Chronology of World War II
Wednesday, July 1, 1942
In North Africa... The Afrika Korps under Rommel reaches the British defensive positions at El Alamein. The British 4th Brigade arrives at Alam el Onsol just before the German 90th Light Division. To the south, at the west end of Ruweisat Ridge, the 15th and 21 Panzer Divisions are pressing forward to Point 64 in fierce fighting.
In the Arctic... The outbound convoy PQ-17 to Murmansk has been discovered by the German intelligence service B Dienst. Acting on this information, German U-boats U-255 and U-408 find the convoy. They are joined by 8 other U-boats.
Thursday, July 2, 1942
In the Arctic... The two British outbound convoys, QP-13 from Murmansk and PQ-17 from Iceland pass each other, leading to some confusion for the Germans. They attack PQ-17 unsuccessfully with both submarines and the aircraft.
From Norway... The German battleship Tirpitz, and cruiser Admiral Hipper as well as six destroyers leave their base to join in the attack on the convoys.
In London... Public dissatisfaction with the direction of the war is expressed in the House of Commons with a Motion of Censure being presented against the government. Prime Minister Churchill is criticized for attempting to manage both the war and the government simultaneously. Churchill's response is that Parliament should either change the government or support it. The Motion of Censure is defeated 476 to 25. However, many Members of Parliament are not reassured that the war effort is going well. Also, the British Board of Trade announces an agreement to control the supply of wheat which involves grain from the USA, Britain, Argentina, Australia and Canada.
Friday, July 3, 1942
In North Africa... The New Zealand 2nd Division and their supporting artillery almost destroy the Italian Ariete Division attacking toward Alam Nayil.
From Norway... The German pocket battleship Lutzow and cruiser Admiral Sheer leave Narvik with an escort to join the Tirpitz in an attack on the British convoys. However on the way, the Lutzow and three destroyers run aground.
Saturday, July 4, 1942
On the Eastern Front... The siege of Sevastopol ends with massive Soviet losses. The Germans take 90,000 prisoners. The Germans have a total of 24,000 casualties.
In the Arctic... PQ-17, British convoy bound to Murmansk is fired upon by German forces. Admiral Pound, First Sea Lord of the British Navy orders the convoy to scatter and the close escorts to retire. He believes that the convoy can no longer be protected by the Home Fleet, as it is now within range of the German Luftwaffe and the German heavy ships are on their way to attack. The order is controversial and the commanders of the escort ships protest, but eventually obey the order.
Over Holland... The first strikes by American Army Air Force planes over Europe take place, when six American planes join a RAF squadron attacking airfields in Holland.
Sunday, July 5, 1942
On the Eastern Front... German General Hoth's 4th Panzer Army reach the Don River near Voronezh. To their left, General Weich's 2nd Army makes progress against the Soviet defenders.
In the Arctic... Without defensive escorts 13 vessels from the British convoy PQ-17 are sunk by Luftwaffe and U-boat attacks. The German heavy ships approach, but return to port when their presence is made unnecessary by the success of the air and submarine attacks. The sister convoy QP-17 sails into an Allied minefield in the Denmark Straits and loses 4 ships.
Monday, July 6, 1942
In Berlin... Hitler comments that he has "given orders that the venue of the rally [the annual NSDAP rally in Nuremberg] is to be enlarged to accommodate a minimum of two million in the future."
Tuesday, July 7, 1942
In the Arctic... British convoy PQ-17 on its way to Murmansk loses an additional 8 ships as a result of a controversial decision to remove escorts from the convoy due to a threat by German heavy vessels.
On the Eastern Front... The Germans recapture Voronezh. Other units of Army Group South, including 6th Army continue the drive along the Donet's Corridor.
In the Mediterranean... British aircraft raid targets in southern Italy at Messina and Reggio Calabria. They specifically looking to destroy airfields which support the bombing at Malta.
From Washington... General Spaatz is appointed to command US air forces in Europe.
Wednesday, July 8, 1942
On the Eastern Front... The 1st Panzer Army crosses the Donets River. The Soviet defenders, however, have mostly avoided capture and conduct an orderly retreat.
