French prisoners being marched into captivity, June 1940
Overview of Key Events June 21, 1940, was a day dominated by the final stages of France’s defeat, as armistice negotiations were set in motion and the French government continued its chaotic relocation. Italian forces launched a limited offensive against France, while the British continued desperate evacuations.
European and Atlantic Theatre
The French government, facing the collapse of its armies, began the process of transferring from Bordeaux to Clermont-Ferrand, and then soon to Vichy, signaling the impending establishment of the Vichy regime.
In the French Alps, Italian forces launched an assault on the Little St Bernard Pass, successfully taking it in the morning. This was part of Italy’s brief and largely ineffectual invasion of France.
Operation Ariel, the ongoing British evacuation of Allied troops and civilians from western French ports, was drawing to a desperate close as the French government sought to end their part in the war.
Outcomes: France’s political landscape shifted dramatically towards an armistice with Germany and Italy, while British efforts to rescue personnel from collapsing France concluded.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
In anticipation of the impending Franco-Italian armistice, French forces in Italian Libya and Tunisia were ordered to cease hostilities with Italy.
Outcomes: Active hostilities between French and Italian forces in North Africa began to wind down, reflecting France’s overall surrender.
Pacific Theatre
No specific major events were reported in the Pacific Theatre on this date in the referenced timeline.
Outcomes: The Pacific remained in a state of watchful waiting.
Asian Theatre
No specific major events were reported in the Asian Theatre on this date in the referenced timeline.
Outcomes: The broader conflict in Asia continued without specific reported events for this day.
Key Personalities
General Charles de Gaulle: The Free French leader, who continued to advocate resistance from Britain.
Benito Mussolini: Italian dictator, whose forces engaged France.
June 21, 1941
First page of the ‘Commissar Order’, June 1941
Overview of Key Events June 21, 1941, stood on the precipice of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. As German preparations reached their final stage, new directives were issued, and the Soviet Union took late, desperate measures. In the Middle East, a key city fell to Allied forces in the Syrian campaign.
European and Atlantic Theatre
On the Eastern Front, Germany issued orders for all its shipping to immediately leave Soviet ports, a clear final signal of the imminent invasion.
In a belated response to mounting intelligence, the Soviet Union ordered a general mobilization along its western frontiers, though this was largely insufficient and too late to prepare for the scale of the impending German attack.
Adolf Hitler’s infamous Commissar Order (Kommissarbefehl), directing the summary execution of Soviet political commissars captured by German forces, in flagrant violation of international law, was being passed by word of mouth to junior commanders. This order, originally issued on 6 June, further dehumanized Soviet combatants and set a brutal tone for the Eastern Front conflict and was effectively an order to execute any political officers encountered.
Outcomes: The final preparations for Operation Barbarossa were in place, with Germany signaling its intent and issuing orders that would lead to widespread atrocities. The Soviet Union’s belated mobilization was unlikely to stem the coming tide.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
In the Syrian-Lebanon Campaign (Operation Exporter), the strategically vital city of Damascus surrendered to advancing Allied forces. This marked a significant gain for the Allied campaign aimed at wresting control of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon. The Vichy forces, that could escape, retreated down the Beirut road, and would continue their resistance until an eventual armistice on 21 July.
Outcomes: The fall of Damascus was a key Allied victory in the Syrian Campaign, strengthening their position in the Middle East.
Pacific Theatre
No specific major events were reported in the Pacific Theatre on this date in the referenced timeline.
Outcomes: Tensions in the Pacific continued to simmer.
Asian Theatre
No specific major events were reported in the Asian Theatre on this date in the referenced timeline.
Outcomes: The broader conflict in Asia continued without specific reported events for this day.
Key Personalities
Adolf Hitler: German Führer, issuing the Commissar Order.
Joseph Stalin: Soviet leader.
General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson: Commander of Allied forces in Syria.
