to Avoid Bombs

Air Operations, Europe

• 24 Bostons are sent to bomb the power stations at Le Havre and Ostend and the Morlaix airfield. All targets are bombed with no losses.
• Essen is the target as 180 aircraft including 98 Wellingtons, 33 Halifaxes, 25 Stirlings, 13 Lancasters and 11 Hampdens are sent. This raid is another failure as the bombs are scattered over a large area. Essen suffers minor property damage with 10 people being killed and 68 are injured. 12 aircraft are lost. In the total are 8 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings, 1 Halifax and 1 Lancaster.
• In minor operations, 15 planes lay mines in the Frisians and Queberon Bay and 3 make leaflet flights over France. There are no losses.

Dutch Harbor, Alaska Damage

Air Operations, New Guinea

Bismarcks-based 5th Air Force B-17s attack the Rabaul dock area.

Battle of Midway

Midway ranks on one of the most decisive victories of the war. With the lost Japanese carriers and 332 planes have gone many irreplaceable pilots. The American air losses are 147 planes. The only large carriers the Japanese have left are Shokaku and Zuikaku which are still refitting after the Coral Sea Battle. The American success is perhaps the clearest example of the whole war of a victory based on superior intelligence. The urgency with which the carriers were rushed from the Coral Sea and repaired and replenished at Pearl Harbor was based entirely on the code-breaking information. The Japanese, by contrast, produced an over-elaborate plan with their forces wastefully dispersed. Their 4 'light' carriers, for example, could carry up to 140 aircraft and the survivors from the air groups of Shokaku and Zuikaku could have brought the main force up to full strength - there was room for 50 more planes. The Japanese scouting was marred by ill-luck and poor reporting, and the timing of the American attacks in the morning was most fortunate, especially when they had not been well organized.

Japanese Carrier Hiruy

After Midway the American strategic position and the strength and quality of their forces can only improve. The Japanese have lost the initiative.

Battle of the Atlantic

The US freighter Delfina (3480t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-172 with the loss of 4 crewmen. 12 survivors are rescued by the submarine chaser PC-67 and 15 more reach Montecristi, Dominican Republic in a lifeboat.

Caribbean

The US tanker L. J. Drake (6693t) is sunk by U-68 north of Aruba, N.W.I. with the loss of all 41 on board.

Diplomatic Relations

The United States declares war on Bulgaria, Hungary and Rumania. In calling for the actions, Roosevelt says they declared war first, but 'I realize that the three Governments took this action not upon their own initiative or in response to the wishes of their own people but at the instruments of Hitler.'

Eastern Front

German forces smash Russian's outer defenses at Sevastopol.

India

A huge British convoy of men and material reaches India intact, substantially raising India's defensive capability against the Japanese.

Air Operations, Europe

• 11 Bostons are sent to bomb the Fécamp harbor but turn back because of weather.
• Emden is the target of a large raid, the first to this city since November 1941. 233 aircraft are dispatched including 124 Wellingtons, 40 Stirlings, 27 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters, 15 Hampdens and 7 Manchesters. Good bombing results are reported by the crews and this is later confirmed by photographic evidence. Reports from Emden indicate the 300 houses are destroyed and 200 seriously damaged. 17 people are killed and 49 injured. There is also some damage in the docks area. 3 Manchester, 3 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings and 1 Halifax are lost on the raid.
• In minor operations, 6 Blenheim Intruders attack airfield without a loss.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

During the night Messina is hit by British aircraft causing severe damage.

Air Operations, North Africa

Hurricane 'tank-busters' are used in Libya for the first time.

Aleutians

The Japanese successfully land a small force on Kiska Island.

Japanese Land on Kiska

Atlantic

The disguised raider Stier sinks the Panamanian tanker Stanvac Calcutta(10,200t).

Battle of Midway

At first Yamamoto thinks of closing in to try and fight a surface action, but abandons the idea and retreats on this day. Aircraft from the US carriers Enterprise (CV-6) and Hornet (CV-8) attack the Japanese force retiring from Midway. The heavy cruiser Mikuma is sunk in this attack. The American force loses the destroyer Hammann (DD-412) to a submarine torpedo. After recovering aircraft, the US force changes course eastward to refuel and breaks contact with the enemy.

US Dive Bombers Attacking the Mikuma

The Mikuma Shortly Before Sinking

Britain, Home Front

An undetected German bomb, probably dropped in May, 1941, explodes near Elephant and Castle in London. 20 people are killed and 59 injured.

Mysterious Explosion Destroys Homes

Air Operations, Europe

In minor operations, 43 aircraft are involved in laying mines and 3 on leaflet flights over France. There are no losses.

Aleutians

The Japanese successfully take Attu.

Battle of Midway

Yorktown is sunk by a Japanese submarine.

US Carrier Yorktown (CV-5) Sinking

Rescuing Yorktown's Survivors

Battle of the Atlantic

The small seaplane tender Gannet (AVP-8) is torpedoed and sunk by U-652 off Bermuda.

Caribbean

• The unarmed US freighter Edith (3382t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-159 with the loss of two of her crew. Her 29 survivors in one lifeboat and two rafts eventually reach Black River, Jamaica.
• The unarmed US freighter Suwied (3249t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-107 southeast of the Yucatan Channel. 27 or the 33 on board survive the attack.

China

Continuing their offensive in Chekiang province beginning 4 days of fierce fighting, the Japanese take the airfield at Chuhsien.

Diplomatic Relations

The US State Department warns Helsinki the US will break relations with Finland if it continues a policy of collaboration with Germany.

Eastern Front

The final assault on Sevastopol begins by von Manstein's 11th Army of German and Rumanian troops. Little progress is made initially. The threat from Sevastopol has to be eliminated before they can go on to capture the Caucasus. The Soviet Black Sea Fleet is heavily involved in bringing supplies to the town. The Russian garrison consists of 7 infantry divisions and 3 marine brigades, all badly understrength. The Germans have 9 divisions, 2 of which are Rumanian.

Activity in the other sectors is limited to minor readjusting of the lines.

After 5 days of intense artillery fire, the 11th Army begins its offensive against Sevastopol. At 0350 hours the 4 infantry divisions of the LIV Corps (22nd, 24th, 50th and 132nd Infantry Divs) attack the strongly defended Belbek Valley and heavily fortified Mackenzie Heights, while the XXX Corps launches preliminary attacks aimed at gaining ground on the main road into Sevastopol from the south. In the center the Rumanians pin down the Soviets and cover the German flanks.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Bostons bomb the Bruges port area without a loss.
• Essen is the target as 170 aircraft are sent on the raid. Included in the total are 92 Wellingtons, 42 Halifaxes, 14 Stirlings, 13 Lancasters and 9 Hampdens. Bomb loads are again scattered over a wide area as the target is not accurately identified. Only light housing damage is recorded as 13 people are killed and 42 injured. 7 Wellingtons, 7 Halifaxes, 3 Lancasters, 1 Hampden and 1 Stirling are lost.
• In minor operations, 19 aircraft raid Dieppe, 6 Blenheims on Intruder flights and 1 Stirling makes a leaflet flight. There are no losses.

Allied Planning

After the successful outcome of the Battle of Midway, Gen MacArthur proposes a limited offensive to re-take the positions lost in the Bismarck Archipelago.

Australia

Japanese submarines shell the Australian cities of Newcastle and Sydney. The bombardment is ineffectual, with little significant material damage and no casualties.

USS West Virginia Floating Again

Caribbean

The US tanker Franklin K. Lane (6589t), en route to Aruba, N.W.I. in Convoy TA-5, is torpedoed by U-502 about 35 miles northeast of Cape Blanco, Venezuela. 4 crewmen are lost in the attack. 37 that are on board are rescued by the British destroyer HMS Churchill.

