Each Day in World War II – 3rd July

July 3, 1940

Overview of Key Events

On July 3, 1940, Britain launched Operation Catapult to neutralize the Vichy French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir, aiming to prevent its use by Germany. The German occupation of the Channel Islands continued, and Soviet forces consolidated control over Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina. Italian air raids targeted Malta, escalating the Mediterranean conflict. In Asia, Japan strengthened its position in China and negotiated for basing rights in French Indochina. Holocaust-related measures intensified in occupied Poland and Western Europe.

European and Atlantic Theatre

• German Occupation of the Channel Islands: Following initial landings on June 30, German forces, primarily from the 216th Infantry Division (under Generalmajor Hermann von Chappuis), continued establishing control over the British Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark). By July 3, German authorities implemented occupation policies, including curfews and requisitions, with minimal resistance due to British evacuation.
• Post-Battle of France Consolidation: After France’s armistice (June 22), German Army Group A (under General Gerd von Rundstedt) and Army Group B (under General Fedor von Bock) solidified control over occupied France. The 7th Army (under General Friedrich Dollmann) maintained garrisons in cities like Paris, while the Vichy French government (under Marshal Philippe Pétain) expanded collaborationist policies, including anti-Jewish measures.
• Soviet Occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina: Soviet forces, including the 9th Army (under General Ivan Boldin) and 12th Army, completed their occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina from Romania, begun on June 28 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. By July 3, Soviet control was formalized, with Joseph Stalin’s directive strengthening Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.
• Battle of Britain Prelude: Luftwaffe reconnaissance and small-scale raids continued over southern England, targeting RAF airfields and coastal defenses. On July 3, Kampfgeschwader 1 (Heinkel He 111 bombers) conducted probing attacks, countered by RAF Fighter Command (under Air Marshal Hugh Dowding) with Spitfires and Hurricanes of No. 11 Group, marking early skirmishes of the Battle of Britain.
• Holocaust-Related Events: In occupied Poland, the General Government (under Hans Frank) enforced stricter anti-Jewish measures. The Warsaw Ghetto, with over 400,000 Jews, faced increased confinement, forced labor, and food shortages. In Kraków, ghettoization progressed, restricting Jews to overcrowded districts. In France, Nazi authorities expanded Jewish registration, laying the groundwork for future deportations.
• Outcomes: The Channel Islands’ occupation solidified German control, though it was strategically minor. German dominance in France and Vichy collaboration strengthened Axis power in Western Europe. Soviet annexations expanded their Eastern European influence, straining Axis relations. Luftwaffe raids set the stage for the Battle of Britain. Holocaust measures escalated persecution, preparing for mass atrocities.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

• Operation Catapult (Attack on Mers-el-Kébir): On July 3, 1940, British Force H (under Vice Admiral James Somerville), based in Gibraltar, attacked the Vichy French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria, to prevent its potential use by Germany. The British fleet, including HMS Hood, HMS Valiant, and HMS Resolution, issued an ultimatum to the French Mediterranean Squadron (under Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensoul), demanding surrender, internment, or scuttling. After negotiations failed, British ships opened fire, sinking the battleship Bretagne, damaging Dunkerque and Provence, and killing 1,297 French sailors, with minimal British losses (two aircraft). The attack strained Anglo-French relations but ensured the fleet could not aid Germany.
• Siege of Malta: Italian Regia Aeronautica continued bombing raids on Malta. On July 3, Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers from the 36th Stormo targeted Grand Harbour and RAF airfields like Hal Far, countered by British Gloster Gladiator fighters of No. 33 Squadron.
• Outcomes: The Mers-el-Kébir attack secured Allied naval supremacy in the Mediterranean but deepened Vichy French resentment, complicating relations. Italian raids on Malta caused damage but failed to neutralize its strategic role.

Pacific Theatre

• No significant military engagements occurred in the Pacific on July 3, 1940. The U.S. Pacific Fleet (under Admiral James O. Richardson) strengthened defenses at Pearl Harbor, while Japan focused on Asian campaigns and negotiations for Southeast Asian expansion.
• Outcomes: The Pacific remained a latent theatre, with Japan’s preparations foreshadowing future conflicts in 1941.

