German troops preparing the railcar where the French would sign the armistice, June 1940
Overview of Key Events June 22, 1940, witnessed a momentous turning point in the Battle of France with the signing of the Franco-German Armistice, formally ending major hostilities between the two nations and cementing Germany’s victory in the West. This will later swiftly be followed by an armistice between France and Italy. Britain and her Empire are increasingly isolated facing the German and Italian threat.
Europe and Atlantic
The Franco-German Armistice was signed in the Compiègne Forest, France, in the same railway car where the 1918 armistice with Germany was signed. The armistice terms, dictated by Germany, effectively ended the Battle of France, dividing the country into an occupied northern and western zone and an unoccupied southern zone, known as Vichy France. Key signatories included General Charles Huntziger for France and General Wilhelm Keitel for Germany.
Following the armistice with Germany, France also was preparing to sign an armistice with Italy in Rome. This agreement formally ceased hostilities between the two nations after Italy’s brief offensive in the Alps.
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
The French, under Petain, had requested an armistice with the Italians via the Papacy on 17 June. It would be agreed on 24 June. The Italians initially wanted to claim large amounts of territory in southern France and the French Empire and even the entire French Fleet, all its trains and the Mona Lisa. But, Hitler needed France to remain aligned with Germany and so Italian gains would end up being much more modest.
Asia
No specific major events were reported in Asia on this date in the referenced timeline.
Pacific
No specific major events were reported in the Pacific on this date in the referenced timeline.
Outcomes: France’s armistice with Germany, leading to its occupation and division. Italy’s will also soon achieve more limited gains against France. These marked a profound shift in the European power balance.
Key Personalities
General Wilhelm Keitel: Head of the OKW (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), signed the armistice for Germany.
General Charles Huntziger: Signed the armistice for France.
Adolf Hitler: German Führer, present at the signing.
Benito Mussolini: Italian dictator.
June 22, 1941
German troops passing a border marker into Soviet controlled territory, 22 June 1941
Overview of Key Events June 22, 1941, stands as one of the most pivotal dates in World War II history, marking the launch of Operation Barbarossa, the massive German invasion of the Soviet Union. This opened the brutal Eastern Front, shifting the global conflict dramatically.
Europe and Atlantic
Operation Barbarossa commenced at 03:15 AM Moscow time, as three massive German Army Groups (North, Centre, and South), along with Finnish and Romanian allies, launched a surprise invasion across a 1,800-mile front into the Soviet Union. This involved over 3 million Axis soldiers, 3,350 tanks, and 2,770 aircraft, representing the largest land invasion in history.
Army Group North (Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb) attacked towards Leningrad.
Army Group Centre (Field Marshal Fedor von Bock), the strongest, advanced towards Moscow.
Army Group South (Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt) pushed into Ukraine.
The invasion was characterized by overwhelming initial success for the German forces, catching the unprepared Soviet Red Army largely by surprise despite numerous intelligence warnings. Initial Soviet resistance was disorganized, leading to rapid German advances and encirclements.
As part of Operation Barbarossa, the Einsatzgruppen (German mobile killing squads) commenced their murderous operations immediately behind the front lines. Their mission, outlined in directives preceding the invasion (e.g., the Commissar Order), was to systematically exterminate Jews, Romani people, Communist Party officials, and Red Army political commissars, marking the expansion of the Holocaust to the East.
In Lithuania, the Lithuanian Activist Front, rose up against the Soviets and the ‘June Uprising‘ began. The Lithuanians seize the Presidential Palace in Kaunas and cut communications, disconnecting all known Communist numbers.
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
No specific major events were reported in the Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East on this date in the referenced timeline.
Asia
No specific major events were reported in Asia on this date in the referenced timeline.
Pacific
No specific major events were reported in the Pacific on this date in the referenced timeline.
Outcomes: Operation Barbarossa marked a catastrophic turning point, opening the brutal and decisive Eastern Front. The scale of the invasion and the beginning of systematic extermination campaigns drastically escalated the war’s violence and scope.
Key Personalities
Adolf Hitler: German Führer, initiating Operation Barbarossa.
Joseph Stalin: Soviet leader, whose disbelief of intelligence warnings contributed to initial Soviet unpreparedness.
Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb: Commander, German Army Group North.
Field Marshal Fedor von Bock: Commander, German Army Group Centre.
Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt: Commander, German Army Group South.