Eastern Front

The LIV Corps renews its attack upon Sevastopol, supported by the VIII Air Corps and massive artillery fire. The Soviet defenses are literally blasted out of the ground by the brusing bombardment, but still progress is disappointingly slow. The first line of Soviet defenses continue to hold up the XXX Corps. Attacks continue over the next few days, the Germans slowly nibbling at the Soviet positions, taking one strong point after another in bloody close-quarters fighting.

At a Stavka session Stalin admits that it has been a mistake to downgrade the Volkhov Front and proposes to reform the front under Gen Kirill Meretskov.

Germany, Home Front

A state funeral for Heydrich is held in Berlin. Himmler eulogizes his former deputy and promises vengeance.

At 15:00 hours, Heydrich's coffin is carried into the courtyard of the Reich Chancellery for the state funeral. Hitler and 600 of Germany's leading officials and industrialists attend to pay homage to him. In addition, there is evidence that the Czech puppet government, headed by President Emil Hácha and his staff, was supporting the Nazi attitude that a great crime had been committed when Heydrich was killed. Hitler bestows upon him the German Order, the highest party and state award, It is well known that Heydrich kept files on all the leading Nazis, even on Hitler himself, and many are relieved to see him dead. However, 50,000 Czech workers march in protest in Prague on the day of the funeral, angry about the assassination. Heydrich is buried with full military honors at the Invalidenfriedhof cemetery.

Air Operations, Europe

British aircraft raid Taranto causing severe damage.

54 aircraft are involved in mine laying operations in the Frisians and off Swinemünde in the Baltic. There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Despite overcast conditions, 2 5th Air Force B-17s, 5 B-25s and 11 22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack runways and building at the airfields of Lae and Salamaua.
• In their combat debut, 35th Fighter Group P-400s, based at the Port Moresby/Twelve-Mile airfield, shoot down 5 A6M Zeros over Morobe at 1040 hours.

Allied Planning

The British and Americans appoint Combined Boards for Production and for Food. They are to meet in Washington under the supervision of Donald Nelson and Oliver Lyttleton.

Caribbean

The US freighter Merrimack (2606t) is sunk by U-107 about 60 miles north of Cozumel Island off the Honduran coast. Only 10 of the 51 men on board survive the attack.

Occupied Czechoslovakia

The mining village of Lidice is obliterated as a reprisal for the assassination of Heydrich (see May 27). All the men, 198, are killed outright. The 195 women residents are imprisoned in concentration camps and the 98 children are sent to other penal camps. On June 24 the village of Levzasky is also destroyed. Altogether the Germans murder more than 1,000 people in direct reprisals.

Eastern Front

There is a renewed German offensive in the Kharkov area.

The Volkhov Front becomes operational once again, its primary aim being the relief of the 2nd Shock Army.

Reinhard Heydrich Funeral

Air Operations, Europe

23 Bostons are sent to bomb the Lannion airfield, but only 11 reach the target and drop their bombs. 1 Boston is lost at sea.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-17s from the Bismarcks attack Rabaul.

Battle of the Atlantic

The US tanker Hagan, en route to Havana, Cuba, is torpedoed and sunk by U-157 losing 6 of those on board. 38 survivors reach the Cuban coast by lifeboat the next day.

Black Sea

A Russian supply convoy is destroyed by Ju-88s while unloading at Sevastopol.

Caribbean

• The unarmed US freighter American (4846t), en route to New Orleans, is torpedoed by U-157. 3 of the 41-man crew die in the attack, the remaining crew members are rescued by the steamship Kent.
• The British motor vessel Ardenvohr (5025t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-68 northeast of the Panama Canal without loss.

China

After 4 days' fighting the Chinese are forced to withdraw from Chuhsien.

Eastern Front

The German Army Group South makes slow progress against the Sevastopol fortifications. The fortress is defended by seven rifle divisions, one dismounted cavalry division, two brigades of infantry and three of naval rifleman, several armored battalions, one anti-tank regiment and forty-five groups of naval guns. There are 101,000 men altogether with 600 guns and 2,000 mortars. On the German side Gen von Manstein commands a force of seven divisions, plus two Rumanian divisions with outstanding artillery support including mortars and siege guns of exceptionally larger caliber.

The 1st Panzer Army and von Paulus' 6th Army drive the Russians back on a broad front east of Kharkov, capturing Volchansk and Kupyansk and reaching the Oskol River.

The Soviet 52nd Army, trying to punch a way through to the encircled 2nd Shock Army, is forced to retreat by the Luftwaffe.

The 2nd Panzer Army holds an attack by the Soviet Western Front.

The German 6th Army launches Operation WILHELM, aimed at destroying the Soviet 28th Army near Volchansk to facilitate the smooth running of the forthcoming German offensive into the Caucasus.

North Africa

Assault groups of the Afrika Korps break into the enemy positions at Bir Hacheim. During the day the Free French defenders still hold out but at night 2,700 of them are successfully evacuated leaving their wounded behind. They successfully rejoin the Allied forces. The British lavish praise on the French general whose courageous defense has forced Rommel to delay his final attack on Tobruk for so long. But it is still Rommel who has won the day.

Occupied Czechoslovakia

The SS depopulate and totally destroy the village of Lidice near Prague. Some of the inhabitants are suspected in helping the assassins of Heydrich. 173 men and boys are shot, 198 women and 98 children are deported to a concentration camp.

Air Operations, Europe

In minelaying operations, 91 planes are sent to the Frisians and off Swinemünde. 2 Lancasters, 1 Stirling and 1 Wellington are lost.

Air Operations, Pacific

American aircraft begin attacking Japanese positions on Kiska in the Aleutians.

Battle of the Atlantic

• German submarines begin mining US waters. U-87 plants 10 mines off Boston harbor. No damage is ever recorded as a result, and US authorities never knew Boston had been mined until captured German naval files were studied after the war. U-373 drops 15 mines off Delaware Bay. The German mines generally are set off with devices which render them harmless after 80 days to permit submarines to return to those areas and plant additional devices without fear of being blown up themselves.
• The unarmed US tanker F. W. Abrams (9310t), en route to New York from Aruba, blunders into a minefield off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and hits two mines. The 36 crewmen abandon ship and reach shore near Morehead City, North Carolina.

Diplomatic Relations

• The Soviets and the Canadians agree to re-open diplomatic relations.
• It is announced in Washington and London that Litvinov and Hull sign a new mutual assistance pact. Under it the Russians will be able to repay in kind the loans made to them under the Lend-Lease Act.

Germany, Armed Forces

The court martial of 26-year-old army captain Michael Kitzelmann ends in Orel. Kitzelmann, who holds the Iron Cross Second Class for bravery, has spoken out against atrocities being committed on the Eastern Front. He told his fellow officers: 'If these criminals should win I would have no wish to live any longer.' A devout Catholic, he had written in a letter, 'At home they banish the crucifixes from the schools, while here they tell us we're fighting against godless communism.' Before his execution he forgave the sergeant who had denounced him. His farewell letter stated: 'God has granted me the grace of a holy death. I go ahead of you to our heavenly homeland. Divine Redeemer, grant me a merciful judgement when I come to you. Praised be Jesus Christ?' Kitzelmann is shot later in the day.

Mediterranean

Over the next 6 days there are two major convoy operations to supply Malta. Admiral Alban Curteis leads Operation HARPOON from Gibraltar and Adm Vian Operation VIGOROUS from Alexandria, Egypt. The HARPOON force passes from Gibraltar on the 11th and has 6 merchant ships escorted by the battleship Malaya, the carriers Eagle and Argus, 4 cruisers and 17 destroyers. Several other merchantmen sail independently.