Asian Theatre

• In China, the Japanese 11th Army (under General Tomoyuki Yamashita) consolidated control in Hubei province after capturing Yichang (June 12), securing the Yangtze River. Chinese 5th War Area forces (under General Li Zongren) conducted guerrilla raids, targeting Japanese supply lines.
• Japan, led by Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka, continued negotiations with Vichy France for basing rights in French Indochina, formalized in late June–early July, positioning troops for future Southeast Asian invasions.
• Outcomes: Japanese gains in China strengthened their strategic hold but faced persistent Chinese resistance. Indochina agreements advanced Japan’s expansionist agenda, escalating tensions with Western powers.

Key Personalities

• Vice Admiral James Somerville: Commanded British Force H at Mers-el-Kébir.
• Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensoul: Led Vichy French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir.
• General Gerd von Rundstedt: Oversaw German occupation of France.
• Hans Frank: Directed anti-Jewish policies in occupied Poland.
• General Tomoyuki Yamashita: Commanded Japanese forces in China.

---

July 3, 1941

Overview of Key Events

On July 3, 1941, Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union launched on June 22, saw continued German advances on the Eastern Front, with significant progress in the Baltic states and Ukraine. In the Mediterranean, Allied forces consolidated gains in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign after capturing Palmyra. Holocaust atrocities escalated with Einsatzgruppen mass executions in occupied Soviet territories, particularly in Latvia and Ukraine. In Asia, Japan deployed troops to French Indochina, escalating tensions with Western powers.

European and Atlantic Theatre

• Operation Barbarossa:
  • German Army Group North (under Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb) continued its advance after capturing Riga, Latvia, on July 1. On July 3, the 18th Army and 4th Panzer Group (under General Erich Hoepner), including the 1st Panzer Division, pushed toward Pskov, engaging Soviet Northwestern Front (under General Fyodor Kuznetsov) and its 8th Army. Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 1 (Heinkel He 111 bombers) supported the advance, targeting Soviet defenses.
  • Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock) completed mopping-up operations in the Minsk pocket, encircling over 300,000 Soviet troops of the Western Front (under General Dmitry Pavlov, executed for failures). The 3rd Panzer Group (under General Hermann Hoth) and 2nd Panzer Group (under General Heinz Guderian) prepared to advance toward Smolensk.
  • Army Group South (under Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt) pressed toward Kiev, with the 6th Army and 1st Panzer Group (under General Ewald von Kleist) engaging Soviet Southwestern Front (under General Mikhail Kirponos) and its 5th Army, supported by T-34 tanks.
  • Stalin announces “scorched earth policy” in the face of the German invasion.
  • Estonian ‘Forest Brothers’, a group of anti-communist fighters, begin operations against the Soviets in Southern Estonia. The attachks are several days before the arrival of the Germans and mark the start of the ‘Summer War’ in Estonia, which would end with the German occupation of the country.
• Holocaust-Related Events: Einsatzgruppen, under Reinhard Heydrich’s command, intensified mass executions in occupied Soviet territories. In Latvia, Einsatzgruppe A (under SS-Obersturmbannführer Franz Walter Stahlecker) and local collaborators continued pogroms and shootings following Riga’s capture, with thousands of Jews killed in early July. In Ukraine, Einsatzgruppe C conducted massacres in Lviv, targeting Jewish communities and intellectuals, with hundreds shot or burned in synagogues. In occupied Poland, the Warsaw Ghetto, with over 400,000 Jews, faced worsening conditions, including starvation, disease, and forced labor, as SS authorities tightened restrictions.
• Outcomes: German advances in the Baltics and Ukraine weakened Soviet defenses, though resistance slowed progress. Holocaust atrocities marked a brutal escalation of genocide, with thousands murdered in the East.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

• Syria-Lebanon Campaign (Operation Exporter): Following the capture of Palmyra on July 1, Allied forces, including Australian 7th Division (under Major General John Lavarack), British 7th Division, Free French 1st Division (under General Paul Legentilhomme), and 5th Indian Brigade, consolidated positions and advanced toward Beirut and Homs. On July 3, Australian 25th Brigade and Free French units engaged Vichy French 6th Foreign Legion and 22nd Algerian Tirailleurs, supported by No. 3 Squadron RAAF (Hawker Hurricanes) and Royal Navy ships like HMS Ajax. The campaign weakened Vichy control, nearing its conclusion in mid-July.
• British forces in Syria are victorious in the Battle of Deir ez-Zor, where they defeated the Vichy French using a bold outflanking attack plan. The victory paves the way for further advances into Vichy territory.
• Outcomes: Allied consolidation in Syria disrupted Vichy supply lines, securing the Levant for the Allies and protecting Middle Eastern oil routes.