June 22, 1942
RAF Westland Lysander flies over British convoy heading to Egypt, June 1942
Overview of Key Events On June 22, 1942, the focus was heavily on the Eastern Front, where the Siege of Sevastopol was drawing to a brutal close. In the Pacific, the United States was already looking to counter Japanese expansion following their decisive victory at Midway. The British are in disastrous retreat to Egypt after the fall of Tobruk.
Europe and Atlantic
On the Eastern Front, the fierce Siege of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula neared its end. German and Romanian forces of the German Eleventh Army, under General Erich von Manstein, launched final assaults against the beleaguered Soviet defenders of the port city. While the city’s fall was officially declared on July 4, this period saw the collapse of key Soviet defenses.
Holocaust-related events: The systematic deportation of Jews from occupied European territories to extermination camps, particularly Auschwitz-Birkenau, continued as part of the “Final Solution.” Transports from various countries contributed to the ongoing genocide.
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
The British are in retreat and morale has reached an all time low, following the fall of Tobruk on June 21. 33,000 British and Empire troops were taken prisoner and massive amounts of war materiel was lost. It was second only to the surrender of Singapore in February 1942 in the scale of the capitulation and a severe blow to Britain. The British in North Africa are in chaotic and headlong retreat toward Egypt and they would face the Germans and Italians again at Mersa Matruh just a few days later.
Asia
No specific major events were reported in Asia on this date in the referenced timeline.
Pacific
United States forces continued planning for counter-offensives in the Pacific. On this day, the U.S. Navy initiated preparatory actions for the upcoming Guadalcanal Campaign (Operation Watchtower), including intelligence gathering and logistical planning for the first major Allied offensive in the Pacific, following the victory at Midway earlier in June.
Outcomes: The siege of Sevastopol was nearing its grim conclusion, marking a significant German gain on the Eastern Front. In the Pacific, the U.S. began active preparations for its first major offensive, signaling a shift to offensive operations.
Key Personalities
General Erich von Manstein: Commander of the German Eleventh Army.
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, overseeing planning for Guadalcanal.
June 22, 1943
US M4 Sherman tanks loading at La Pecherie Naval Base for Operation Husky. Tunisia, 1943.
Overview of Key Events On June 22, 1943, both the Eastern Front and the Mediterranean were characterized by intense preparations for massive upcoming operations. On the Russian Front, the colossal build-up for the Battle of Kursk neared its end, while Allied forces in the Mediterranean finalized their plans for the invasion of Sicily.
Europe and Atlantic
On the Eastern Front, the vast preparations for the impending Battle of Kursk continued on an unprecedented scale. Both the German Wehrmacht (planning Operation Citadel) and the Soviet Red Army had amassed enormous concentrations of tanks, artillery, and infantry. Soviet forces were particularly focused on perfecting their deep defensive belts and anti-tank fortifications, anticipating the German offensive.
No specific major combat operations or new strategic developments beyond these preparations were definitively reported for June 22, 1943.
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
Allied forces in North Africa and the Mediterranean continued their final detailed planning and logistical preparations for Operation Husky, the upcoming invasion of Sicily. This included last-minute tactical briefings, troop embarkations, and the meticulous coordination of naval support, air cover, and ground assault waves involving the U.S. Seventh Army and British Eighth Army.
Asia
No specific major events were reported in Asia on this date in the referenced timeline.
Pacific
Operation Chronicle, a preliminary to the New Guinea Campaign, Operation Cartwheel, is poised to begin. The US and Australians were preparing to land on the Woodlark and Kiriwina Island with 16,800 men. US forces provided most of the ground troops with support from Australian RAAF and naval units. The landings would be unopposed and aside from a minor Japanese air raid, passed off without complications. Both islands were to be developed as bases and the operation overall served as useful practice for later landings. .
Outcomes: The Eastern Front remained poised for the largest tank battle in history, as both sides completed their immense build-up. The Allies in the Mediterranean were in the final stages of preparing for a critical amphibious invasion of Sicily.
Key Personalities
General George S. Patton Jr.: Commander of the U.S. Seventh Army.
General Bernard Montgomery: Commander of the British Eighth Army.
Marshal Georgy Zhukov: Soviet general, instrumental in planning the Soviet defense at Kursk.
June 22, 1944
Soviet troops charging from a trench during Operation Bagration, June 1944
Overview of Key Events June 22, 1944, was another day of massive offensives and critical developments, most notably the launch of Operation Bagration on the Eastern Front, a Soviet offensive of immense scale. In Normandy, the Channel storm intensified, severely impacting Allied logistics, while heavy fighting continued for key objectives.