North Africa

Axis forces take Bir Hacheim capturing 100 French soldiers, mostly wounded. Rommel's forces break out from 'The Cauldron' and attack the line of ridges beween Knightsbridge and El Adem. Ritchie is compelled to fight there as he has foolishly left the bulk of his infantry still in the Gazala Line and because his massive base organization outside Tobruk is threatened.

At 1500 the 15th Panzer Div with the Trieste Div on its left flank, advance to the east of Knightsbridge, while the 90th Light Div, along with Recon Units 3 and 33, head northeast for El Adem.

Air Operations, Europe

• The Ploesti oilfields and Constanta in Rumania are bombed by 13 of 24 American Liberator bombers of HALPRO (an independent force of B-24 bombers commanded by Col Harry A. Halverson) from Fayid Airdrome in Egypt. On their way home 3 of the B-24s have to make emergency landings in Turkey, and their crews are interned.

  American B-24s That Participated in the Ploesti Raid

• A single RAF Beaufighter drops a tricolor over the Arc de Triomphe and strafes Gestapo Headquarters in Paris.
• 4 Wellingtons are sent to bomb Essen. 2 drop their bombs. There are no losses.

HM King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Meet Training Crews at Waterbeach Who Took Part in 1,000-Bomber Raids

Air Operations, CBI

1st AVG Fighter Squadron P-40s shoot down 4 Ki-27 'Nate' fighters and 5 unidentified twin-engine aircraft over Kweilin, China. The unidentified aircraft are possibly the first Ki-45 'Nick' fighters to be seen in combat.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-17s, based in the Bismarcks, attack the Rabaul/Lakunai and Rabaul/Vunakunau airfields.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-373 proceeds to the waters off the Chesapeake capes and plants 15 mines. 3 ships are sunk soon thereafter severely disrupting coastal traffic.

Caribbean

The US steamship Sixaola is torpedoed and sunk by U-159 off the coast of Panama losing 29 of her crew in the attack. The 58 surviving crew members, the 6-man armed guard unit and the 108 passengers move into 5 lifeboats and 6 rafts. The are rescued by the motor torpeod boat Niagara (PG-52), the Army tug Shasta ant the US steamship Carolinian.

China

Chinese forces abandon Kiangshan.

Eastern Front

Having checked the Russian offensive in the Kharkov area, the Germans go over to the counteroffensive. In the course of the next 3 days 3 Russian armies are crushed.

Gulf of Mexico

The US tanker Cities Service Toledo (8192t), bound for Portland, Maine with a cargo of crude oil, is torpedoed by U-158 20 miles east of Trinity Shoals Gas Buoy and explodes losing 11 of those on board. 30 survivors are rescued by the Norwegian tanker Belinda, the US tanker Gulf King and the steamship San Antonio.

Air Operations, Australia

A 49th Fighter Group P-40 downs an A6M Zero near Darwin at 1225.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-17s, based in the Bismarcks, attack the Rabaul/Lakunai and Rabaul/Vunakunau airfields.

Battle of the Atlantic

• US ships operating off the American east coast are warned: 'Recent information indicates that enemy submarines, before proceeding to United States, are loading mines.' Navy intelligence has also learned that the Germans had secretly advised the government of Chile to keep its ships away from New York since Germany intends to mine the harbor. As it turned out, 2 U-boats carrying 66 mines to be floated in New York waters were sunk in the North Atlantic while en route.
• The German submarine U-157 is sunk by the Coast Guard cutter Thetis (PC-115) north of Cuba.

U-157

Caribbean

The US freighter Solon Thurman is torpedoed and sunk by U-159 off the Panama Canal Zone. The 53 men on board abandon ship.

Mediterranean

In another Malta re-supply attempt, Operation VIGOROUS is even less successful than Operation HARPOON. Adm Vian has received reinforcements from the Eastern Fleet, so he can lead 8 cruisers and 26 destroyers to cover the 11 merchant ships. He sets sail on the 13th.

Eastern Front

The slow German advance at Sevastopol begins to make headway as Fort Stalin falls to the 22nd Infantry Division of the LIV Corps after a furious battle.

Fallen Soviet Soldiers near Kerch

North Africa

Since the supply lines of XIII Corps are being threatened, the South African and British infantry begin to pull out of the Gazala Line and the Guards abandon Knightsbridge. The Guards fall back to Acroma. Despite Ultra knowledge that Rommel was primed for defense against an attack, Lt-Gen Sir Neil Ritchie orders about 300 of his tanks headlong into an ambush near El Adem. The Germans are waiting with 88-mm cannons and within a few hours knock out most of the British armor. In what is known as 'Black Saturday', the 8th Army loses 138 tanks before noon and have only 75 tanks operational by dusk.

Air Operations, Australia

49th Fighter Group P-40s down 4 A6M Zeros in the Darwin area at 1330 hours.

Allied Preparations

Advance units of the 1st US Marine Div lands in New Zealand.

Caribbean

• The US bulk carrier Lebore (8289t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-172 about 200 miles north of the Canal Zone.
• The US freighter Scottsburg (8001t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-161 losing 5 men in the attack.

Italy, Preparations

The Roma, the newest and last Italian battleship, is completed at Trieste. She will join the fleet in November 1942.

Japan, Planning

The Imperial General Staff determines to invade New Caledonia, Samoa and Fiji.

Mediterranean

• The first air attacks, by German and Italian forces, hit the ships involved in Operation HARPOON. 1 merchantman is sunk and 1 cruiser is hit.
• During the night Axis torpedo boats attack the ships of Operation VIGOROUS and damage a cruiser and sink a destroyer.

North Africa

Gen Ritchie orders the most advanced divisions of XIII Corps, the South African 1st and the British 50th to fall back. With the loss of El Adem and the loss of so many tanks, their positions have become too exposed. The two divisions pull back to the Egpytian frontier, the former along the coast road and the latter inland. The Germans and Italians attack towards Acroma, but make little progress in spite of the numerical superiority of their armor. Auchinleck says, 'Although I have made it clear to you that Tobruk must not be invested, I realize that its garrison may be isolated for short periods until out winter offensive can be launched.' General Headquarters in Cairo may not know the true condition of the 8th Army.

Air Operations, Australia

49th Fighter Group P-40s down 7 A6M Zeros and damage 3 G3M 'Nell' bombers in the Darwin area at 1230 hours.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

During the morning, 7 Egyptian-based HALPRO B-24s and 2 RAF Liberators attack Italian Navy units that are attempting to intercept a British supply convoy bound for Malta. The bombers attack the warship with 500-pound bombs and score a direct hit on the battleship Littorio. The Italian force withdraws from the area.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-552 sinks 5 ships from convoy HG-84.
• The first US ship is lost as a result of German mines dropped by U-boats off the east coast. The SS Robert C. Tuttle, an 11,000-ton tanker en route to Philadelphia from Key West, hits a mine, explodes and is run ashore at Virginia Beach.

  Spectators at Virginia Beach Witness Exploding Mines

• The British anti-submarine trawler Kingston Ceylonite (448t), on loan to the US Navy, sinks on a mine in the Chesapeake Bay with the loss of 20 of her crew.
• The US tanker Cherokee (5896t), in Convoy XB-25, is torpedoed and sunk by U-87 about 50 miles east of Boston, Massachusetts. 65 of the 103-man crew, 1 of the 11-man armed guard, and 20 of the 46 passengers die in the attack. Survivors are rescued by the freighter Norlago and the coast guard cutter Escanaba (WPG-77).

Britain, Home Front

Unemployment is Britain is now below 100,000.

Caribbean

• The US freighter West Hardaway (5702t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-502 northwest of Trinidad without loss. All hands abandon ship.
• The unarmed US freighter Arkansan (6997t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-126 west of Grenada with the loss of 4 of the 40-man crew.

