RAF servicemen being evacuated on steam packet from Brest during Operation Aerial, June 1940
Overview of Key Events The Battle of France reached its critical phase on June 15, 1940, with German forces launching decisive attacks and French resistance nearing collapse. This led to a significant shift in French leadership and continued Allied efforts to evacuate troops from western France. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union solidified its control over the Baltic states with new ultimatums. In China, Japanese forces pressed their strategic advances.
European and Atlantic Theatre
In France, German Army Group B, under General Fedor von Bock, continued its offensive towards the Loire River, targeting retreating French 7th Army elements and driving south from the Seine. Meanwhile, German Army Group A, commanded by General Gerd von Rundstedt, launched a broad offensive across the French front, focusing on breaking through remaining French defenses. Elements of the French 10th Army, under General Charles Condé, particularly the French 40th Corps, engaged in desperate holding actions.
The Soviet occupation of Lithuania was fully established as Red Army forces, including elements of General Ivan Boldin’s 8th Army, completed their entry and secured key points, following the ultimatum issued the previous day.
The Soviet Union then issued new ultimatums to Latvia and Estonia, demanding the establishment of pro-Soviet governments and the allowance of additional Red Army troops. These moves were orchestrated by the Soviet leadership, including Joseph Stalin and Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, to fully incorporate the Baltic states into the Soviet sphere.
Operation Aerial, the Allied evacuation of forces from western French ports, continued. From ports like Brest and St. Nazaire, British, Polish, and some French troops embarked on transports and Royal Navy vessels, including various destroyers and troopships.
Outcomes: The German offensive pushed France to the brink of surrender, leading to a new French government seeking an armistice. Soviet ultimatums cemented their annexation of the Baltic states, significantly expanding the USSR’s western frontier. Operation Aerial successfully salvaged thousands of Allied personnel, preventing their capture.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
No major combat operations were widely documented on this specific date in the Mediterranean and African Theatre. Italy, having recently entered the war, was consolidating its forces and beginning limited aerial reconnaissance and naval patrols.
Outcomes: The theatre remained in a phase of early engagements and positioning, with no decisive actions on this day.
Pacific Theatre
No significant activity was widely reported in the Pacific Theatre. Japan remained focused on its ongoing conflict in China and its strategic manoeuvres in Southeast Asia, while the United States maintained its official neutrality.
Outcomes: The Pacific remained outwardly calm, though geopolitical tensions were steadily building towards future conflicts.
Asian Theatre
In China, Japanese forces continued to consolidate their control over recently captured territories in central and southern China. Elements of the Japanese China Expeditionary Army, under General Toshizō Nishio, engaged in mopping-up operations and fortified strategic positions to secure their gains along key communication lines, particularly in Hubei province following the capture of Yichang earlier in the month.
Outcomes: Japanese territorial control deepened in China, despite continued resistance from various Chinese forces.
Key Personalities
General Fedor von Bock: Commander of German Army Group B in France.
General Gerd von Rundstedt: Commander of German Army Group A in France.
Joseph Stalin: Soviet leader, orchestrating the Baltic occupations.
General Toshizō Nishio: Commander of the Japanese China Expeditionary Army.
June 15, 1941
88mm Flak crew scanning the horizon for British armour during Operation Battleaxe in Libya, June 1941
Overview of Key Events June 15, 1941, was a day of intense military action in North Africa, as the British launched a major offensive, Operation Battleaxe, aimed at relieving Tobruk. Simultaneously, the Allied invasion of Vichy French Syria continued. On the Eastern Front, Germany was making its final, meticulous preparations for the colossal invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, and the Holocaust’s systematic apparatus was taking shape with increasing brutality. Japan continued its strategic pressures in Asia.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Germany made final preparations for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. Along the entire Soviet border, vast formations of the Wehrmacht, including Army Group Center under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock, and its potent armored spearheads such as General Hermann Hoth’s 3rd Panzer Group, were in their final assembly areas. Soviet intelligence, despite numerous warnings, largely failed to grasp the scale and imminence of the threat, leading to widespread unpreparedness.
Holocaust-related events: Throughout German-occupied Europe and within Germany itself, the implementation of anti-Jewish decrees and policies intensified. The SS and its various departments, particularly the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA) under Reinhard Heydrich, finalized operational plans for the Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing squads) for mass executions to commence immediately upon the invasion of Soviet territories.