Pacific Theatre

• No significant military engagements occurred in the Pacific on July 3, 1941. The U.S. Pacific Fleet (under Admiral Husband E. Kimmel) strengthened defenses at Pearl Harbor, while Japan focused on Asian campaigns and troop deployments to French Indochina, escalating tensions with Western powers.
• Outcomes: The Pacific remained a latent theatre, with Japan’s preparations foreshadowing its December 1941 attacks, including Pearl Harbor.

Asian Theatre

• In China, the Japanese 13th Army (under General Shizuichi Tanaka) engaged Chinese 8th Route Army (under General Zhu De) in Shanxi province, following the Hundred Regiments Offensive. Chinese communist forces used guerrilla tactics to disrupt Japanese garrisons, railways, and supply lines, targeting outposts in coordinated raids.
• Following agreements with Vichy France (finalized June 29–30), Japan’s Southern Army (under General Hisaichi Terauchi) began deploying troops to southern French Indochina on July 3, positioning forces for planned invasions of Southeast Asia, including Malaya and the Philippines. This move prompted U.S. and British economic sanctions, including oil embargoes.
• Outcomes: Japanese operations in China faced persistent resistance, limiting consolidation. Indochina deployments strengthened Japan’s strategic position but heightened tensions with Western powers, accelerating the path to war.

Key Personalities

• Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb: Led Army Group North in the Baltic advance.
• Reinhard Heydrich: Directed Einsatzgruppen mass executions.
• Major General John Lavarack: Commanded Australian forces in Syria.
• General Zhu De: Led Chinese communist resistance against Japan.
• General Hisaichi Terauchi: Oversaw Japanese deployments in Indochina.

---

July 3, 1942

Overview of Key Events

On July 3, 1942, German forces completed the capture of Sevastopol, Crimea, after a prolonged siege, marking a significant victory in Operation Case Blue on the Eastern Front. In North Africa, the First Battle of El Alamein continued, with British forces holding the line against General Erwin Rommel’s advance. Holocaust deportations from Western Europe to death camps intensified, and in the Pacific, U.S. forces prepared for the upcoming Guadalcanal Campaign. In Asia, Japan consolidated gains in China and the Aleutian Islands.

European and Atlantic Theatre

• Fall of Sevastopol: On July 3, 1942, German 11th Army (under General Erich von Manstein) finalized the capture of Sevastopol, Crimea, after a nine-month siege. The German 54th Corps and Romanian 3rd Mountain Division, supported by Luftwaffe VIII Air Corps (Ju 87 Stukas), overwhelmed Soviet Coastal Army (under General Ivan Petrov), capturing over 90,000 Soviet troops. The victory secured Crimea for Germany but at a high cost, depleting resources for further offensives.
• Operation Case Blue: German Army Group South (under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock) continued its advance toward Voronezh and the Caucasus, launched on June 28. On July 3, Army Group B (under General Maximilian von Weichs), including the 4th Panzer Army (under General Hermann Hoth) and 2nd Army (under General Hans von Salmuth), engaged Soviet Southwestern Front (under Marshal Semyon Timoshenko) near the Donets River. The 3rd Panzer Division and 16th Panzer Division, supported by Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 55 (Heinkel He 111 bombers), pushed against Soviet 40th Army, facing logistical challenges but advancing steadily.
• Holocaust-Related Events: Deportations from the Netherlands and France to Auschwitz-Birkenau, organized by Adolf Eichmann, continued. On or around July 3, transports from Westerbork transit camp sent Jews to Auschwitz, where most were gassed upon arrival. In occupied Poland, Operation Reinhard progressed, with Jews from smaller ghettos like Zamość deported to Belzec death camp under SS-Gruppenführer Odilo Globocnik. The Warsaw Ghetto, with over 400,000 Jews, faced escalating terror as SS authorities prepared for mass deportations to Treblinka, set to begin later in July.
• Outcomes: The fall of Sevastopol strengthened German control in Crimea, though it strained resources. Case Blue’s advance threatened Soviet industrial regions, but resistance persisted. Holocaust deportations killed thousands, advancing the Final Solution.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