Eastern Front

The 6th Army completes its attack in the Volchansk area. The 28th Army has been comprehensively defeated and has retreated across the Donets. The fighting attracts the attention of the Bryansk Front, which reports to the Stavka that is is detecting a significant build up of German forces in the Kolpina, Shchigra and Kursk areas. The Stavka accepts this information but interprets it as a German attempt to draw attention away from the main attack that they expect in the Yukhnow and Orel sectors.

North Africa

Early in the day part of 15th Panzer Div blocks the main road east of Tobruk just a little too late to catch the South African Div. In the evening the main body of 21st Panzer reaches Sidi Rezegh. Rommel reports that he has won the battle against the British 8th Army and his only remaining objective is to take Tobruk.

The 29th Brigade of the 5th Indian Div drives off attacks by German and Italian troops with tank and air support in the area of El Adem. Maj-Gen Henrik B. Klopper, commanding the 2nd South African Div, is given the command of the Tobruk fortress, with the task of defending it to the last man.[MORE]

Air Operations, Australia

49th Fighter Group P-40s down 1 A6M Zero and 1 3 G3M 'Nell' bomber in the Darwin area at 1300 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

• 106 aircraft are dispatched to bomb Essen. In the total are 40 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 15 Lancasters and 12 Stirlings. Only 16 crews report they identified Essen. 56 planes bomb alternate target, 45 of which hit Bonn. Only 3 high-explosive bombs and about 400 incendiaries hit in Essen. 1 person is injured. 4 Halifaxes, 3 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling are lost.
• In minor operations, 12 Hampdens lay mines off Lorient and 9 aircraft make leaflet flights over France. There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 3 5th Air Force B-17s, 9 B-25s and 10 22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack runways and buildings on the airfields at Lae and Salamaua.
• 35th Fighter Group P-400s shoot down 2 A6M Zeros over Maiama at 1425 hours.

Caribbean

The US freighter Kahuku (6062t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-126 losing 18 of the men on board. Coastal yacht Opal (PYC-8) and district patrol vessel YP-63 rescue the 91 survivors.

Diplomatic Relations

Evidently reassured by Gen Auchinleck's optimistic despatch, Winston Churchill leaves for Washington to review the military situation on the various fronts with Pres Roosevelt.

North Africa

The British send four infantry brigades, with artillery and armored units, to man the Tobruk fortress. The rest of the British 8th Army continues in action against heavy Axis pressure. A German-Italian armored column makes for Sidi Rezegh and creates a diversion against El Adem. British troops withdraw from El Adem, finally conceding any chance of forming a front west of Tobruk.[MORE]

Mediterranean

Throughout Operation HARPOON there are many air attacks and the total casualties include 2 destroyers and 3 merchant ships sunk and 4 of the escorts damaged. 2 merchant ships reach Malta.

With the ships involved in Operation VIGOROUS there is a further loss when the British light cruiser Hermione is sunk by U-205 south of Crete. 87 are lost on the cruiser, 440 survivors are picked up by escorting destroyers and taken to Alexandria.

Air Operations, Europe

In minor operations, 27 Stirlings and Wellingtons are sent to bomb St Nazaire. Because of bad weather only 6 drop their bombs. 46 aircraft are involved in mine-laying operations off St Nazaire and in the Frisians and 2 Stirlings make leaflet flights. There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

A 35th Fighter Group P-400 shoots down a Japanese Navy bomber 50 miles northeast of Port Moresby at 0950 hours.

The Manhattan Project Begins

Atlantic

The British destroyer Wild Swan is damaged by German bombers south of Ireland. She shoots down 6 of the bombers but is crippled and finally sinks after colliding with a Spanish trawler. 31 of her crew are lost.

Battle of the Atlantic

• A US ship carrying 11,000 tons of coal is sunk by a German mine outside Hampton Roads, Virginia. 3 crewmen of the SS Santore (7117t) are killed.
• The US freighter Millinocket (3274t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-129 off the north coast of Cuba with the loss of 11 men of the 35 on board.

Diplomatic Relations

Churchill makes a 27-hour non-stop flight from Stranraer, Scotland to Washington to confer with Roosevelt.

Eastern Front

In the Crimea the Germans and Rumanians in the Sevastopol siege storm the 'Siberia' fortress, an important strong point in the defensive perimeter.

The 29th Tank Brigade punches a 400-yard corridor through to the 2nd Shock Army at Myasnoi Bor. The men of the 2nd Shock rush for the slender lifeline in a desperate bid to escape the pocket. German fire inflicts massive casualties upon the tightly massed ranks of Soviets.

The LIV Corps takes Fort Siberia after a fierce battle. German troops have to wipe out each pocket of resistance with artillery fire and flamethrowers, the Soviets fighting to the last man. The LIV Corps has driven a deep wedge into the Soviet secondary defense line. The XXX Corps' 72nd Infantry Division captures the heavily defended North Nose, Chapel Mount and Ruin Hill strong points, and its 170th Infantry Division takes Kamary. The 28th Light Division encounters particularly strong resistance as it attempts to advance along the Crimean coast.

Vessels of the Black Sea Fleet try to bring reinforcements in, landing 3,000 soldiers together with ammunition, but this is not enough to replace the heavy losses of the past few days.

Air Operations, Europe

• 3 Mosquitos are sent to bomb Bremen and Bremerhaven but bomb Wilhelmshaven and the island of Langeoog instead with no losses.
• In minor operations, 65 aircraft lay mines off Lorient and in the Frisians. 1 Hampden is lost.

Air Operations, New Guinea

A 35th Fighter Group P-400 shoots down 2 A6M Zeros near Port Moresby at 1157 hours.

Allied Planning

Churchill arrives in the USA for talks with President Roosevelt and his advisers. There is much discussion of the plans for a Second Front, but it is becoming clear that the conditions for Operation SLEDGEHAMMER (the Second Front in France in 1942) are going to be impossible to meet. This is confirmed during July. Churchill raises the possibility for an attack on French North Africa, to be known at first as GYMNAST and later as TORCH with the president (See July 22).

Atomic Research

The Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb is started.

Soviet Prisoners of War

Battle of the Atlantic

The US freighter Seattle Spirit (5627t) is torpedoed by U-124 with the loss of 4 of her 37-man crew. 33 crewmen, 11 men of the Armed Guard and 7 passengers are rescued by the steamship Perth and the Canadian corvette HMCS Agassiz.

Czechoslovakia, Resistance

The Czech Orthodox Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague is where the Czech assasins of Heydrich and their helpers have taken sanctuary. The chaplain Vladimir Petrek hid them in the crypt under the floor. Here, members of the Czech Fire Brigade have had to pump water into the crypt in an attempt to flush out their countrymen after they had been engaged in a heroic battle against SS units. The remaining parachutists take their own lives with their last rounds of ammunition.

Eastern Front

Reinforced by elements of the 17th Army the German 11th Army at Sevastopol takes the 'Maxim Gorki' fort after eleven days of bloody fighting and reaches North Bay. The Germans are now two miles from the harbor and have knocked out all but one of the fortifications defending Sevastopol.

The disaster on the Volkhov runs its course as the Germans counterattacked and isolate the 2nd Shock Army again.

Fortress Maxim Gorki falls to the LIV Corps as the Sevastopol defenses crumble. During the day the Germans also take the Gepau, Molotov, Cheka, Volga and Ural Fortresses.