Outcomes: The clandestine buildup to Barbarossa established the foundation for the deadliest front of the war. Anti-Jewish measures tightened the Nazi grip on Jewish communities, pushing them closer to the “Final Solution.”
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Operation Battleaxe was launched by the British Western Desert Force, under General Sir Archibald Wavell, aiming to relieve the besieged Allied garrison at Tobruk. The British 7th Armoured Division, including Crusader and Matilda II tanks under Major General Michael O’Moore Creagh, engaged General Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps, which included elements of the 15th Panzer Division equipped with Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks, and the 5th Light Division. Intense tank battles ensued, particularly around the heavily fortified Halfaya Pass.
In Syria, Operation Exporter, the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled territory, continued. Allied forces, including the Australian 7th Division (under Major General John Lavarack) and Free French forces (under General Paul Legentilhomme), advanced against Vichy French defenders under General Henri Dentz. Air support from RAF Hawker Hurricanes of No. 3 Squadron RAAF assisted ground movements.
Outcomes: Operation Battleaxe met strong German resistance and largely failed to achieve its objectives, leaving Tobruk still under siege. Allied forces in Syria continued to make slow but steady gains against Vichy French forces.
Pacific Theatre
No significant activity was widely reported in the Pacific Theatre on this date. Japan’s primary focus remained on its ongoing conflict in China and its strategic maneuvers in Southeast Asia, while the United States remained officially neutral.
Outcomes: The Pacific region remained outwardly calm, but undercurrents of tension continued to build as the region moved closer to a broader conflict.
Asian Theatre
In China, the prolonged conflict continued with localized engagements between Japanese forces and Chinese Nationalist and Communist armies. Japanese efforts, particularly by the Japanese 1st Army, focused on consolidating control over key areas, such as those in Shanxi province, and disrupting Chinese supply lines through anti-guerrilla operations against units like the Chinese 8th Route Army, under General Zhu De.
Japan continued to exert diplomatic and military pressure on Vichy France for increased access and basing rights in French Indochina, a crucial step in its “Southern Expansion” policy aimed at securing vital resources like oil and rubber.
Outcomes: Japanese forces maintained their territorial gains in China despite persistent Chinese resistance. Diplomatic pressure on Indochina intensified, foreshadowing future Japanese expansion into Southeast Asia.
Key Personalities
General Sir Archibald Wavell: Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command, overseeing Operation Battleaxe.
General Erwin Rommel: Commander of the Afrika Korps, defending against Battleaxe.
Major General Michael O’Moore Creagh: Commander of the British 7th Armoured Division.
Major General John Lavarack: Commander of the Australian 7th Division in Syria.
General Henri Dentz: Commander of Vichy French forces in Syria.
Field Marshal Fedor von Bock: Commander of German Army Group Center, preparing for Barbarossa.
Reinhard Heydrich: Head of the RSHA, overseeing Einsatzgruppen planning.
General Zhu De: Commander of the Chinese 8th Route Army.
June 15, 1942
Japanese Marines with Imperial flag on Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, June 1943
Overview of Key Events In the Mediterranean, the pivotal Operation Vigorous convoy suffered significant losses to Axis air and naval attacks, highlighting the peril of supplying Malta. In North Africa, Rommel’s forces pressed their advantage after the British collapse at the Gazala Line, threatening Tobruk. On the Eastern Front, Germany made final preparations for its massive summer offensive, Case Blue, as Holocaust deportations from Western Europe intensified, orchestrated by the Nazi regime.
European and Atlantic Theatre
German Army Group South, under the overall command of Field Marshal Fedor von Bock, was in its final stages of preparation for Case Blue, the massive German summer offensive into the Soviet Union. This involved extensive logistical arrangements and the forward deployment of vast forces, including Sixth Army and Fourth Panzer Army, aiming for the Don and Volga rivers.
Holocaust-related events: Mass deportations of Jews from Western European countries, particularly from France and the Netherlands, to extermination camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau escalated. These transports, coordinated by the SS Reich Security Main Office (RSHA), with Adolf Eichmann playing a central organizational role, systematically moved victims from transit camps like Westerbork in the Netherlands.
