July 2nd 1944 Marshal von Kluge replaces General von Rundstedt 1944 In Italy, German troops evacuate Siena. Field Marshal von Rundstedt resigns as C-in-C of German forces in the West and is replaced by FM von Kluge. 1943 Gulf of Biskaje: Liberator bombers sinks U-126 1943 Lt Charles Hall, becomes 1st black pilot to shoot down Nazi plane 1943 The US Fifteenth Air Force, based in Libya, raids three airfields in southern Italy. 1941 Earthquake hits Palestine 1941 Nazi mass murder in Lvov/Lemberg (7,000 dead) 1941 On the extreme southern front in the East, troops of the German 11th (von Schobert) and the Rumanian 3rd (Dumitrescu) and 4th Rumanian (Ciuparea) Armies begin an offensive from Moldavia toward Vinnitsa and the Black Sea port of Odessa. 1941 The RAF carries out night raids on Bremen and Cologne. China breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany and Italy. 1940 Dutch PM Colijn publishes "Borders of 2 Worlds" (German victory) 1940 Hitler orders invasion of England 1940 The British liner Arandora Star, carrying 1,500 German and Italian prisoners of war to Canada, is sunk by U-47 (Kptlt. Prien) off the west coast of Ireland, with many casualties.
On this day 3 July 1940 WWII. Up to 25 June 1940 the French Navy, based at Toulon and Oran, had been responsible for containing the Italian Fleet in the Western Mediterranean. Thereafter, the Royal Navy was obliged to provide, from its already stretched resources, a balanced squadron - Force H - based at Gibraltar, to operate between the 'Rock and Malta and, when required in the Atlantic. The future control of the powerful French Fleet which had concentrated at Oran was uncertain in British eyes and after the local French commander had rejected suggestions that his ships should continue to fight on alongside the Royal Navy, or that they should be disarmed and immobilized, the political order was given that they should be destroyed by gunfire and carrier air attack. The execution of the order was less than successful, for only one old dreadnought the battleship Bretagne was sunk and one modern battleship severely damaged by freakish means (an aircraft torpedo sank an armed trawler alongside the Dunkerque which was damaged by the subsequent explosion of the trawler' depth-charges) However negligible the effects of the attacks on Oran on 3 and 6 July 1940 might have been, they left a legacy of bitterness and mistrust on the part of the French.
July 3rd 1944 U.S. VIII Army corp opens assault on Coutances Cotentin. 1944 In the East, 28 divisions of Heeresgruppe Mitte (Model) are encircled or destroyed by the Soviet 1st and 3rd Belorussian Fronts in the Minsk area. The Soviets claim 400,000 German dead and 158,000 taken prisoner. 1943 Liberator bombers sinks U-628 1943 In the East, the opening of Unternehmen Zitadelle (Operation Citadel), the massive German counter-offensive to encircle and destroy the Soviet forces in the Orel-Belgorod salient near Kursk. is delayed by one day because of heavy Soviet air attacks against the German deployment areas. 1943 The RAF carries out a heavy night raid on Cologne, causing considerable damage and killing hundreds of civilians. 1942 Germany troop march into Sebastopol 1942 Hitler visits fieldmarshal Von Bocks headquarter/d into/d Ukraine 1942 In Egypt, due to exhaustion and lack of supplies, especially fuel for the armored divisions, German and Italian forces of the Afrikakorps suspend all offensive operations before El Alamein and begin constructing defensive positions. 1941 For the first time since the beginning of the German attack on the Soviet Union, Stalin speaks to the Russian people over the radio. Demanding utmost resistance 'in our patriotic war against German Fascism', he calls for a policy of scorched earth if the Red Army is forced to yield ground and the formation of 'people's partisan' groups behind enemy lines, as well as the summary execution of all cowards and shirkers. 1940 ARP-leader/ex-premier Colijn argues cooperation with Germany 1940 British Royal Navy sinks French fleet in North Africa 1940 German occupiers forbids using Dutch royal names 1940 Heavy units of the British Navy, codenamed Force H (Somerville), launch an attack (Operation Catapult) on the French fleet stationed at Mers-el-Kebir near Oran in Algeria, sinking the battleship Bretagne and heavily damaging the battleship Provence and the battlecruiser Dunkerque. 1,300 French sailors are killed and hundreds wounded. Reaction in both occupied and Vichy France is one of shock and outrage at this totally unexpected and ruthless action by their former ally. Some 59 other French warships that had sought refuge at Plymouth and Portsmouth are seized by the Royal Navy, but only after overcoming armed French resistance in some cases. 1939 Ernst Heinkel demonstrates 800-kph rocket plane to Hitler 1939 The Japanese army launches a powerful surprise attack against Soviet forces at Bain-Tsagan Mountain.