Caves Around Sebastopol

Air Operations, Europe

• 194 aircraft including 112 Wellingtons, 37 Halifaxes, 25 Stirlings, 11 Hampdens and 9 Lancasters are sent to bomb Emden. 131 crews claim they bomb Emden, but photographic evidence show that part of the flare force started a raid on Osnabrück, 80 miles from Emden. 29 other aircraft join in that raid. Emded reports only 5 high-explosive bombs and between 200-300 incendiaries hit with no damage or casualties. 9 planes are lost including 6 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings and 1 Halifax are lost.
• In minor operations, 6 Blenheim Intruders are in action and 5 planes make leaflet flights over France.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-17s from the Bismarcks attack the Rabaul/Vunakanau airfield and shipping in the Rabaul harbor.

Battle of the Atlantic

The district patrol craft YP-389 )170t) is sunk by U-701 about 6 miles northeast of Buoy No. 4, Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Caribbean

The US schooner Cheerio (35t) is shelled by U-161 about 8 miles southeast of Mona Islana, Puerto Rico. The attack is interrupted by a patrol plane, but the damages is such that the crew abandon ship. They are rescued by Coast Guart cutter CG-459.

Eastern Front

Plans for the German offensive into the Caucasus, codenamed BLUE, are captured by the Soviets when an aircraft carrying a staff officer of the 23rd Panzer Div, Maj Reichel, is forced down. Reichel has in his possession a complete set of plans for the part XL Panzer Corps will play in Operation BLUE. The plans are forwarded to the Stavka in Moscow, but Stalin comes to the conclusion that they are phoney and a German ploy: the Nazis want the Soviets to find them in order to throw them off the trail of the impending Moscow attack. This is truly a stroke of luck for Hitler.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Bostons attack the power station at Le Havre and 2 Mosquitos bomb Emden without loss.
• Emden is the target as 185 aircraft of 5 types are sent. Only part of the force identify and bomb Emden. About 100 houses are damaged and 1 person is injured. 3 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings, 1 Halifax and 1 Lancaster are lost on the raid.
• In minor operations, 5 Blenheims are on Intruder flights and 3 aircraft make leaflet flights over France.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-17s attack the airfield at Lae.

Allied Planning

Churchill and Roosevelt agree on an invasion of northwest Africa.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The last of 8 groups of U-boats dispatched to the American East Coast since January fail to find 'worthwhile targets', i.e. ships sailing independently without adequate escort. 2 U-boats are sunk and, on July 19, the remainder are ordered away.
• The US freighter West Ira (5689t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-128 about 120 miles southeast of Barbados with the loss of 1 of the 48-man crew. The survivors are rescued between 3 and 5 days later.

Eastern Front

At Sevastopol amid bitter fighting the 'Lenin' fort is taken by the Germans and the Rumanians. They reach the southern bank of the Sevastopol Harbor.

North Africa

Rommel's attack on Tobruk begins with fierce dive-bomber attacks at 5:30am. The tanks go into action at 7:00am and advance over a mile inside the perimeter. The Italian XX Corps attacks towards the southwest. The British tanks and artillery are wiped out. Gen Klopper has authorization to leave the fortress, but he can't since the enemy troops have succeeded in cutting him off from the harbor. The British 7th Armored Div tries to break through to the troops that have been cut off, but is unable to reach them in time. At 7:00pm the tanks of the German 21st Panzer Div enter Tobruk.[MORE]

Air Operations, Europe

The Luftwaffe makes a night raid on Southampton.

• 12 Bostons attack a cargo ship in Dunkirk harbor. All bombs miss the ship, but do hit railway lines near the ship. No planes are lost.
• In minor operations, 56 aircraft lay mines off St Nazaire and 2 make leaflet flights over France. 1 Wellington minelayer is lost.

Air Operations, Libya

During the night, 9 HALPRO B-24s attack the harbor at Benghazi after the target is illuminated by RAF bombers carrying flares and indendiary bombs.

Axis Planning

Mussolini writes to Hitler to ask for a decision on the invasion of Malta: 'It is my opinion, and surely yours too, that we must consolidate and build up on the successes achieved. Central to our strategic picture lies the problem of Malta on which we have in the past taken decisions of which you are aware. To maintain the positions we have gained in Marmarica, and to provide for future requirements, we must be able to provide the necessary transport. The occupation of Malta would not only solve the problem of sea traffic in the Mediterranean but also make our air forces available in other fields.' Together with this message Mussolini submits to his ally a problem that the Italian command has been studying for a long time, and for which they have been making operational preparations - the project (Operation C3) for a landing in Malta. Behind this project are the Italian Chief of Staff, Gen Ugo Cavallero, and the German Field-Marshal Albert Kesselring. These two senior officers have recognized how important the island can be in the overall picture of the Mediterranean war, not least in its contribution to Rommel's African campaign. Their plan has been worked out down to the minutest detail, and now the troops of the invasion force, after a meticulous rehearsal on the cliffs south of Leghorn (which are similar in form to those in Malta) have been transferred to Sicily and, since April, have been waiting for the order to go.

Some of the Allied Prisoners from the Tobruk Garrison

But Rommel wants priority. He asks for and receives authority from Hitler to attack Tobruk first. The Italians have to be content with a formal undertaking that, once the African fortress is taken, Rommel will stop and consider the possibility of carrying out the landing. Once Tobruk falls, Rommel tells Hitler he has no intention of stopping. He will go on to Suez and hopes the Italians will follow him. Hitler, always susceptible to the fascination of Rommel, and carried away by the grandeur of the plan, finally opts in Rommel's favor.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British submarine P-514 is sunk by the Canadian corvette Georgian off St John's, Newfoundland when receiving no reply to its identification challenge. There are no survivors.

Eastern Front

With the defeat of the last defenders of the 'Maxim Gorki' fort, the 24th Infantry Division of the LIV Corps secure the Severnaya Bay area. The battle then enters its final stage as the Germans prepare to attack the final ring of defenses before the city itself.

Mediterranean

• The German steamer Reichenfels (7744t) is sunk by a British torpedo bomber east of Sfax, Tunisia.
• The South African minesweeping trawler Parktown is sunk by an Italian motor torpedo boat off Tobruk with the loss of 1 of her crew.

North Africa

At 2:00am Gen Klopper, commander of the Tobruk fortress, tells Gen Ritchie that he will fight 'to the last man and the last round'. At 6:00am Gen Klopper asks Gen Ritchie for permission to surrender. At 8:00am Klopper sends officers forward with a white flag to ask Rommel for surrender terms. The garrison of Tobruk surrenders to the Germans and Italians. In addition to Klopper are five other generals and brigadiers among the 30,000 prisoners from the 2nd South African Div, the 29th Indian Brigade and two battalions of the Guards.

German Fighter in North Africa

British Surrender Tobruk

Air Operations - CBI

Capt Albert J. Baumler, a 10th Air Force staff officer, downs a Ki-27 'Nate' fighter over Changsha, China, the 10th Air Force's first aerial victory of the war.

Air Operations - Europe

• 12 Bostons are dispatched to Dunkirk. 6 planes hit the dock area and 6 bomb a nearby airfield. There are no losses.
• 227 aircraft are sent to bomb Emden. Included in this total are 144 Wellingtons, 38 Stirlings, 26 Halifaxes, 11 Lancasters and 8 Hampdens. 196 crews claim good bombing results, but it is believed decoy fires drew many of the bombloads. Reports from the ground say 50 houses are destroyed and another 100 damaged. 6 people are killed and 40 injured. 4 Wellingtons, 1 Lancaster and 1 Stirling are lost.
• In minor operations, 10 Blenheims are on intruder flights and 2 Stirlings make leaflet flights over France. There are no losses.

Caribbean

The unarmed US tanker E. J. Sadler (9639t) is shelled by U-159 about 175 miles south of the Windward Passage and abandoned. After the 36 survivors take to their lifeboats, a boarding party form the U-boat sink the tanker with demolition charges.