Outcomes: The Eastern Front braced for another titanic struggle, while the systematic extermination of European Jewry gained horrifying momentum, reaching new levels of brutality and efficiency.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Operation Vigorous, a British convoy attempting to resupply the besieged island of Malta from Alexandria, came under sustained and heavy Axis air and naval attacks. Italian Regia Aeronautica bombers, including Savoia-Marchetti SM.79s and German Luftwaffe Ju 87 Stukas, launched continuous assaults. The convoy suffered severe losses, including the destroyer HMS Airedale, and was eventually forced to turn back, failing to reach Malta.
In North Africa, General Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps, consisting of the 15th Panzer Division (equipped with Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks) and the 90th Light Division, pressed its advantage following the British Eighth Army’s (under General Neil Ritchie) collapse at the Gazala Line. Their rapid advance put immense pressure on the crucial port of Tobruk, which was now heavily threatened by direct assault.
Outcomes: Operation Vigorous’s failure highlighted the immense difficulties of supplying Malta through Axis-controlled waters, severely jeopardizing the island’s strategic viability. Rommel’s aggressive pursuit post-Gazala put Tobruk in dire peril, leading directly to its imminent fall.
Pacific Theatre
Following the decisive Battle of Midway (early June 1942), the U.S. Pacific Fleet, under Admiral Chester Nimitz, began detailed planning for its first major offensive operation in the Pacific: the Guadalcanal Campaign. Preparations involved the refitting of aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and USS Hornet, part of Task Force 16 (though under Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance for Midway, their immediate post-battle commanders and formations were consolidating). The 1st Marine Division, commanded by Major General Alexander Vandegrift, began intensive training for the upcoming amphibious assault. PBY Catalina patrol bombers of VP-44 Squadron conducted reconnaissance over Guadalcanal.
Outcomes: The U.S. began its strategic shift from defensive to offensive operations in the Pacific, setting the stage for a critical and brutal campaign that would test Allied resolve.
Asian Theatre
In China, the Japanese China Expeditionary Army, commanded by General Yasuji Okamura, continued its mopping-up operations in Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces after the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign (Operation Sei-go). These operations specifically targeted the destruction of airfields that had been used by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle’s B-25 Mitchell bombers during the Doolittle Raid. Chinese 3rd War Area forces, under General Gu Zhutong, continued to resist.
The Imperial Japanese Navy continued to reinforce its newly occupied positions in the Aleutian Islands, particularly Attu and Kiska, following the diversionary attacks concurrent with Midway. This move aimed to extend Japan’s defensive perimeter and draw U.S. resources away from the central Pacific.
Outcomes: Japanese forces solidified their gains in eastern China, continuing to face persistent, though often fragmented, Chinese resistance. The reinforcement of the Aleutians signaled a new, albeit costly, front for Japan in the North Pacific.
Key Personalities
Field Marshal Fedor von Bock: Commander of German Army Group South, preparing for Case Blue.
Adolf Eichmann: Senior SS official, central to the logistics of Holocaust deportations.
General Erwin Rommel: Commander of the Afrika Korps, pressing towards Tobruk.
General Neil Ritchie: Commander of the British Eighth Army.
Admiral Chester Nimitz: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Major General Alexander Vandegrift: Commander of the U.S. 1st Marine Division.
General Yasuji Okamura: Directed Japanese operations in China.
General Gu Zhutong: Commander of Chinese 3rd War Area forces.
June 15, 1943
The orchestra performing at Janowska Camp, date unknown
Overview of Key Events On June 15, 1943, both sides on the Eastern Front made extensive, final preparations for the impending Battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle in history. Allied air raids continued to target German industry in Western Europe. In the Pacific, U.S. forces finalized plans for the invasion of New Georgia, marking another step in the island-hopping campaign. Holocaust liquidations continued in Eastern Europe, reflecting the ongoing brutality of Nazi policies.
European and Atlantic Theatre
On the Eastern Front, both German Army Group South, commanded by Field Marshal Erich von Manstein, and the Soviet Voronezh Front, under General Nikolai Vatutin, were engaged in massive final preparations for the Battle of Kursk. This involved extensive digging of defensive lines, massive troop and tank movements (including Panther and Tiger I tanks for the Germans, and T-34 tanks and SU-152 self-propelled guns for the Soviets), and the stockpiling of vast quantities of equipment.