On this day 4 July WWII Convoy PQ17 was ordered to scatter by the Admiralty because it was thought the convoy was to be attacked by a German surface force including the battleship Tirpitz. Aircraft attacked ships in the convoy, damaging the cargo ship Christopher Newport (US) which had to be sunk, the cargo ship Navarino which was set on fire and had to be sunk, the cargo ship William Hooper (US) which was also set on fire and had to be sunk and the tanker Azerbaijan (Ru) which was set on fire but whose crew put out the fires.
July 4th 1945 The British 7th Armoured Division, ‘The Desert Rats’ enters <st1:state w:st="on"><st1>Berlin</st1> </st1:state>to establish the British sector. 1944 1,100 U.S. guns fire 4th of July salute at German lines in Normandy 1944 1st Japanese kamikaze attack, U.S. fleet near Iwo Jima 1944 Allied assault on Carpiquet airport at Caen 1944 Gestapo arrests German Social Democrat Julius Leber 1944 The Soviet 1st Baltic Front begins an offensive toward Riga, capturing Polotsk and threatening to isolate Army Group North during its fighting retreat from Estonia.<o></o> 1944 In <st1:state w:st="on">Normandy</st1:state>, one <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>U.S.</st1></st1:country-region>division gains only 200yds and six German prisoners for nearly 1,400 casualties.<o></o><o></o> 1943 General Sikorski and several other Polish leaders of the London-based anti-Communist Polish government-in-exile, die in plane crash just after take-off from <st1>Gibraltar</st1>, which some suspect is the result of deliberate sabotage.<o></o> 1942 1st American bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe (WW II) 1942 <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>U.S.</st1></st1:country-region>air offensive against nazi-Germany begins<o>:</o> 1942 Bad weather delays operation 'Rutter', which is now scheduled for the 7th July.<o></o> 1942 For the first time, 6 Douglas A-20/Boston bombers of the USAAF's 15th Bombardment Squadron were combined with 6 Douglas A-20/Boston bombers from the RAF's 226 Squadron for raids on German airfields in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1>Holland</st1></st1:city>. 2 USSAF and 1 RAF aircraft failed to return. 1942 Convoy PQ-17, now reinforced with the 7 warships of the cruiser force which had come up during the night, comes under heavy attack from Luftwaffe dive-bombers and torpedo planes during the morning. An American merchant (7,200 tons) was badly hit by a torpedo and had to be abandoned, although U-457 found and sank it. U-457, also incorrectly reported that it had seen a battleship with the convoys escorts. Because of this report, Admiral Raeder believed that the British distant covering force, which included an aircraft-carrier had arrived to help the convoy. He therefore refused permission for the German battleship Tirpitz, pocket battleship Admiral Scheer, heavy cruiser Hipper, 7 destroyers and 2 E-boats to put to sea until the British aircraft-carrier had been sunk. In the afternoon, larger numbers of Luftwaffe planes attacked convoy PQ-17 twice, severely damaging 3 merchants, two of which later sank. Later that day, the British First Sea Lord Dudley Pound, thought that the German surface force had sailed to attack the PQ-17 and would in all probability wipe out the convoy along with the covering cruiser force. He therefore made the catastrophic decision to withdraw the cruiser force and "scatter" PQ-17 in the hope that this might save most of the convoy. Almost immediately, the U-boats benefited, with U-703 sinking 2 merchants for 12,100 tons, U-88 sank 2 merchants for 12,300 tons, U-334 sank 1 merchant for 7,200 tons and U-456 sank a merchant for 7,000 tons. On the downside the Luftwaffe, having difficulty in spotting friend from foe, damaged U-334 and U-456 forcing them to return to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>Norway</st1> </st1:country-region>for repairs. 