Diplomatic Relations

Maxim Litvinov, Soviet Ambassador to the US, demands the immediate launching of a 'Second Front' during a speech in New York.

Eastern Front

On the anniversary of the German invasion the Sovinformbureau publishes a Review of the First Year of the War which compares the losses by the two sides. Dead, wounded and prisoners: Germany, about 10 million; USSR, 4-5 million; Guns lost: Germany, 30,500; USSR, 22,000; Tanks: Germany, over 24,000; USSR, 15,000; Aircraft: Germany, over 20,000; USSR, 9,000.

Since published by the Russians, these highly improbable figures have not been repeated in any of the histories of the Second World War. The official figures given by the Germans for their losses during the same period are just as improble: 271,612 dead and 63,730 missing. The figures for German losses the Gen Halder put in his diary are more convincing. The statistics for dead, wounded and prisoners, not counting the sick, were up to February 15, 1942 946,000; to May 10, 1,183,000; to May 20, 1,215,000; to June 10, 1,268,000; to June 30, 1,362,000. By September 10, 1942 German losses in dead, wounded and prisoners are put at 1,637,000 as a result of the campaign preceding the Battle of Stalingrad.

Russian figures for human losses must certainly be greater. Those for material losses may have been 'inflated' to stimulate the war industries to maximum production and perhaps also to get more substantial help from their Western Allies.

Hitler issues Directive No. 41 which defines the objectives for the summer campaign: liquidation of the Russians in the Crimea, capture of Voronezh so as to threaten both the central sector of the front and also Stalingrad; encirclement and elimination of the Soviet forces in the great bend of the Don, attacking from Voronezh in the north and Taganrog in the south. With the road to Stalingrad open, the capture or destruction of that city; a wheel south to the Caucasus to capture the Maykop, Grozny and Baku oilfields, bringing the Germans to the Turkish frontier, which may induce the Turks to line up with the Axis. A new effort to liquidate Leningrad is also planned.

The campaign does not go according to plan. The Russians hold up the Germans at Voronezh, but give way quickly at Rostov. Hitler is induced to make some far-reaching changes in his strategy. For example, he wants to carry out the taking of Stalingrad and the conquest of the Caucasus at the same time. As Zhukov will later say, this was a monstrous error, pregnant with disastrous consequences for the Wehrmacht.

Army Group South opens a limited offensive in the Izyum sector to improve German positions east of the Donetz in preparation for the great offensive that is to be launched as soon as Sevastopol is taken. The struggle for Sevastopol becomes more intense The last of the Russian fortifications around Sevastopol is knocked out by the Germans.

The 6th Army and the 1st Panzer Army begin another limited operation to destroy the 38th and 9th Armies around Kupyansk.

Army Group South is now ready to launch Operation BLUE. Its order of battle is as follows: 6th Army (330,000 troops and 300 tanks and assault guns); 2nd Army (95,000 troops); 17th Army (150,000 troops and 180 tanks and assault guns); 1st Panzer Army (200,000 troops and 480 tanks). The Hungarian 2nd and Italian 8th Armies, at present in transit, will also support the offensive. Luftwaffe support totals 2,690 aircraft.

Air Operations, CBI

A 10th Air Force P-40 shoots down a Ki-27 'Nate' fighter near changsha, China during the afternoon. Also during the afternoon, AVG P-40s down 3 Ki-27s near Kweilin, China.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Bostons are sent to bomb Dunkirk and 6 to the Morlaix airfield. Accurate bombing results are believed to have been achieved. There are no losses.
• In minor operations, 14 Wellingtons and Stirlings are sent to St Nazaire. Only 3 crews find and bomb the target. 52 planes lay mines off Lorient, Verdon and St Nazaire and in the Frisians. 2 Wellingtons are lost. 1 Lancaster makes a leaflet flight.

Air Operations, Libya

During the night 10 HALPRO B-24s attack the harbor area at Benghazi.

Air Operations, North Africa

Heavy bombers of the US 10th Air Force are ordered from India to Egypt to support the British 8th Army.

Eastern Front

In the siege at Sevastopol, the Russians withdraw form the northern shore of North Bay.

The Germans compress the 2nd Shock Army into a smaller area, bringing it under heavy artiller fire.

Secret War

The RAF captures a Focke-Wulf 190, the latest German piston-engined fighter, which the pilot lands by mistake at Pembrey, Wales.

North Africa

The Axis forces are prepared for another drive forward. Their advance units run into the 7th Armored Div of the British XIII Corps near Sollum, already in Egyptian territory. In view of the critical situation in this theater of operations 24 American B-17 bombers are diverted from China to Khartoum. 8th Army meanwhile is continuing its withdrawal to Mersa Matruh but in considerable confusion.

Air Operations, Europe

• Stukas attack shipping at Murmansk.
• The first of 4 attempted night raids by the Luftwaffe on Birmingham during 1942. Only 2 find the target, the raids on the nights of July 27 and July 29.

21 aircraft are sent to bomb St Nazaire. There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-17s from the Bismarcks attack the Rabaul/Vunakanau airfield with general-purpose and incendiary bombs.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The unarmed tug John R. Williams (396t), bount for Cape May, New Jersey, is sunk by a mine laid by U-373 on 11 June. Only 4 men of the 18-man crew survive. They are picked up by district patrol craft YP-334 and taken to Lewes, Delaware.
• The US freighter Manuela (4774t) is torpedoed by U-404 and abandoned. 3 of the 36-man crew die in the attack. Survivors are rescued by the British armed trawler HMS Norwich City and the Coast Guard cutter CG-483.

Eastern Front

Troops of Army Group South secure their positions east of the Donets River and reaches the line of the Oskol River, the objective set for it by the headquarters in the Izyum area. The battle at Sevastopol still rages, but the end is in sight.

Gen Andrey Vlasov orders the break out of his army. Small bands of men try to fight their way east but 2nd Shock has shot its bolt and organized resistance ends. During the confused fighting, Vlasov surrenders. In later years Vlasov will be the main impetus behind the formation of a free Soviet army to fight for the overthrow of Stalin and his regime.

North Africa

Rommel launches his assault on Egypt, sending his armored columns east and northeast, 50 miles into Egypt, and throwing the British rearguards into confusion in the area of Sidi Barrani. The X Corps, which has only just arrived in Egypt from Syria, relieves the XIII Corps, which is sent to El Alamein to set up a new defense line.

Air Operations, Europe

There is a 'thousand-bomber' raid on Bremen by the RAF. 1,006 aircraft are sent which include 272 bomber/trainers and 102 Coastal Command machines. 49 are lost. This is the first successful test of 'Gee' blind-bombing equipment against a major target. The Focke-Wulf works are badly damaged and 27 acres of the business district are destroyed. This is the last such raid at this time. The training squadrons must return to normal duty if the future of Bomber Command is not to be seriously disrupted.

• Another major bombing effort is made by Bomber Command. 960 aircraft of all types are sent to hit Bremen. The total includes 472 Wellingtons, 124 Halifaxes, 96 Lancasters, 69 Stirlings, 51 Blenheims, 50 Hampdens, 50 Whitleys, 24 Bostons, 20 Manchesters and 4 Mosquitos. Also added to the force are 102 Wellingtons and Hudsons of Coastal Command and 5 aircraft from the Army Co-Operation Command making a grand total of 1,067 aircraft. Parts of the force are given specific targets. 142 aircraft from 5 Group are to hit the Focke-Wulf factory, 20 Blenheims the A. G. Weser shipyard, and Coastal Command planes are to hit the Deschimag shipyard. All other aircraft are to carry out an area bombing on the town and and dock area.
• Clouds completely cover the target area for the entire 65 minutes the planes are over it. Limited success is gained by the use of Gee which enables the leading bombers to start fires in the right areas. This allows following planes to drop their loads in the right area. 696 crews claim dropping bombs on Bremen. 572 houses are destroyed and 6,108 are damaged. 85 people are killed, 497 are injured and 2,378 are bombed out.
• The assembly shop at the Focke-Wulf factory is completely destroyed, 6 other buildings there are seriously damaged and 11 others are slightly damaged. Damage is also reported at other industrial sites including the Atlas Werke, the Vulkan shipyard, the Norddeutsche Hütte and the Korff refinery as well as 2 large dockside warehouses.