• First Battle of El Alamein: The battle, which began on July 1, continued on July 3, with General Erwin Rommel’s Panzer Army Africa, including the 15th Panzer Division, 21st Panzer Division, and Italian XX Corps (Ariete Division), pressing British defenses at El Alamein, Egypt. The British Eighth Army (under General Claude Auchinleck, who assumed direct command) held the line with the 2nd South African Division, 18th Indian Infantry Brigade, and 1st Armoured Division, supported by RAF No. 211 Group (Hurricane fighters). On July 3, British forces repelled Axis assaults at Ruweisat Ridge, using Matilda II tanks and anti-tank guns to counter German Panzer IVs and 88mm Flak guns.
• Outcomes: The Eighth Army’s defense at El Alamein halted Rommel’s advance, protecting Egypt and the Suez Canal, marking a turning point in the North African campaign.

Pacific Theatre

• U.S. forces under Admiral Chester Nimitz continued preparations for the Guadalcanal Campaign, set for August 1942. On July 3, Task Force 16 (USS Enterprise, USS Hornet, under Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance) refitted in Pearl Harbor, while the 1st Marine Division (under Major General Alexander Vandegrift) trained in New Zealand. PBY Catalina aircraft of VP-44 Squadron conducted reconnaissance over Guadalcanal and Tulagi, targeting Japanese defenses.
• Outcomes: U.S. preparations positioned forces for the first major Allied offensive in the Pacific, setting the stage for a shift in momentum post-Midway.

Asian Theatre

• In China, the Japanese China Expeditionary Army (under General Yasuji Okamura) conducted mopping-up operations in Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces after the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign, targeting Chinese 3rd War Area forces (under General Gu Zhutong). These operations secured airfields used in the Doolittle Raid but faced Chinese guerrilla resistance.
• Japanese 25th Army (under General Tomoyuki Yamashita) maintained control over Malaya and Singapore, while the Imperial Japanese Navy reinforced positions in the Aleutian Islands (Attu and Kiska), despite logistical challenges.
• Outcomes: Japanese efforts in China met persistent resistance, limiting consolidation. Aleutian occupations diverted resources with minimal strategic gain.

Key Personalities

• General Erich von Manstein: Led German 11th Army in capturing Sevastopol.
• General Erwin Rommel: Commanded Axis advance at El Alamein.
• General Claude Auchinleck: Led British Eighth Army in defense of El Alamein.
• Adolf Eichmann: Oversaw Holocaust deportations.
• General Yasuji Okamura: Directed Japanese operations in China.

---

July 3, 1943

Overview of Key Events

On July 3, 1943, the Allies continued preparations for the invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky), set for July 10, while the New Georgia Campaign in the Pacific saw U.S. forces advancing against Japanese defenses. On the Eastern Front, German and Soviet forces finalized preparations for the Battle of Kursk, a pivotal confrontation. Holocaust liquidations and deportations intensified, particularly in Poland and the Netherlands. In Asia, Japanese forces consolidated positions in China and New Guinea, facing Allied pressure.

European and Atlantic Theatre

• Battle of Kursk Preparations: German Army Group South (under Field Marshal Erich von Manstein) and Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Günther von Kluge) finalized plans for Operation Citadel, set to begin on July 5. The 4th Panzer Army (under General Hermann Hoth) and 9th Army (under General Walter Model) amassed Panzer IV, Tiger I, and Panther tanks, supported by Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 55 (Heinkel He 111 bombers). Soviet Central Front (under General Konstantin Rokossovsky) and Voronezh Front (under General Nikolai Vatutin) fortified defenses with T-34 tanks, anti-tank guns, and minefields, including the 13th Army and 5th Guards Army, anticipating the German offensive.
• Allied Air Raids: RAF Bomber Command (under Air Marshal Arthur Harris) and U.S. Eighth Air Force (under Major General Ira Eaker) continued bombing German industrial targets. On or around July 3, RAF No. 5 Group (Avro Lancasters) targeted Cologne, while the 100th Bomb Group (B-17 Flying Fortresses) struck U-boat facilities in Bremen, aiming to disrupt German production and morale.
• Holocaust-Related Events: Ongoing Deportations and Mass Killings: July 1943 fell during the deadliest phase of the Holocaust, particularly under Operation Reinhard, which ran from March 1942 to November 1943. This operation involved the systematic murder of approximately two million Jews, primarily in extermination camps like Treblinka, Sobibor, and Belzec. By mid-1943, these camps were nearing the end of their primary killing operations, with over two million Jews already murdered by November 1943. Liquidation of Ghettos: Throughout 1943, Nazi authorities were liquidating ghettos across occupied Europe, deporting Jews to extermination camps or killing them on-site. For example, earlier in the year (February 5-12, 1943), the Bialystok ghetto was liquidated, with approximately 1,000 Jews killed and 10,000 deported to Treblinka, where most were murdered. Similar actions continued in July, as ghettos were systematically dismantled, and survivors were sent to concentration or extermination camps
• Outcomes: Kursk preparations set the stage for a decisive Eastern Front battle, with massive resources committed by both sides. Allied air raids weakened German infrastructure, though at high aircraft losses. Holocaust liquidations and deportations further decimated Jewish populations, advancing Nazi genocide.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