1941 <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>Latvia</st1> </st1:country-region>partisans shoot 416 Jews dead 1941 Politburo of Yugoslav Communist Party reorganizes 1941 Howard Florey and Norman Heatley meet for 1st time, 11 days later they successfully recreate penicillin. <o></o> 1941 In and Independence Day broadcast, Roosevelt warns the American public that the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>USA</st1></st1:country-region> 'will never survive as a happy and prosperous oasis in the middle of a desert of dictatorship'.<o></o> 1941 British Communist Party officially drops peace campaign and backs the war.<o></o> 1941 Units of Army Group Centre capture Ostrov. <o></o> 1940In the House of Commons, prime minister Churchill declares,' I leave the judgment of our actions with confidence to Parliament. I leave it to the nation and I leave it to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>United States</st1></st1:country-region>. I leave it to the world and to history.<o></o> 1940 British destroys French battle fleet at <st1><st1:city w:st="on">Oran</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Algeria</st1:country-region></st1>, 1267 die. 1940 The British Air Ministry directs Bomber Command to focus attacks on German shipping and warships<o></o> 1940 Italian bombers raid <st1:city w:st="on"><st1>Alexandria</st1></st1:city>. Italian forces attack from Abyssinia and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>Eritrea</st1> </st1:country-region>and capture the British outposts of Kassala and Gallabat on the Sudanese border.<o></o> 1940 German Stukas and MTBs attack a British convoy South of Portland, sinking 5 merchant ships.<o></o> 1940 Italian bombers raid <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>Malta</st1></st1:country-region><o></o> <o></o>
On this day 5 July WWII 1940 In one of the largest shipments in one convoy, the liners Batory, Sobieski and Monarch of Bermuda, the battleship Revenge and the cruiser Bonaventure carried £192m of gold bullion. The convoy sailed from Greenock on 5 July and arrived at Halifax on 12 July. 1942 A powerful German force, led by the battleship Tirpitz sailed from Altafjord to attack convoy PQ17, but the force returned the next day as ships of the convoy had scattered. The ships lost from PQ17 that day were: Carlton (US) torpedoed by U 88 and set on fire. Empire Byron sunk by U 703; Peter Kerr (US) bombed by Ju 88s and set on fire; Honomu (US) sunk by U456; Fairfield City (US) bombed by Ju 88s; Daniel Morgan (US) damaged by Ju 88s and sunk by U 88; Oiler Aldersdale seriously damaged by Ju 88s and sunk by the minesweeper Salamander; convoy rescue ship Zaafaran bombed by Ju 88s; Earlston damaged by Ju 88s and sunk by U 334; Pancraft (US) abandonded after near-misses by Ju 88 bombers; Boulton Castle bombed by Ju 88s; Paulus Potter bombed by Ju 88s and set on fire; Washington (US) bomber and set on fire by Ju 88s; River Afton sunk by U 703.
On this day 6 July 1942 WWII Ships lost from convoy PQ17 were Pancraft (US), bombed by Ju 88s on 5 July, was sunk by the corvette Lotus; Pan Atlantic (US) set on fire by bombs from Ju 88s.
The night of 5/6 July 1944 On this night the German navy introduced a new weapon to harass the Normandy anchorages - the 'human torpedo'. These craft, which had a maximum endurance of about 10 hours at 3 knots, were launched from German occupied beaches on the north shore of the Seine Bay. Although they could not submerge, they were difficult to spot in the darkness and inflicted several losses, although at a high cost to themselves.