Europe and Atlantic
Operation Bagration, the massive Soviet summer offensive, was launched against German Army Group Centre on the Eastern Front. This coordinated attack by the 1st Baltic, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Belorussian Fronts aimed to encircle and destroy the German forces in Belarus. The offensive commenced with a powerful artillery barrage and synchronized ground attacks, leading to immediate breakthroughs and rapid Soviet advances. This was one of the largest and most successful Soviet operations of the war. Soviet strength was at roughly 2,500,000 personnel overall, 6,000 tanks and assault guns, 45,000 support guns and rockets and 8,000 aircraft. They faced German Army Group Centre with 1,036,760 personnel overall, 800 tanks, 530 assault guns, 7,760 support guns, 2,320 anti aircraft guns and 1,300 aircraft.
In Normandy, the severe storm in the English Channel continued to intensify, causing catastrophic damage to the Mulberry B (Port Winston) artificial harbour at Arromanches and less severe damage to Mulberry A at Omaha Beach. This significantly hampered Allied supply lines, forcing a temporary reliance on direct beach landings.
Heavy fighting continued around Cherbourg on the Cotentin Peninsula as U.S. First Army forces under Lieutenant General Omar Bradley pressed their offensive to capture the vital port city.
Germany continued its retaliatory V-1 flying bomb attacks on London and other targets in southeastern England, causing civilian casualties.
Holocaust-related events: The mass deportations of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz-Birkenau continued unabated. Trains arrived daily, bringing thousands of victims for immediate extermination as part of the Final Solution.
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
On the Italian Front, Allied forces of the 15th Army Group continued their pursuit of the retreating German Tenth Army as they withdrew towards their next defensive strongpoint, the Gothic Line, in northern Italy.
Asia
In China, Japanese forces continued their advance as part of Operation Ichi-Go, a large-scale offensive aimed at securing the Hankou-Canton railway and capturing Allied airfields in eastern China.
In Burma, remnants of the Japanese 15th Army continued their disastrous retreat from the Kohima-Imphal offensive. The British 14th Army, under General William Slim, continued its relentless pursuit, exploiting the Japanese collapse. The battle was officially dec
Pacific
The aftermath of the Battle of the Philippine Sea continued. While the main air-naval battle effectively concluded on June 20, U.S. naval forces continued to search for and pursue the remnants of the severely crippled Imperial Japanese Navy’s First Mobile Fleet.
On Saipan (Operation Forager), intense ground combat continued as U.S. V Amphibious Corps units (primarily Marine divisions) pressed their advance against deeply entrenched and fiercely resisting Japanese 31st Army defenders.
Outcomes: Operation Bagration began, initiating a devastating blow to German forces on the Eastern Front. The Channel storm severely hindered Allied logistics in Normandy. Fighting continued on all fronts, and the Holocaust’s machinery continued its systematic extermination.
Key Personalities
Marshal Georgy Zhukov: Soviet general, coordinating Operation Bagration.
General Konstantin Rokossovsky: Commander of the 1st Belorussian Front, leading a key part of Bagration.
Lieutenant General Omar Bradley: Commander of the U.S. First Army in Normandy.
Adolf Eichmann: Senior SS official, central to Holocaust deportations.
General William Slim: Commander of the British 14th Army in Burma.
June 22, 1945
Lt. col. Richard P. Ross Jr, Commander of 3rd Battalion, 1 US Marines braves sniper fire to install US colours at Shuri Castle Okinawa earlier in the Battle of Okinawa.
Overview of Key Events On June 22, 1945, with victory in Europe secured, the global conflict’s focus remained on the Pacific and Asia, where Allied forces continued their relentless push towards Japan. Diplomatic efforts also intensified to shape the post-war world.
Europe and Atlantic
With the end of the war in Europe, the process of occupation and reconstruction continued. The Allied Control Council was actively working to establish its authority and administrative structures in defeated Germany.
Displaced Persons (DP) camps across Europe continued to address the humanitarian crisis, housing millions of refugees and survivors of the Holocaust and forced labor. Efforts by UNRRA and military authorities focused on providing relief and facilitating repatriation or resettlement.
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
No specific major events were widely reported in the Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East on this date in the referenced timeline. The region was largely in a state of post-war stabilization.