• Sicily Invasion Preparations (Operation Husky): Allied forces, including the British Eighth Army (under General Bernard Montgomery) and U.S. Seventh Army (under General George S. Patton), finalized plans for the Sicily invasion, scheduled for July 10. The 1st Canadian Infantry Division, British 51st (Highland) Division, and U.S. 82nd Airborne Division trained in North Africa, supported by RAF No. 205 Group (Wellington bombers) and U.S. 12th Air Force (B-25 Mitchells) conducting reconnaissance and bombing runs on Axis defenses in Sicily, including German 15th Panzergrenadier Division and Italian 6th Army.
• Outcomes: Allied preparations ensured a coordinated assault on Sicily, pressuring Axis forces and diverting German resources from the Eastern Front.

Pacific Theatre

• New Georgia Campaign: Launched on June 30, the U.S.-led New Georgia Campaign in the Solomon Islands progressed under Admiral William F. Halsey. On July 3, the 43rd Infantry Division (under Major General John H. Hester) and 4th Marine Raider Battalion advanced toward Munda Point airfield, engaging Japanese 17th Army (under General Harukichi Hyakutake). P-38 Lightning fighters of the 339th Fighter Squadron provided air cover, while Task Force 31 (under Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner), including destroyers like USS Ralph Talbot, supported operations. Japanese coastal defenses and A6M Zero fighters from the 251st Air Group resisted fiercely, particularly around Munda.
• Outcomes: The New Georgia Campaign challenged Japanese control in the Solomons, though heavy resistance slowed Allied progress, setting the stage for prolonged fighting.

Asian Theatre

• In China, the Japanese 11th Army (under General Yukio Kasahara) consolidated positions in Hubei province after the Battle of Western Hubei, engaging Chinese 6th War Area forces (under General Sun Lianzhong). Chinese troops employed guerrilla tactics to disrupt Japanese supply lines, targeting railways and outposts.
• In New Guinea, Japanese 18th Army (under General Hatazo Adachi) reinforced defenses around Lae and Salamaua, facing pressure from Australian 3rd Division and U.S. 41st Infantry Division, supported by RAAF No. 100 Squadron (Beaufort bombers).
• Outcomes: Japanese control in Hubei faced persistent Chinese resistance, limiting consolidation. New Guinea defenses prepared for Allied offensives, straining Japanese resources.

Key Personalities

• Field Marshal Erich von Manstein: Led German Army Group South for Kursk.
• General Konstantin Rokossovsky: Commanded Soviet Central Front in Kursk defenses.
• Admiral William F. Halsey: Directed U.S. forces in the New Georgia Campaign.
• Friedrich Katzmann: Oversaw Lviv Ghetto liquidation.
• General Yukio Kasahara: Led Japanese operations in Hubei.

---

July 3, 1944

Overview of Key Events

On July 3, 1944, Soviet forces captured Minsk during Operation Bagration, a major victory on the Eastern Front. In Normandy, Allied forces advanced following the capture of Cherbourg, with intense fighting around Caen. Holocaust deportations from Hungary to Auschwitz-Birkenau continued at their peak. In the Pacific, U.S. troops neared victory on Saipan, while in Asia, Japan’s Operation Ichi-Go progressed in China, and Japanese forces retreated in the India-Burma theatre. The Timeline of World War II (1944) specifically notes the Soviet capture of Minsk on this date, a critical blow to German Army Group Center.