June 21, 1942
German soldiers carry a wounded comrade during the siege of Sevastopol, June 1942
Overview of Key Events June 21, 1942, was a momentous day in the North African campaign, as the key port of Tobruk fell to Axis forces after a prolonged siege, marking a major victory for Rommel and a devastating blow to the Allies. Simultaneously, Allied air raids targeted German industrial centers, and the systematic horrors of the Holocaust continued.
European and Atlantic Theatre
On the Eastern Front, the city of Sevastopol, a Soviet naval base on the Crimean Peninsula, was under fierce attack by German Eleventh Army forces under General Erich von Manstein as part of a prolonged and brutal siege.
Allied air forces continued their strategic bombing offensive against German industrial targets. On this date, significant raids were carried out on Bremen, a major port and industrial center, by Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers.
Holocaust-related events: The systematic deportation of Jews from occupied European countries to extermination camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau continued. These forced transfers were part of the ongoing implementation of the “Final Solution,” with thousands of individuals being transported daily to their deaths.
Outcomes: The Germans are grinding towards victory in the Crimean Peninsula. Allied strategic bombing continued to target Germany’s industrial capacity. The horrific machinery of the Holocaust continued unabated.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
In North Africa, the critical port city of Tobruk fell to Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps. After a renewed and intense assault, the Allied garrison, primarily elements of the British 2nd South African Infantry Division, was forced to surrender. This major victory for the Axis provided them with a vital port closer to their front lines, significantly impacting the logistical situation.
Following the capture of Tobruk, Adolf Hitler immediately promoted Erwin Rommel to Field Marshal, making him the youngest Field Marshal in the German Army.
Outcomes: The fall of Tobruk was a devastating strategic loss for the Allies in North Africa, bolstering Axis momentum and Rommel’s prestige.
Pacific Theatre
Japanese submarine, I-25, surfaces at the mouth of the Columbia River and shells Fort Stevens, with its 14cm deck gun. There was little damage and I-25 managed to escape a subsequent air search. But the attack led to a West Coast Invasion scare. This was the only attack on a military base on the contiguous United States during the war.
Outcomes: The attack in Oregon bring an invasion scare to the West Coast.
Asian Theatre
No specific major events were reported in the Asian Theatre on this date in the referenced timeline.
Outcomes: No specific major events were reported in this theatre on this day.
Key Personalities
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel: German commander, promoted to Field Marshal after taking Tobruk.
General Erich von Manstein: Commander of the German Eleventh Army, which captured Sevastopol.
Adolf Hitler: German Führer.
June 21, 1943
Knocked out USMC armour, New Georgia,1943
Overview of Key Events On June 21, 1943, both the Eastern Front and the Mediterranean continued to be characterized by intense preparations. On the Eastern Front, the enormous buildup for the Battle of Kursk neared completion. Meanwhile, the Allies continued their final logistical and troop preparations for the crucial invasion of Sicily.
European and Atlantic Theatre
On the Eastern Front, the massive preparations for the Battle of Kursk continued intensively. Both the German Wehrmacht and the Soviet Red Army were completing their enormous concentrations of men, tanks, and artillery. The Soviets, having built extensive layered defenses, awaited the German offensive (Operation Citadel).
Allied strategic bombing raids against German industrial targets continued. On this date, significant raids by Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command were conducted against Gelsenkirchen and Krefeld, key industrial centres in the Ruhr region. These raids aimed to cripple Germany’s war production capacity.
Heinrich Himmler orders the transfer of the remaining Jews from the Nazi-occupied Baltic states to small slave-labour camps in order to meet Germany’s military needs.
Outcomes: The Eastern Front stood poised for a decisive battle, while Allied strategic bombing continued to pound German industry, exerting pressure on the Nazi war machine.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Allied forces in North Africa and the Mediterranean continued their final build-up and logistical arrangements for Operation Husky, the impending invasion of Sicily. This involved the movement of vast numbers of troops, equipment, and supplies to embarkation points in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as final coordination meetings among senior commanders.