Canadian 50th Division took Bayeux Spidge? There was no Canadian 50 div,. It never existed mate. There was the Third Canadian div that landed later than us on Juno Beach. Bayeux was liberated by the Tynes Tees British 50 infantry div that landed on Gold Beach. Sapper
There was only a 5th Canadian Division, and that division was in Italy until it was moved to Belgium in January 1945. Maybe he means the British 50th?
A section of my company had to go across to Bayeux. And I can assure anyone that it was taken by the British TT 50 Infantry div from Gold beach, Bayeux was not fought over, by general agreement with the Enemy. No shelling, mortar or bombs fell on Bayeux. While there, I bought some Normandy butter, Spring onions, and some horse meat. I cooked it sitting in he bottom of my foxhole backin the Caen sector, while the mortars and shells came in sporadic bursts. More tea Vicar?
British 50th Division took Bayeux Spidge? There was no Canadian 50 div,. It never existed mate. There was the Third Canadian div that landed later than us on Juno Beach. Bayeux was liberated by the Tynes Tees British 50 infantry div that landed on Gold Beach. Sapper Edited to British 50th Division. Hi Sapper, Good pick up. Was probably an initial typo that has been carried through numerous sites (see below) and was meant to be the Tynes Tees British 50 infantry div! British 50th division occupies Bayeux June 7, 1944 in history. 1944 British 50th division occupies Bayeux 1944 US 7th Infantry Division captures Kwajalein 1944 4th US marine division conquerors Roi, Marshall Islands ... 1944 - British 50th division occupies Bayeux 1944 - Claus von Stauffenberg meets Hitler 1946 - Pirates players vote 20-16 to walkout rather than play the ...
Reading that, just shows what a garbled load if rubbish they print! Half of what is written is untrue! Sapper
Reading that, just shows what a garbled load if rubbish they print! Half of what is written is untrue! Sapper I will endeavour to contact those sites and ask them to alter this error.
On this day 7 July 1942. Ships lost from convoy PQ17 were John Witherspoon sunk by U 255; Alcoa Ranger sunk by U 255; Hartlebury sunk by U 355; Olpoana sunk by U 255.
Canadian 50th Division took Bayeux Spidge? There was no Canadian 50 div,. It never existed mate. There was the Third Canadian div that landed later than us on Juno Beach. Bayeux was liberated by the Tynes Tees British 50 infantry div that landed on Gold Beach. Sapper I have sent off emails to the three sites concerned and will not second guess what there reaction will be. If I receive an answer(s) I will post in the forum. There was one other error picked up on this site which I will inform them of when we receive a reply to this one. Glad to see that some are reading these and keeping them (me) honest. Geoff
Hi Spidge it could hardly be your mistake could it. That the errors are so widely seen in the media, is but a very small part of the garbled facts and at times pure fantasy. Its been going on for years, what makes it so much worse for the Veterans is that these "facts" are accepted as truth, and by constant reading and retelling become the legends the nations believe in. Its rather like the idea that Sword Beach was an easy landing. Where in fact it was the most heavily defended part of Normandy coast. and we suffered the greatest loss of assault landing craft. What did make the landing successful, was the Guts discipline, and sheer courage of the those involved. And nothing else! Sapper
No. However I posted it and therefore should be responsible for attempting to have it altered to a factual representation. Let's see if we receive a reply.
Just received this reply from ElectricScotland.com in the US which was 3 minutes after I sent the email. Thanks for letting me know Geoff and have done a correction. This list is a very old one and came from the old days of Bulletin Board before the Internet came into being. I had it on my old BBS and kept the file when I closed it down. I found it again and decided to add it to the web site. I had meant to do regular updates on it but kept forgetting. Alastair ----------- Alastair McIntyre KTJ, FSA Scot. Electric Scotland http://www.electricscotland.com http://www.scotsearch.org