Thursday, July 9, 1942
From Berlin... The Germans reorganize the command structure of their forces in the south of the Eastern Front. Army South is divided into Army Group A, comprised of 1st Panzer Army, 17th Army and 11th Army under General List and Army Group B, comprised of 4th Panzer Army, 2nd Army and 6th Army under General Bock. This reorganization is designed to expedite the Caucasus offensive. The plan is for Army Group A to advance proceed south through Rostov and capture the oil fields halting on a line from Batumi on the Black Sea to Baku on the Caspian. Army Group B is to advance north of the Don River and establish a protective front for this actions.
From the Eastern Front... German Army Group A begins its attack south to secure the oil fields in the Caucasus. Army Group B reaches Rossosh, cutting the Moscow-Rostov Railway in its advance to provide flank protection for Army Group A.
Friday, July 10 ,1942
In North Africa... The Australian 9th Division attacks the Italian Sabratha Division around Tell el Eisa. The Italians falter and Rommel is forced to send reinforcements. British Commander in Chief, Auchinleck, begins to concentrate his attacks on the Italians forcing Rommel to burn fuel to come to their aid.
Saturday, July 11, 1942
In China... The Chinese occupy Futou Island near Fuchow.
Sunday July 12, 1942
From Moscow... Marshal Timoshenko is appointed commander of the newly constituted Stalingrad Front.
On the Eastern Front... German forces reach Lisichansk and Kanteminovka.
Monday, July 13, 1942
From Berlin... Hitler alters the plans for the German summer offensive. Army Group B, which was to provide protection for Army Group A's attacks in the Caucasus, is now assigned the task of capturing the city of Stalingrad. The German 6th Army (General Paulus) is spearheading the offensive.
Tuesday, July 14, 1942
In North Africa... In fierce fighting, attacks by the British 1st Armored Division on Ruwesiat Ridge lead to heavy losses on both sides, but little advance.
In the Mediterranean... Supplies continue to be sent to Malta to relieve desperate shortages. The HMS Eagle flies in 31 Spitfires. Submarines are also used to bring in food and materiel. The Italian Navy is also using submarines to ferry supplies to North Africa, where the supply situation for Rommel's troops is also critical.
Wednesday, July 15, 1942
From India... The first supplies flown into China "Over the Hump" are sent to Chiang Kai-shek's forces. The loss of the Burma Road to the Japanese prevents supplying the troops by land.
In North Africa... Fighting continues around the Ruwesiat Ridge, with the German forces regaining some ground. Losses to British artillery fire are high.
Thursday, July 16, 1942
On the Eastern Front... Soviet resistance against the German advances near Rostov stiffens.
From Moscow... Soviets release figures of German losses from the start of their summer offensive. Their numbers, 900,000 are considered to be exaggerated.
Friday, July 17, 1942
In North Africa... Rommel's supply situation continues to deteriorate, but German and Italian troops are still able to halt a British advance near Miterirya Ridge. Rommel suggests a retreat to the Italian and German Commanders, Cavallero and Kesselring.
From Berlin... Hitler fearing that Army Group A will not be able to cross the Don River against growing Soviet opposition, switches the 4th Panzer Army from Army Group B. Without 4th Panzer Army, Army Group B's progress toward Stalingrad is slowed.
Saturday, July 18, 1942
On the Eastern Front... The German Army Group B is ordered to advance on Stalingrad.
Sunday, July 19, 1942
On the Eastern Front... German Army Groups A and B make rapid progress. They have captured the towns of Kamensk and Voroshilovgrad and have reached the Don River as far east as Tsimlyansky.
From Germany... The final two U-boats left operating off of the American eastern seaboard are reassigned. They have had no successes due to improved convoy operations.
Monday, July 20, 1942
In Rome... Mussolini returns from Derna, temporarily abandoning his plans for a Cairo victory march.
