PDA

View Full Version : On this day in WW2 July 5th



bobdina
07-04-2009, 11:36 PM
1940
In Gibraltar... There is an unsuccessful French torpedo bomber raid on the British naval base.
In Vichy France... Marshal Petain's government, now based in Vichy, breaks off diplomatic relations with Britain because of the action taken against the French navy.
In Romania... Romania joins to the Axis system.
In retaliation for the British action at Mers-el-Kebir, Vichy French warships based at Dakar capture 3 British merchant ships, while French aircraft stationed in Morocco attack British shipping off Gibraltar. The British destroyer Whirlwind is sunk by U-34 (Kptlt. Rollmann) SW of Ireland. The RAF carries out night raids on Kiel and Wilhelmshaven.
French Vichy government breaks off relations with Britain.
1941
On the Eastern Front... The German 6th Army breaches the Soviet defense line west of Zhitomir. Panzer Group 1 (Kleist) begins to move through the gap but is somewhat held back by orders from Hitler. Farther north in the attacks east of Minsk the German advance reaches the Dniepr.
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.
Soviet resistance in the Crimea ends.
1943
On the Eastern Front... Beginning of Unternehmen Zitadelle (Operation Citadel), the massive counter-offensive by Heeresgruppe Mitte to eliminate the Soviet salient between Orel and Belgorod near Kursk. On a 200-mile front, 37 divisions totaling 900,000 men of 9.Armee (Model) attacking from the north, and 4.Panzerarmee (Hoth) attacking from the south, including 11 Panzer divisions with 2,500 tanks and assault guns, 10,000 guns and Nebelwerfer (rocket guns), as well as 1,800 aircraft go into action against 1,300,000 Soviet troops in deeply echeloned defensive positions and protected by 8,000 land mines per square mile, 3,300 tanks, 20,000 guns and 2,500 aircraft. Taken together, the opposing forces in this operation constitute the largest concentration of military power ever assembled in history; the greatest tank and air battles of WWII will be fought here. -- In the northern sector, the Germans advance 6, in the southern, some 25 miles against stubborn Soviet resistance inflicting heavy casualties in tanks and infantry.
In the Solomon Islands... On New Georgia, American force of regimental strength lands in the north at Rice Anchorage. Fighting on the Zanana-Munda track continues. During the night (July 5-6) Japanese destroyers bring nearly 3000 more troops to Vila. Admiral Ainsworth, with 3 cruisers and 4 destroyers, engages elements of the Japanese force and sinks one destroyer while losing the cruiser Helena.
1944-
On the Eastern Front... Soviets forces begin the destruction of the trapped German 9th and 4th Armies (an estimated 100,000 troops) in Belorussia. Other Red Army forces continue to exploit westward.
German mini-U-boats begin operations off the Normandy coast, sinking 4 small Allied warships and damaging the British cruiser Dragon.

On the Western Front... Elements of US 1st Army capture La Haye du Puits.
In New Guinea... On Numfoor, the Japanese garrison counterattacks the Allied beachhead but fails to make progress. American forces prepare to assault the third airfield on the island, at Namber.
In the United States... The Bretton Woods conference continues.
1945
In Britain... The British general election is held. The results are not available until July 26th because of the time taken to bring home and count votes of the soldiers serving abroad.
In Washington... It is announced that General Spaatz will lead the US Strategic Air Force in the campaign against Japan.
In London and Washington... Britain and the United States recognize a new Polish government of National Unity. Mikolajczyk, former leader of the London based Polish government in exile, is one of the deputy premiers.
In the Greater Sunda Islands... On Borneo, reinforcements for troops of the Australian 7th Division are landed near Penadjim Point in Balikpapan Bay. Australian forces have cleared most of the oil producing area in the immediate vicinity.
In Australia... The Prime Minister, John Curtin, dies at the age of 60. He has headed the government since 1941. F.M. Forde is appointed as the interim prime minister.