Allied strategic bombing campaigns against German industry continued. RAF Bomber Command, under Air Marshal Arthur Harris, continued to launch night raids. On the night of June 15/16, the RAF mounted a raid on the Cologne area using Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax bombers. The U.S. Eighth Air Force, commanded by Major General Ira Eaker, conducted daylight precision bombing missions against industrial targets. While not on June 15 directly, the 8th Air Force’s major daylight raid on Kiel’s U-boat yards occurred on June 16, involving B-17 Flying Fortresses of units like the 100th Bomb Group.
Holocaust-related events: In Eastern Galicia, the liquidation of the Lviv Ghetto and surrounding Jewish communities continued under the command of SS and Police Leader Friedrich Katzmann. Jews were systematically killed in mass shootings or rounded up and deported to extermination camps like Belzec or concentration camps, including the brutal Janowska camp near Lviv, where many were murdered on site. The Janowska camp was renowned for the sadism and depravity of the guards who even forced a group of musical prisoners to regularly perform during the murders.
Outcomes: The Eastern Front poised for an epochal confrontation at Kursk, which would determine the strategic initiative. Allied air raids continued to place pressure on Germany’s industrial capacity. The horrific “Final Solution” continued to claim lives in Eastern Europe, with Lviv’s Jewish population largely annihilated.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
No significant ground combat operations were widely reported, as Allied forces were primarily engaged in the final stages of planning and staging for the massive Invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky), scheduled for July 10. Reconnaissance flights by RAF Spitfires and U.S. P-38 Lightnings over Axis positions in Sicily and southern Italy were ongoing, along with preparatory bombing missions by Allied medium bombers.
Outcomes: A period of relative calm on the ground allowed the Allies to meticulously finalize their plans for the invasion of Sicily, a critical step in the campaign to knock Italy out of the war.
Pacific Theatre
U.S. forces finalized their plans and began initial movements for the New Georgia Campaign (Operation Toenails), specifically targeting Munda Point. Key units involved included the 43rd Infantry Division (under Major General John H. Hester) and various Marine Raider Battalions. P-38 Lightning fighters of the 339th Fighter Squadron provided escort for reconnaissance aircraft over the target areas.
Note: The Wikipedia timelines do not list a Japanese air raid on Darwin on June 15, 1943. The closest documented raid was on June 20, 1943.
Outcomes: U.S. forces were poised to launch a new offensive in the Solomon Islands, aimed at pushing the Japanese further back in the South Pacific.
Asian Theatre
In China, the Japanese 11th Army, under General Yukio Kasahara, was engaged in consolidating its gains in Hubei province after the Battle of Western Hubei (Battle of Exi). These actions aimed at cementing Japanese control over strategic areas and preventing a significant Chinese counter-offensive by Chinese 6th War Area forces, under General Sun Lianzhong.
Japanese forces, including elements of the 18th Army under General Hatazo Adachi, continued to reinforce their defensive positions in New Guinea, anticipating further Allied thrusts from Australia and Papua New Guinea. The Imperial Japanese Navy continued air raids, often utilizing A6M Zero fighters, on Allied bases in the Solomon Islands, such as Guadalcanal, as part of its efforts to interdict Allied movements and protect Japanese strongholds.
Outcomes: Japanese forces sought to consolidate their territorial control in China and strengthen their defenses in New Guinea against growing Allied pressure, while continuing to challenge Allied air superiority in the Solomons.
Key Personalities
Field Marshal Erich von Manstein: Commander of German Army Group South, preparing for Kursk.
General Nikolai Vatutin: Commander of the Soviet Voronezh Front, preparing for Kursk.
Air Marshal Arthur Harris: Leader of RAF Bomber Command.
Major General Ira Eaker: Commander of the U.S. Eighth Air Force.
Friedrich Katzmann: SS and Police Leader, responsible for Jewish liquidations in Lviv.
Major General John H. Hester: Commander of the U.S. 43rd Infantry Division.
General Yukio Kasahara: Commander of the Japanese 11th Army in China.
General Hatazo Adachi: Commander of the Japanese 18th Army in New Guinea.