Asia
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. These operations were part of the broader Borneo Campaign, aimed at securing vital resources and eliminating Japanese garrisons.
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 Japanese forces withdrew.
In Burma, remnants of the Japanese Burma Area Army were in disarray, continuing their desperate retreat. The British 14th Army, under General William Slim, maintained its pursuit and mopping-up operations against the fragmented Japanese forces.
Pacific
The official end of the Battle of Okinawa was today. It was a battle of staggering proportions. Including 31 US Navy aircraft carriers, 11 Royal Navy aircraft carriers and 250,000 American ground troops. The Japanese defenders were fanatical and often suicidal and, based in fortified positions, exceptionally difficult and costly to defeat. The defence included 1,900 kamikaze suicide aircraft and many defenders fought to the death.
Outcomes: Allied forces continued to make progress in the Pacific and Asian theatres against retreating Japanese forces, while Europe focused on the complex tasks of post-war recovery and governance.
Key Personalities
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 – 22nd June
June 22, 1940
Overview of Key Events June 22, 1940, witnessed a momentous turning point in the Battle of France with the signing of the Franco-German Armistice, formally ending major hostilities between the two nations and cementing Germany’s victory in the West. This will later swiftly be followed by an armistice between France and Italy. Britain and her Empire are increasingly isolated facing the German and Italian threat.
Europe and Atlantic
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
Asia
Pacific
Outcomes: France’s armistice with Germany, leading to its occupation and division. Italy’s will also soon achieve more limited gains against France. These marked a profound shift in the European power balance.
Key Personalities
June 22, 1941
Overview of Key Events June 22, 1941, stands as one of the most pivotal dates in World War II history, marking the launch of Operation Barbarossa, the massive German invasion of the Soviet Union. This opened the brutal Eastern Front, shifting the global conflict dramatically.
Europe and Atlantic
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
Asia
Pacific
Outcomes: Operation Barbarossa marked a catastrophic turning point, opening the brutal and decisive Eastern Front. The scale of the invasion and the beginning of systematic extermination campaigns drastically escalated the war’s violence and scope.
Key Personalities
June 22, 1942
Overview of Key Events On June 22, 1942, the focus was heavily on the Eastern Front, where the Siege of Sevastopol was drawing to a brutal close. In the Pacific, the United States was already looking to counter Japanese expansion following their decisive victory at Midway. The British are in disastrous retreat to Egypt after the fall of Tobruk.
Europe and Atlantic
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
Asia
Pacific
Outcomes: The siege of Sevastopol was nearing its grim conclusion, marking a significant German gain on the Eastern Front. In the Pacific, the U.S. began active preparations for its first major offensive, signaling a shift to offensive operations.
Key Personalities
June 22, 1943
Overview of Key Events On June 22, 1943, both the Eastern Front and the Mediterranean were characterized by intense preparations for massive upcoming operations. On the Russian Front, the colossal build-up for the Battle of Kursk neared its end, while Allied forces in the Mediterranean finalized their plans for the invasion of Sicily.
Europe and Atlantic
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
Asia
Pacific
Outcomes: The Eastern Front remained poised for the largest tank battle in history, as both sides completed their immense build-up. The Allies in the Mediterranean were in the final stages of preparing for a critical amphibious invasion of Sicily.
Key Personalities
June 22, 1944
Overview of Key Events June 22, 1944, was another day of massive offensives and critical developments, most notably the launch of Operation Bagration on the Eastern Front, a Soviet offensive of immense scale. In Normandy, the Channel storm intensified, severely impacting Allied logistics, while heavy fighting continued for key objectives.
Europe and Atlantic
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
Asia
Pacific
Outcomes: Operation Bagration began, initiating a devastating blow to German forces on the Eastern Front. The Channel storm severely hindered Allied logistics in Normandy. Fighting continued on all fronts, and the Holocaust’s machinery continued its systematic extermination.
Key Personalities
June 22, 1945
Overview of Key Events On June 22, 1945, with victory in Europe secured, the global conflict’s focus remained on the Pacific and Asia, where Allied forces continued their relentless push towards Japan. Diplomatic efforts also intensified to shape the post-war world.
Europe and Atlantic
Mediterranean including North Africa and Middle East
Asia
Pacific
Outcomes: Allied forces continued to make progress in the Pacific and Asian theatres against retreating Japanese forces, while Europe focused on the complex tasks of post-war recovery and governance.
Key Personalities
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World War II