In occupied Greece, British SOE agents and Greek fighters destroy the rail bridge over the Asopos River as part of Operation Animals and Greek ELAS guerrillas ambush and destroy a German convoy at the Battle of Sarantaporos.
Outcomes: The Allies were in the final stages of preparing for a major invasion of Sicily, aiming to open a new front in Europe.
Pacific Theatre
Operation Cartwheel opens with landings by the United States 4th Marine Raider Battalion at Segi Point on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands, beginning the New Georgia Campaign.
Outcomes: Allied forces in the Pacific landing on New Georgia but wont secure the island until August.
Asian Theatre
No specific major events were reported in the Asian Theatre on this date in the referenced timeline.
Outcomes: No specific major events were reported in this theatre on this day.
Key Personalities
General Dwight D. Eisenhower: Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, overseeing Sicily invasion preparations.
General Sir Harold Alexander: Commander of the 15th Army Group, leading the ground forces for Sicily.
June 21, 1944
British Indian soldiers search long grass while covered by Bren team, Imphal, 1944
Overview of Key Events June 21, 1944, saw the Channel storm intensify, severely disrupting Allied logistics in Normandy. On the Eastern Front, Soviet preliminary bombardments signaled the imminent launch of Operation Bagration. Meanwhile, the gruesome deportation of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz continued.
European and Atlantic Theatre
In Normandy, the severe storm in the English Channel intensified, causing significant damage to the crucial artificial Mulberry Harbors at Omaha and Arromanches. This disrupted the flow of supplies and reinforcements to the beachheads, complicating Allied offensive plans.
Soviet forces on the Eastern Front intensified their preliminary bombardments and reconnaissance-in-force operations along the front lines, particularly targeting German Army Group Centre. These actions were a prelude to the massive Operation Bagration, which would officially launch the following day, June 22.
Heavy fighting continued around Cherbourg on the Cotentin Peninsula as U.S. forces pushed to capture the vital port.
Germany continued its retaliatory V-1 flying bomb attacks on London and other targets in southeastern England.
Holocaust-related events: The mass deportation of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz-Birkenau continued at an unprecedented rate, under the direction of the SS. Trains arrived daily, carrying thousands of victims to the gas chambers.
Outcomes: The storm in the Channel severely hampered Allied logistics. The Soviets were poised for their massive summer offensive. Fighting continued fiercely in Normandy, and the Holocaust continued its systematic extermination.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
On the Italian Front, Allied forces of the 15th Army Group continued their relentless pursuit of the retreating German Tenth Army as they fell back towards the Gothic Line in northern Italy.
Outcomes: Allied forces in Italy maintained their offensive momentum, forcing the German Tenth Army into a continuous retreat.
Pacific Theatre
The Battle of the Philippine Sea continued into its aftermath. While the major carrier air battles (the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”) had concluded on June 19-20, U.S. forces were still actively searching for and pursuing the remnants of Vice Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa’s Imperial Japanese Navy’s First Mobile Fleet, which had suffered catastrophic losses in aircraft and two carriers sunk.
On Saipan (Operation Forager), intense ground combat continued as U.S. V Amphibious Corps units pressed their advance against entrenched Japanese 31st Army defenders.
Outcomes: The Battle of the Philippine Sea’s aftermath saw continued U.S. pursuit and intelligence gathering. The brutal ground battle on Saipan continued.
Asian Theatre
In China, Japanese forces continued their advance as part of Operation Ichi-Go, consolidating gains and pushing deeper into central and southern China.
In Burma, remnants of the Japanese 15th Army continued their disastrous retreat from the Kohima-Imphal offensive. The British 14th Army continued its pursuit, exploiting the Japanese collapse.
Outcomes: Japanese forces advanced in China, but their crushing defeat in India-Burma forced a full retreat, marking a major turning point in the Southeast Asian theatre.