June 15, 1944
US Marine Corps LTVs move towards the Saipan shore with supporting fire from USS Indianapolis, 15th June 1944
Overview of Key Events On June 15, 1944, Allied forces made significant advances in Normandy, pressing deeper into German defenses after the D-Day landings. This day also marked the start of the crucial Battle of Saipan in the Pacific, a major step in the U.S. island-hopping campaign. Germany continued its V-1 flying bomb attacks on London. On the Eastern Front, Soviet forces prepared for their colossal summer offensive, Operation Bagration. Tragically, the Holocaust’s horrific deportations of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz continued at an accelerating pace.
European and Atlantic Theatre
In Normandy, Allied forces continued to expand and consolidate their beachheads. The British 51st (Highland) Division and Canadian 3rd Infantry Division, part of General Bernard Montgomery’s 21st Army Group, were heavily engaged in fierce fighting around Caen, encountering determined resistance from German 12th SS Panzer Division “Hitlerjugend” and Panzer Lehr Division, equipped with Panther and Panzer IV tanks.
Further west, U.S. V Corps elements, including the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division (under Major General Walter M. Robertson), continued their advance towards St. Lô, battling the entrenched German 352nd Infantry Division. The U.S. 101st Airborne Division, commanded by Major General Maxwell D. Taylor, was consolidating its hard-won positions around Carentan, having secured the town days earlier, though skirmishes with elements of the German 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division “Götz von Berlichingen” continued in the broader area. Close air support was provided by RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force Hawker Typhoon fighters and U.S. Ninth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts.
Germany intensified its campaign of V-1 flying bomb attacks against London. These pilotless aircraft were launched from sites in the Pas-de-Calais region of France by Flak-Regiment 155 (W) (Rocket Regiment 155). These terror weapons caused significant damage and disruption in the British capital.
On the Eastern Front, Soviet forces were in the final stages of preparing for Operation Bagration, a massive offensive designed to shatter German Army Group Centre, commanded by Field Marshal Ernst Busch. Key Soviet formations included the 2nd Belorussian Front (under General Georgy Zakharov) and the 3rd Belorussian Front (under General Ivan Chernyakhovsky), accumulating vast numbers of T-34 tanks, Katyusha rocket launchers, and artillery.
Holocaust-related events: The mass deportation of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz-Birkenau continued unabated. These transports, orchestrated by Adolf Eichmann and his SS apparatus, saw hundreds of thousands of Jews loaded onto trains from Hungary, arriving at the extermination camp’s gas chambers at an unprecedented rate. By this point, roughly 437,000 Hungarian Jews had been deported.
Outcomes: Allied gains in Normandy put increasing pressure on German defenses in France. The V-1 attacks marked a new phase of strategic bombing against Britain. The Eastern Front was poised for one of the largest and most decisive Soviet offensives of the war. The Holocaust continued with horrific efficiency, as Hungarian Jewry faced systematic destruction.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
No major ground operations were widely reported, as Allied forces in the Mediterranean focused on securing their gains in Italy and preparing for future operations, including the planned Invasion of Southern France (Operation Dragoon). Air reconnaissance and bombing missions by Allied medium and heavy bombers over Axis positions continued.
Outcomes: The theatre remained in a phase of consolidation and preparation for the next major Allied offensive in Southern France.
Pacific Theatre
The Battle of Saipan (Operation Forager) began with initial landings by U.S. V Amphibious Corps. The U.S. 2nd Marine Division and 4th Marine Division, under the overall command of Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, spearheaded the assault. They faced fierce resistance from the entrenched Japanese 31st Army, led by Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Saito. The landings were supported by heavy naval bombardment from U.S. Navy battleships like USS Tennessee and USS California, and air cover provided by carrier-based aircraft.
Outcomes: The invasion of Saipan marked a critical and bloody turning point in the Pacific War, bringing U.S. forces closer to the Japanese home islands and within range for B-29 Superfortress bomber attacks.
Asian Theatre
In China, the Japanese China Expeditionary Army, commanded by General Yasuji Okamura, continued its advance as part of Operation Ichi-Go. This massive offensive saw Japanese forces, including elements of the Japanese 12th Army, pressing Chinese forces in Henan and Hunan provinces, aiming to secure strategic rail lines and airfields crucial for the upcoming B-29 raids.