  Avro Lancaster Waiting to Take Off

  Avro Lancaster Taking Off

• A total of 48 aircraft are lost on this raid. The biggest losses occurs in 91 Group which loses 23 of the 23 of the 198 Wellingtons and Whitleys it had dispatched. 5 of the 102 planes sent by Coastal Command are also lost.
• In support operations, 31 Blenheims, 21 Bostons and 4 Mosquitos are sent to attack 13 German airfields. The Bostons and Mosquitos involved make the first Intruder flights for these types of aircraft. 2 Blenheims attacking the Venlo and St Trond airfields are lost.

Air Operations, Libya

During the night HALPRO B-24s attack the harbor area at Tobruk.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-25s attack Salamaua.

Allied Planning

Churchill attends a meeting of the Pacific War Council in Washington.

Eastern Front

Since the threat from Sevastopol to their right flank has been virtually eliminated, the Germans attack all along the southern sector with 35 divisions, moving from the Kursk area in the direction of Voronezh. The Soviets retreat from Kupyansk on the Oskol River east of Kharkov.

The final pockets of reistance on the Volkhov are snuffed out as the 2nd Shock Army is destroyed and its commander, Lt-Gen Andrey Vlasov, is now in German hands. The 52nd and 59th Armies abandon their attacks to free the 2nd Shock as the latter force has diintegrated under German attack. The fighting has cost the 3 armies 54,774 killed and missing and 39,977 wounded.

The destruction of Vlasov's army on the Volkhov, and its abandonment by the Soviet High Command were to lead a loyal Soviet general into collaboration with the Nazis. Stalin's disregard for his fellow countrymen bred in Vlassov and thousands of Soviet prisoners a desire to see the end of Communism in Russia. Had Hitler reconized the real valu of men such as Vlassov at this stage of the conflict, the shortages and difficulties of later years might to a large degree have been overcome.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Bostons attack the Le Havre power station but the bombs miss the target area. 2 Mosquitos take pictures of the Bremen area to assess damage. 2 other Mosquitos are sent to Essen but turn back. There are no losses.
• 29 Wellingtons and 10 Halifaxes lay mines off Lorient and St Nazaire and in the Frisians without any loss.

Air Operations, Libya

During the night, HALPRO B-24s attack the harbor area at Tobruk.

Air Operations, Pacific

During the night 3 VII Bomber Command LB-30s based in Hawaii and staging through Midway attack Wake Island.

Eastern Front

The German 6th Army under Gen Friedrich von Paulus wins a major victory at Kharkov on the Donetz River. In the south Army Group South takes Rostov-on-Don.

Operation FRIDERICUS II is brought to a successful conclustion, 38th and 9th Armies having lose more than 40,000 captured. This defeat conbined FRIDERICUS I and the Izyum debacle leaves the Southwest Front a mere shell.

At Sevastopol, the 11th Army begins to attack the inner defense ring. von Manstein plans to launch an attack across Severnaya Bay with elements of the LIV Corps, placing units in the Soviet rear and bringing about the collapse of the final defenses without need for large-scale frontal assaults. At the same time, the XXX Corps will attack the Soviets holding the Sapun heights. The fighting has inflicted heavy casualties upon the Black Sea Fleet as it tries to reinforce the garrison. The last supply vessels leave the port, loaded with wounded soldiers, for the Kuban. no more supplies or reinforcements will arrive in Sevastopol as the Stavka finally writes the garrison off.

Air Operations, Europe

There is a night raid on Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. There is serious fire damage.

55 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 26 Stirlings and 24 Lancasters are sent to Bremen. 119 planes bomb blindly through the cloud cover after obtaining Gee fixes. It is believed the results were successful. Reports from Bremen indicate that 2 industrial targets that were hit in the larger raid are hit again - the Atlas Werke and the Korff refinery. Several smaller firms and dockside warehouses are also hit. A hospital and an unrecorded number of houses are also hit. 7 people are killed and 80 are injured. 9 planes are lost including 4 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters and 1 Stirling.

In minor operations, 15 planes lay mines off St Nazaire and Verdon and 6 Halifaxes make leaflet flights. There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack Lae and Salamaua.

Allied Planning

Southwest Pacific Supreme Commander Gen MacArthur reveals his plan, codenamed TULSA II, for the recapture of New Britain, New Ireland and the Admiralty Islands.

Arctic

The convoy PQ-17 leaves Reykjavik for Archangel. There are 36 freighters and a tanker. The close escort consists of 6 destroyers and 13 smaller ships. The 35 ships of QP-13 have also left Murmansk and Archangel on their return journey.

Argentina

President Jaime Ortiz resigns because of failing eyesight. He is succeeded by Dr Ramón S. Castillo.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The unarmed US freighter Polybius (7041t) is torpedoed by U-128 losing 10 crewmen in the attack. The 34 survivors are rescued over the next 3 days the Dutch steamship Dracos, the British steamship Clarona and an unidentified Allied ship.
• The US freighter Potlatch (6085t) is torpedoed by U-153 losing 6 crewmen in the attack. 33 of the crew survive along with 16 Armed Guard sailors.

Diplomatic Relations

Britain provides a credit of $100 million to the Soviets for the purchase of British arms.

Eastern Front

The Germans establish several bridgeheads over the Don. A gap is being opened in the Russian lines in the central sector. In the northern sector the Germans have also regained the initiative, held for a long time by the Russians.

The Russian destroyer Tashkent evacuates 2,300 wounded and civilians from Sevastopol. She is bombed repeatedly en route to Novorossisk, but transfers her passengers and reaches port before sinking.

The VIII Air Corps is removed from the Crimea and moved north to aid the offensive in the Ukraine. With Case BLUE due to begin on June 28 an eerie lull settles over the southern sectors.

To ward off the German ttack, the Soviets deployed the Bryansk Front with 169,000 men in 12 rifle divisions, 4 rifle brigades, 2 tank corps and 4 independent tank brigades. The Southwest Front, even after its defeat at Kharkov, has 610,000 men between 33 rifle and 6 cavalry divisions, 6 rifle brigades, 4 tank corps, 3 motor rifle brigades and 10 tank brigades, while the South Front has 522,500 men in its 23 rifle divisions, 4 rifle brigades and 6 tank brigades. The fronts also deploy a combined total of 3,470 tanks, over 2,300 being T-34 and KV models that can outperform and outgun their German counterparts.

Air Operations, Egypt

Air Operations, Europe

There is another night raid on Weston-super-Mare.

In minor operations, 14 aircraft are sent to St Nazaire, 4 Lancasters lay mines in the Gironde River and 1 Stirling makes a leaflet flight. There are no losses.

Air Operations, Libya

HALPRO B-24s attack shipping and harbor facilities at Tobruk.

Air Operations, New Guinea

During the night 5th Air Force B-17s attack both Rabaul and Lae.

Arctic

The Home Fleet leaves Scapa Flow to provide distant cover for PQ-17. There are 2 battleships, Duke of York and Washington, and 1 carrier, the Victorious, with cruisers and destroyers.