Key Personalities
General Omar Bradley: Commander of the U.S. First Army in Normandy.
Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky: Commander of the Soviet 1st Belorussian Front, involved in Bagration preparations.
Adolf Eichmann: Senior SS official, central to Holocaust deportations.
Admiral Raymond Spruance: Commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, overseeing the Battle of the Philippine Sea aftermath.
June 21, 1945
Australian soldiers in jungle conditions, Labuan Island, June 1945
Overview of Key Events On June 21, 1945, the Battle of Okinawa is almost concluded, anticipating a hard-won victory for the Allies in the Pacific. In Europe, the focus remained on the complex post-war environment. In Southeast Asia, Allied operations in Borneo continued, while Japanese forces were in widespread retreat across China and Burma.
European and Atlantic Theatre
The European theatre continued its transition into a complex period of post-war occupation and reconstruction. Efforts focused on demobilization, establishing civil administration, and beginning the immense task of rebuilding infrastructure.
Displaced Persons (DP) camps across Europe remained active, housing millions of refugees, former forced laborers, and Holocaust survivors. Relief efforts, often spearheaded by UNRRA, continued to provide aid and facilitate their eventual repatriation or resettlement.
Outcomes: Europe continued its post-war transition, addressing widespread humanitarian crises.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
No specific major events were widely reported in the Mediterranean and African theatre on this date. The region was largely in a state of post-war stabilization and demobilization.
Outcomes: The theatre was in a period of relative calm, focusing on the return to normalcy.
Pacific Theatre
The Battle of Okinawa (Operation Iceberg) officially concluded on tomorrow with the formal capture of the southern tip of the island by U.S. Tenth Army forces. This marked the end of the largest and deadliest amphibious assault of the Pacific War. The island’s capture provided a crucial strategic base for future operations against the Japanese home islands.
Outcomes: The costly Battle of Okinawa is finally concluding, securing a vital Allied strategic base.
Asian Theatre
In Borneo, the Australian 9th Division continued its ground operations, consolidating gains made on Labuan Island and pushing inland on the island’s mainland against Japanese forces. Their objectives included securing airfields and eliminating remaining enemy pockets.
In China, the Japanese China Expeditionary Army continued its general strategic retreat from southern China. Chinese Nationalist forces, under Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, continued to advance, recapturing territory as the Japanese withdrew to consolidate their dwindling resources closer to their homeland.
In Burma, the remnants of the Japanese Burma Area Army were in disarray, continuing a desperate retreat. The British 14th Army, under General William Slim, maintained its pursuit and mopping-up operations against the fragmented Japanese forces, completing the effective neutralization of Japanese military power in the region.
Outcomes: Allied forces in Borneo made steady progress. The Japanese were in widespread retreat across China and Burma, signifying the collapse of their land forces in Southeast Asia and their inability to hold captured territories.
Key Personalities
General Joseph W. Stilwell: Commander of the U.S. Tenth Army in Okinawa after the death of Lt. Gen. Buckner.
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek: Leader of Nationalist Chinese forces.
General William Slim: Commander of the British 14th Army in Burma.
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Each Day in World War II – 21st June
June 21, 1940
Overview of Key Events June 21, 1940, was a day dominated by the final stages of France’s defeat, as armistice negotiations were set in motion and the French government continued its chaotic relocation. Italian forces launched a limited offensive against France, while the British continued desperate evacuations.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: France’s political landscape shifted dramatically towards an armistice with Germany and Italy, while British efforts to rescue personnel from collapsing France concluded.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: Active hostilities between French and Italian forces in North Africa began to wind down, reflecting France’s overall surrender.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: The Pacific remained in a state of watchful waiting.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: The broader conflict in Asia continued without specific reported events for this day.