In India and Burma, the tide had turned in the Battle of Kohima-Imphal. The Japanese 15th Army, under General Renya Mutaguchi, faced decisive defeat and was in full retreat, having failed in its audacious offensive. The British 14th Army, led by General William Slim, relentlessly pursued the withdrawing Japanese, consolidating its victory.
The first U.S. B-29 Superfortress bombing raid on Japan was launched from airfields in China. XX Bomber Command aircraft, including B-29s from units like the 58th Bombardment Wing, targeted the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata, marking the beginning of the strategic bombing campaign against the Japanese home islands.
Outcomes: Japanese gains in China threatened Allied air supply routes, but their severe defeat in India-Burma significantly weakened their overall position. The B-29 raids marked a new phase of direct pressure on the Japanese homeland.
Key Personalities
General Bernard Montgomery: Commander of Allied ground forces in Normandy.
Major General Walter M. Robertson: Commander of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division.
Major General Maxwell D. Taylor: Commander of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division.
Adolf Eichmann: Senior SS official, central to the logistics of Hungarian Jewish deportations.
General Georgy Zakharov: Commander of the Soviet 2nd Belorussian Front.
General Ivan Chernyakhovsky: Commander of the Soviet 3rd Belorussian Front.
Field Marshal Ernst Busch: Commander of German Army Group Centre.
Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith: Commander of U.S. Marine forces in Saipan.
Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Saito: Commander of the Japanese 31st Army on Saipan.
General Yasuji Okamura: Commander of the Japanese China Expeditionary Army.
General William Slim: Commander of the British 14th Army in Burma.
General Renya Mutaguchi: Commander of the Japanese 15th Army, defeated at Kohima-Imphal.
June 15, 1945
9th Roayl Deccan Horse advance in Burma With Sherman tank in support, 1945
Overview of Key Events On June 15, 1945, the fierce Battle of Okinawa neared its end in the Pacific, with U.S. forces battling the last pockets of desperate Japanese resistance. Australian forces finalized preparations for a major landing in Borneo. In Europe, with Germany defeated, the focus shifted to the monumental challenge of post-war occupation and recovery, particularly for the hundreds of thousands of Holocaust survivors. Japanese forces continued their retreat in China and Burma as Allied victories mounted.
European and Atlantic Theatre
With Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 8, combat operations had ceased in Europe. Allied powers were engaged in the complex process of occupation and implementing the agreements made at the Yalta Conference, shaping the geopolitical landscape of post-war Europe. Soviet forces were consolidating their control over Eastern Germany and Poland.
Holocaust-related events: Survivors, now residing in Displaced Persons (DP) camps such as Feldafing (under U.S. administration in Bavaria) and Bergen-Belsen (under British administration in northern Germany), faced immense challenges. Efforts were underway by Allied military governments and international aid organizations like the UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) to provide medical care, locate relatives, and facilitate repatriation or emigration for hundreds of thousands of uprooted individuals.
Outcomes: Europe entered a new phase of post-war reorganization and recovery. The immense human cost of the Holocaust became starkly evident as survivors grappled with the aftermath of genocide and the challenges of rebuilding lives.
Pacific Theatre
The brutal Battle of Okinawa neared its final stages. The U.S. 10th Army, under the command of Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., continued its relentless advance against the desperate remnants of the Japanese 32nd Army, led by Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima. Units like the U.S. 1st Marine Division and 96th Infantry Division were engaged in fierce fighting to consolidate control over key positions, facing continuous, desperate kamikaze attacks from Japanese A6M Zero fighters and other aircraft against Allied naval vessels and ground positions.
The Australian 7th Division, commanded by Major General Edward Milford, was in the final stages of preparing for the Battle of Balikpapan in Borneo, a major amphibious landing operation (part of Operation Oboe Six) scheduled for July 1.
Outcomes: The protracted and costly Okinawa campaign was drawing to a close, providing a grim preview of the potential casualties of a direct invasion of the Japanese home islands. Preparations for Balikpapan underlined the continued Allied efforts to secure vital resource areas in Borneo.