SS Raphael Semmes

Battle of the Atlantic

• The unarmed US freighter Raphael Semmes (6027t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-332 losing 19 of the 37 men on board in the attack.
• The US freighter Sam Houston (7176t) is torpedoed, shelled and sunk by U-203 losing 3 crewmen in the attack.
• The US tanker William Rockefeller (15,054t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-701 about 16 miles northeast of Diamond Shoals, North Carolina. The escorting Coast Guard cutter CG-470 attacks the U-boat without success, but rescues all hands, 44 crewmen and the 6-man Armed Guard.
• The US freighter Sea Thrush (5447t), en route to Cape Town, South Africa, is torpedoed and sunk by U-505. All on board survive the attack which include 42-man crew, 11-man Armed Guard and 14 passengers.
• The US freighter Ruth (4833t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-153 about 100 miles north of Cape Maysi, Cuba. There are only 4 survivors of the 34-man crew and the 4-man Armed Guard unit.

Eastern Front

The Germans step up their summer offensive in all sectors. It is called Operation BLAU (BLUE) and begins on the southern part of the front with 100 divisions, 50 German, 9 Italian, 27 Rumanian, 13 Hungarina and 1 Slovak. They are supported by about 1,500 aircraft. The Russians have about 120 divisions. The drive is directed toward the Don River and is designed to cut off the Russians in the salient around Kursk. Von Bock's Army Group South begins to drive east from around Kursk toward Voronezh. In the north the Germans gain an important victory, crossing the Volkhov and eliminating the Soviet salient.

In the siege of Sevastopol, the Germans establish a bridgehead on the southern shore of North Bay directly threatening Sebastopol city.

At 0215 hours the 4th Panzer Army, with 2nd Army in support, attacks the junction of the 13th and 40th Armies. Fierce fighting develops as the XXIV Panzer Corps crushes 2 divisions of the Bryansk Front and pushes toward the Kshen River. Golikov commits his XVI and I Tanks Corps to seal off the wound, while Stavka orders the IV and XXIV Tank Corps of the Southwest Front to help and the XVII Tank Corps to move from operational reserve at Kastornoye.

By evening the XXIV Panzer Corps has punched its way through the junction of the 13th and 40th Armies and attacked the headquarters of the 40th Army, throwing it into disarray. Recognizing this as the beginning of the German summer offensive, but mistakenly believing it to be aimed at Moscow, the Stavka instructs Gen Filipp Golikov to commit the 5th Tank Army with its II and XI Tank Corps.

In the Crimea, Inkerman falls to the 50th Infantry Division. von Manstein is preparing to launch an attack across Severnaya Bay in order to outflank the rear of the Sapun position that is holding up the XXX Corps.

Germany, Policy

OKW chief Keitel sends a telegram to his commanders in the East: 'Fleeing prisioners of war are to be shot without preliminary warning to stop. All resistance of POWs, even passive, must be entirely eliminated immediately by the use of arms.'

Arctic Convoy PQ-17

Mediterranean

The German steamer Savona (2120t) sinks after striking a submerged wreck off Benghazi.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Bostons bomb the railway yards at Hazebrouck without any loss. 1 of the Bostons is flown by Captain Kegelman and his all-American crew, the first Americans of the 8th Air Force to take part in a bomber operation. Their hosts are 226 Squadron at Swanton Morley.
• 253 aircraft including 108 Wellingtons, 64 Lancasters, 47 Stirlings and 34 Halifaxes are dispatched to Bremen. Reports from the ground say 48 houses are destroyed and 934 are damaged. Extensive damage is caused in 5 important war industries including the Focke-Wulf factory and the A. G. Weser U-boat construction yard, and at the local gasworks, a museum and a local merchant-navy college. Most of this damage is caused by fire. 4 Stirlings, 4 Wellintons and 3 Halifaxes are lost.
• In minor operations, 18 Blenheims make Intruder flights, 7 Wellingtons lay mines off St Nazaire and 5 make leaflet flights. There are no losses.

SS Thomas McKean Torpedoed by U-boat

Air Operations, Libya

HALPRO B-24s attack Tobruk harbor during the night. 1 B-24 is lost and its 10 crewmen the USAAF combat casualties in the Middle East.

Battle of the Atlantic

The US freighter Thomas McKean (7191t), en route to Cape Town, South Africa, is torpedoed, shelled and sunk by U-505 losing 3 of the Armed Guard sailors on board.

China

Chiang Kai-shek has a meeting with Gen Stilwell and asks for an American guarantee to dispatch three divisions and 500 aircraft, with 5,000 tons of supplies every month.

Eastern Front

The 4th Panzer Army continues to attack, widening the hole in the Soviet line. The Bryansk Front reels under the German attacks as artillery, armor and aircraft pound its forward units while it tries to bring up armor.

The 11th Army attacks Sevastopol, the LIV Corps sending an assault force of the 22nd and 24th Infantry Divisions across Severnaya Bay to land in the Soviet rear. The Soviet defenses are breached with little cost, undermining the inner defense zone. As von Manstein successfully turns the Soviet northern flank, XXX Corps penetrates the Sapun Heights with its 170th Infantry Division, while the Inkerman Heights falls to the 50th and 132nd Infantry Divisions. The English Cemetery south of Sevastopol falls to the 28th Light Division.

North Africa

Pushing on to the east, the German 90th Light Div reaches Sidi Abd el Rahman, only 20 miles from El Alamein where the British 8th Army is preparing a defense line. The front to be defended is about 30 miles wide, and the only routes by which the enemy can advance are at the extreme northern and southern ends of the front itself, one along the coast and the other along the 'Barrel Track' which leads straight to Cairo. Mussolini leaves for Cyrenaica, piloting his own plane. It is said there is a white horse on board which the Duce wants to ride when he makes his entrance into Cairo, which he believes will be in a matter of days, if not hours. 'Within 15 days,' he declares, 'we shall install an Italian High Commission.'

Air Operations, East Indies

5th Air Force B-17s attack the Celebes/Kendari and Timor/Koepang airfields and Dili, Timor.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-25s and 22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack Lae.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Returning from a successful cruise in the Gulf of Mexico where 12 ships were sunk, U-158 is sunk off Bermuda by a US Martin Mariner flying boat.

U-158 Is Sunk Off Bermuda

U-158

Class	Type IXC
CO	Kapitänleutnant Erwin Rostin
Location	Caribbean, W of Bermuda
Cause	Air attack
Casualties	54
Survivors	None

• The US steamship City of Birmingham (5861t), en route to Bermuda, is torpedoed and sunk by U-202 about 250 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. 6 of the 113-man crew and 2 of 263 passengers are lost in teh sinking. The escorting minesweeper Stansbury (DMS-8) rescues the survivors.

Eastern Front

The Germans step up their offensive in the southern sector. The German 2nd Army and IV Panzergruppe attack towards Voronezh, while the 6th Army pushes on eastwards in the region southeast of Belgorod. The Russian High Command orders the evacuation of Sevastopol. The Black Sea Fleet, much weakened by recent operations, attempts to comply with little success. Army Group North eliminates the Russian pocket of resistance west of the Volkhov River.

Col-Gen Georg von Küchler, German commander on the Leningrad front, is promoted to Field Marshal.[MORE]

Evacuation of Sebastopol

Arctic

The close cover for PQ-17 leaves Iceland with 4 cruisers, 2 American, and 3 destroyers. QP-13 is sighted by the Germans but is not attacked.

Germany, Planning

Intoxicated by his military triumphs, Hitler issues a directive for a linkup in Egypt of German North African forces and those sweeping through eastern Europe. The plan is for Rommel to press for a decisive victory from the west and the Germans in Bulgaria will march through Turkey, whether Ankara agrees or not, and the Levant, to complete the destruction of the British position in the Middle East.