Key Personalities
June 21, 1941
Overview of Key Events June 21, 1941, stood on the precipice of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. As German preparations reached their final stage, new directives were issued, and the Soviet Union took late, desperate measures. In the Middle East, a key city fell to Allied forces in the Syrian campaign.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: The final preparations for Operation Barbarossa were in place, with Germany signaling its intent and issuing orders that would lead to widespread atrocities. The Soviet Union’s belated mobilization was unlikely to stem the coming tide.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: The fall of Damascus was a key Allied victory in the Syrian Campaign, strengthening their position in the Middle East.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: Tensions in the Pacific continued to simmer.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: The broader conflict in Asia continued without specific reported events for this day.
Key Personalities
June 21, 1942
Overview of Key Events June 21, 1942, was a momentous day in the North African campaign, as the key port of Tobruk fell to Axis forces after a prolonged siege, marking a major victory for Rommel and a devastating blow to the Allies. Simultaneously, Allied air raids targeted German industrial centers, and the systematic horrors of the Holocaust continued.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: The Germans are grinding towards victory in the Crimean Peninsula. Allied strategic bombing continued to target Germany’s industrial capacity. The horrific machinery of the Holocaust continued unabated.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: The fall of Tobruk was a devastating strategic loss for the Allies in North Africa, bolstering Axis momentum and Rommel’s prestige.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: The attack in Oregon bring an invasion scare to the West Coast.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: No specific major events were reported in this theatre on this day.
Key Personalities
June 21, 1943
Overview of Key Events On June 21, 1943, both the Eastern Front and the Mediterranean continued to be characterized by intense preparations. On the Eastern Front, the enormous buildup for the Battle of Kursk neared completion. Meanwhile, the Allies continued their final logistical and troop preparations for the crucial invasion of Sicily.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: The Eastern Front stood poised for a decisive battle, while Allied strategic bombing continued to pound German industry, exerting pressure on the Nazi war machine.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: The Allies were in the final stages of preparing for a major invasion of Sicily, aiming to open a new front in Europe.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: Allied forces in the Pacific landing on New Georgia but wont secure the island until August.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: No specific major events were reported in this theatre on this day.
Key Personalities
June 21, 1944
Overview of Key Events June 21, 1944, saw the Channel storm intensify, severely disrupting Allied logistics in Normandy. On the Eastern Front, Soviet preliminary bombardments signaled the imminent launch of Operation Bagration. Meanwhile, the gruesome deportation of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz continued.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: The storm in the Channel severely hampered Allied logistics. The Soviets were poised for their massive summer offensive. Fighting continued fiercely in Normandy, and the Holocaust continued its systematic extermination.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: Allied forces in Italy maintained their offensive momentum, forcing the German Tenth Army into a continuous retreat.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: The Battle of the Philippine Sea’s aftermath saw continued U.S. pursuit and intelligence gathering. The brutal ground battle on Saipan continued.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: Japanese forces advanced in China, but their crushing defeat in India-Burma forced a full retreat, marking a major turning point in the Southeast Asian theatre.
Key Personalities
June 21, 1945
Overview of Key Events On June 21, 1945, the Battle of Okinawa is almost concluded, anticipating a hard-won victory for the Allies in the Pacific. In Europe, the focus remained on the complex post-war environment. In Southeast Asia, Allied operations in Borneo continued, while Japanese forces were in widespread retreat across China and Burma.
European and Atlantic Theatre
Outcomes: Europe continued its post-war transition, addressing widespread humanitarian crises.
Mediterranean and African Theatre
Outcomes: The theatre was in a period of relative calm, focusing on the return to normalcy.
Pacific Theatre
Outcomes: The costly Battle of Okinawa is finally concluding, securing a vital Allied strategic base.
Asian Theatre
Outcomes: Allied forces in Borneo made steady progress. The Japanese were in widespread retreat across China and Burma, signifying the collapse of their land forces in Southeast Asia and their inability to hold captured territories.
Key Personalities
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