Asian Theatre
In Borneo, the Australian 9th Division, under Major General George Wootten, continued its operations as part of Operation Oboe. Having secured key areas like Labuan Island, its units, including the 2/28th Battalion and 2/12th Commando Regiment, were involved in consolidating positions and pushing inland against remnants of the Japanese 37th Army (under Lieutenant General Masao Baba). They were supported by RAAF No. 76 Squadron (flying P-40 Kittyhawk fighters) and Royal Australian Navy assets, including the heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire.
In China, the Japanese China Expeditionary Army, commanded by General Yasuji Okamura, continued its general retreat in the aftermath of its decisive defeat in the Battle of West Hunan (Battle of Zhijiang). Chinese 3rd War Area forces, under General He Yingqin, capitalized on the Japanese withdrawal, steadily retaking territory in Hunan province.
In Burma, the Japanese Burma Area Army, under General Hyotaro Kimura, was in full retreat, their organized resistance largely broken. The British 14th Army, under General William Slim, having captured Rangoon in early May, continued its relentless pursuit and mopping-up operations against the disintegrating Japanese forces throughout the country.
Outcomes: Allied forces steadily gained ground in Borneo, securing vital resources. Chinese counter-offensives reclaimed significant territory, while the decisive British victory in Burma effectively ended major Japanese organized resistance in that theatre.
Key Personalities
Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr.: Commander of U.S. 10th Army in Okinawa.
Major General Edward Milford: Commander of the Australian 7th Division, preparing for Balikpapan.
Major General George Wootten: Commander of the Australian 9th Division in Borneo.
General William Slim: Commander of the British 14th Army in Burma.
General Yasuji Okamura: Commander of the Japanese China Expeditionary Army.
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Each Day in World War II – 15th June
June 15, 1940
Overview of Key Events The Battle of France reached its critical phase on June 15, 1940, with German forces launching decisive attacks and French resistance nearing collapse. This led to a significant shift in French leadership and continued Allied efforts to evacuate troops from western France. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union solidified its control over the Baltic states with new ultimatums. In China, Japanese forces pressed their strategic advances.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: The German offensive pushed France to the brink of surrender, leading to a new French government seeking an armistice. Soviet ultimatums cemented their annexation of the Baltic states, significantly expanding the USSR’s western frontier. Operation Aerial successfully salvaged thousands of Allied personnel, preventing their capture.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: The theatre remained in a phase of early engagements and positioning, with no decisive actions on this day.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: The Pacific remained outwardly calm, though geopolitical tensions were steadily building towards future conflicts.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: Japanese territorial control deepened in China, despite continued resistance from various Chinese forces.
Key Personalities
June 15, 1941
Overview of Key Events June 15, 1941, was a day of intense military action in North Africa, as the British launched a major offensive, Operation Battleaxe, aimed at relieving Tobruk. Simultaneously, the Allied invasion of Vichy French Syria continued. On the Eastern Front, Germany was making its final, meticulous preparations for the colossal invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, and the Holocaust’s systematic apparatus was taking shape with increasing brutality. Japan continued its strategic pressures in Asia.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: The clandestine buildup to Barbarossa established the foundation for the deadliest front of the war. Anti-Jewish measures tightened the Nazi grip on Jewish communities, pushing them closer to the “Final Solution.”
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: Operation Battleaxe met strong German resistance and largely failed to achieve its objectives, leaving Tobruk still under siege. Allied forces in Syria continued to make slow but steady gains against Vichy French forces.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: The Pacific region remained outwardly calm, but undercurrents of tension continued to build as the region moved closer to a broader conflict.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: Japanese forces maintained their territorial gains in China despite persistent Chinese resistance. Diplomatic pressure on Indochina intensified, foreshadowing future Japanese expansion into Southeast Asia.