Tuesday, July 21, 1942
In North Africa... Rommel sends a complete report to German Armed Forces High Command concerning his shortages. The British using Ultra intercept the information and decide to mount a major attack against him. Despite a 3 to 1 advantage in tanks, Auchinleck's attack fails. There is mounting disillusionment from the soldiers at the way the armor is being utilized in these battles.
In New Guinea... General Horii's 18th Army lands at Gona, forestalling planned Allied landings.
From Washington... President Roosevelt appointments Admiral Leahy as his personal Chief of Staff.
Wednesday, July 22, 1942
In North Africa... The British again suffer heavy losses, including the decimation of the 23rd Armored Brigade attacking the area south of Ruweisat Ridge. Rommel, severely short of men and equipment decides he can afford no more attacks. The British, too, require re-supply after their heavy losses. Of the two groups, the British are in a better position to receive the needed support.
In New Guinea... The Japanese forces under General Horii advance along the Kokoda Train from Buna. The small Australian garrison at Kokoda prepares its defense.
From Washington... President Roosevelt agrees that the second front in Europe, code-named Operation Sledgehammer, will not be possible this year. He instructs his staff in London to agree to "another place for US troops to fight in 1942." The plan to invade North Africa, renamed Operation Torch is adopted.
Thursday, July 23, 1942
On the Eastern Front... There is heavy fighting between the Soviets and the Germans along the Don River from Rostov to Tsimlyansk, especially near Novocherkassk.
In New Guinea... Advancing up the Kokado Trail, the Japanese 17th Army engaged the Australian defenders near Wosida.
From Washington... US Secretary of State Hull urges the formation of an international peace keeping organization by the United Nations after the war.
Friday, July 24, 1942
From London... There is Anglo-American agreement on the framework of Operation Torch.
Saturday, July 25, 1942
On the Eastern Front... German Army Group A under General List completes the capture of Rostov.
Sunday, July 26, 1942
In the Pacific... About 400 miles southeast of Fiji, the American aircraft carriers Wasp, Enterprise and Saratoga rendezvous with the invasion force for Guadalcanal. It is the most powerful force the US Navy has yet assembled in the Pacific.
In Berlin... In discussing oil exploration and resources, Hitler notes about the Soviets that "there is a lot we can learn from them."
Monday, July 27, 1942
On the Eastern Front... Elements of German Army Group B, including the 6th Army under General Paulus, battle the Soviets to clear the elbow on the Don River. The Soviet city Kalach is attacked by German troops.
Tuesday, July 28, 1942
From Moscow... In response to the continued defeats suffered by the Red Army on the Eastern Front, Stalin issues an order of the day (No. 227) in which he commands: "not one step back." Stalin also announces measures to strengthen the morale and performance of the Red Army. Discipline is tightened, punishments are increased and officers are given greater authority and status. The fall of Rostov is officially announced by the Soviets.
Wednesday, July 29, 1942
On the Eastern Front... The attacks launched by German Army Group A continue to succeed. Proletarskaya is captured.
In New Guinea... Kokada falls to the reinforced Japanese troops. Aid which might have helped the Australians stave off the Japanese advance turns back when the planes carrying supplies are told incorrectly that the airfield is in already Japanese hands.
In London... A combined British and American Production and Resources Board is established in London to control allocations of material and industrial priorities. Mr. Harriman, the American Lend-Lease representative in Britain, and Mr. Lyttleton, the British Minister of Production, are to be the senior members.
From Berlin... Hitler dissatisfied with the progress of the 6th Army in the Don elbow, returns 4th Panzer Army to Army Group B. The 4th Panzer has spent the majority of the campaign traveling from one front to another.
Thursday, July 30, 1942
On the Eastern Front... Elements of Germany Army Group A advancing from Rostov take Bataisk on the south side of the Don River.
In the East Indies... The Japanese occupy small islands between Timor and New Guinea, to provide support for their planned attack against Port Moresby.
Friday, July 31, 1942
In the Solomon Islands... American bombers attack targets on Tulagi and bomb the airfield the Japanese are building on Guadalcanal.
Copyright © 2018 Ralph Zuljan