Key Personalities
June 15, 1942
Overview of Key Events In the Mediterranean, the pivotal Operation Vigorous convoy suffered significant losses to Axis air and naval attacks, highlighting the peril of supplying Malta. In North Africa, Rommel’s forces pressed their advantage after the British collapse at the Gazala Line, threatening Tobruk. On the Eastern Front, Germany made final preparations for its massive summer offensive, Case Blue, as Holocaust deportations from Western Europe intensified, orchestrated by the Nazi regime.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: The Eastern Front braced for another titanic struggle, while the systematic extermination of European Jewry gained horrifying momentum, reaching new levels of brutality and efficiency.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: Operation Vigorous’s failure highlighted the immense difficulties of supplying Malta through Axis-controlled waters, severely jeopardizing the island’s strategic viability. Rommel’s aggressive pursuit post-Gazala put Tobruk in dire peril, leading directly to its imminent fall.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: The U.S. began its strategic shift from defensive to offensive operations in the Pacific, setting the stage for a critical and brutal campaign that would test Allied resolve.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: Japanese forces solidified their gains in eastern China, continuing to face persistent, though often fragmented, Chinese resistance. The reinforcement of the Aleutians signaled a new, albeit costly, front for Japan in the North Pacific.
Key Personalities
June 15, 1943
Overview of Key Events On June 15, 1943, both sides on the Eastern Front made extensive, final preparations for the impending Battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle in history. Allied air raids continued to target German industry in Western Europe. In the Pacific, U.S. forces finalized plans for the invasion of New Georgia, marking another step in the island-hopping campaign. Holocaust liquidations continued in Eastern Europe, reflecting the ongoing brutality of Nazi policies.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: The Eastern Front poised for an epochal confrontation at Kursk, which would determine the strategic initiative. Allied air raids continued to place pressure on Germany’s industrial capacity. The horrific “Final Solution” continued to claim lives in Eastern Europe, with Lviv’s Jewish population largely annihilated.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: A period of relative calm on the ground allowed the Allies to meticulously finalize their plans for the invasion of Sicily, a critical step in the campaign to knock Italy out of the war.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: U.S. forces were poised to launch a new offensive in the Solomon Islands, aimed at pushing the Japanese further back in the South Pacific.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: Japanese forces sought to consolidate their territorial control in China and strengthen their defenses in New Guinea against growing Allied pressure, while continuing to challenge Allied air superiority in the Solomons.
Key Personalities
June 15, 1944
Overview of Key Events On June 15, 1944, Allied forces made significant advances in Normandy, pressing deeper into German defenses after the D-Day landings. This day also marked the start of the crucial Battle of Saipan in the Pacific, a major step in the U.S. island-hopping campaign. Germany continued its V-1 flying bomb attacks on London. On the Eastern Front, Soviet forces prepared for their colossal summer offensive, Operation Bagration. Tragically, the Holocaust’s horrific deportations of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz continued at an accelerating pace.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: Allied gains in Normandy put increasing pressure on German defenses in France. The V-1 attacks marked a new phase of strategic bombing against Britain. The Eastern Front was poised for one of the largest and most decisive Soviet offensives of the war. The Holocaust continued with horrific efficiency, as Hungarian Jewry faced systematic destruction.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: The theatre remained in a phase of consolidation and preparation for the next major Allied offensive in Southern France.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: The invasion of Saipan marked a critical and bloody turning point in the Pacific War, bringing U.S. forces closer to the Japanese home islands and within range for B-29 Superfortress bomber attacks.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: Japanese gains in China threatened Allied air supply routes, but their severe defeat in India-Burma significantly weakened their overall position. The B-29 raids marked a new phase of direct pressure on the Japanese homeland.
Key Personalities
June 15, 1945
Overview of Key Events On June 15, 1945, the fierce Battle of Okinawa neared its end in the Pacific, with U.S. forces battling the last pockets of desperate Japanese resistance. Australian forces finalized preparations for a major landing in Borneo. In Europe, with Germany defeated, the focus shifted to the monumental challenge of post-war occupation and recovery, particularly for the hundreds of thousands of Holocaust survivors. Japanese forces continued their retreat in China and Burma as Allied victories mounted.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: Europe entered a new phase of post-war reorganization and recovery. The immense human cost of the Holocaust became starkly evident as survivors grappled with the aftermath of genocide and the challenges of rebuilding lives.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: The protracted and costly Okinawa campaign was drawing to a close, providing a grim preview of the potential casualties of a direct invasion of the Japanese home islands. Preparations for Balikpapan underlined the continued Allied efforts to secure vital resource areas in Borneo.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: Allied forces steadily gained ground in Borneo, securing vital resources. Chinese counter-offensives reclaimed significant territory, while the decisive British victory in Burma effectively ended major Japanese organized resistance in that theatre.
Key Personalities
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