European and Atlantic Theatre

• Operation Bagration: On July 3, 1944, Soviet forces of the 1st Belorussian Front (under General Konstantin Rokossovsky) and 3rd Belorussian Front (under General Ivan Chernyakhovsky) captured Minsk, Belarus, liberating the city and encircling over 100,000 German troops of Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Walter Model). The Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army and 65th Army, equipped with T-34 tanks and supported by IL-2 Sturmovik aircraft, overwhelmed German 4th Army and remnants of the 9th Army, marking a decisive victory in the destruction of Army Group Center.
• Normandy Campaign (Operation Overlord): Allied forces expanded their foothold in Normandy. The British Second Army (under General Bernard Montgomery), including the 51st (Highland) Division and Canadian 3rd Infantry Division, launched Operation Charnwood preparations to capture Caen, engaging German Panzer Group West (under General Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg) and the 12th SS Panzer Division. British VIII Corps (under Lieutenant General Richard O’Connor) clashed with German 21st Panzer Division, supported by RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force (Hawker Typhoons). U.S. First Army (under General Omar Bradley), including the 2nd Infantry Division, advanced toward St. Lô against the German 352nd Infantry Division, with U.S. Ninth Air Force (P-47 Thunderbolts) providing air support.
• V-1 Attacks: Germany continued V-1 flying bomb attacks on London from Pas-de-Calais, operated by Flak-Regiment 155 (W), causing civilian casualties and disruption.
• Holocaust-Related Events: Deportations from Hungary to Auschwitz-Birkenau, organized by Adolf Eichmann, remained at their peak, with daily trains from Budapest and provincial towns. On or around July 3, thousands of Jews were gassed upon arrival, with others selected for forced labor. In Poland, the Łódź Ghetto faced intensified deportations to Auschwitz and Chelmno, with SS authorities targeting remaining workers and families.
• Outcomes: The capture of Minsk crippled German Army Group Center, shifting Eastern Front momentum decisively to the Soviets. Allied progress in Normandy strengthened their position, though Caen remained contested. V-1 attacks disrupted British civilians but had limited strategic impact. Holocaust deportations marked a devastating phase of the genocide.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

• Italian Campaign: Allied forces, including the U.S. Fifth Army (under General Mark Clark) and British Eighth Army (under General Oliver Leese), advanced north of Rome, engaging German 10th Army (under General Heinrich von Vietinghoff). The U.S. 34th Infantry Division and British 78th Division clashed with German 14th Panzer Corps near Florence, supported by U.S. 12th Air Force (B-25 Mitchell bombers).
• Operation Dragoon Preparations: Planning for the invasion of southern France (August 1944) progressed, with U.S. Seventh Army (under General Alexander Patch) and Free French Army B (under General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny) organizing in North Africa.
• Outcomes: Allied advances in Italy weakened German defenses, while Dragoon preparations set the stage for a second European front, diverting Axis resources.

Pacific Theatre

• Battle of Saipan (Operation Forager): U.S. forces, including the 2nd Marine Division and 4th Marine Division (under Lieutenant General Holland Smith), neared victory on Saipan against the Japanese 31st Army (under Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Saito). On July 3, U.S. troops advanced north, capturing most of the island despite fierce Japanese resistance from bunkers and artillery. Task Force 58 (under Admiral Marc Mitscher), including USS Tennessee, provided naval bombardment, while the 27th Infantry Division reinforced the assault.
• Outcomes: U.S. success on Saipan threatened Japan’s inner defense perimeter, paving the way for the Mariana Islands campaign’s completion and airfields for B-29 bombers.

Asian Theatre

• Operation Ichi-Go: In China, the Japanese China Expeditionary Army (under General Yasuji Okamura) advanced in Henan and Hunan provinces, targeting Chinese 4th War Area forces (under General Zhang Fakui). The 12th Army, having captured Luoyang in May, pressed toward Changsha, which fell in June, and continued operations toward Hengyang. Chinese resistance, including guerrilla tactics, slowed Japanese progress.
• India-Burma Theatre: Japanese 15th Army (under General Renya Mutaguchi) continued retreating after defeats in the Battle of Kohima-Imphal. British 14th Army (under General William Slim), including Indian 5th Division and British 2nd Division, pursued Japanese forces, supported by RAF No. 221 Group (Hurricane fighters).
• Outcomes: Japanese gains in China threatened Allied airfields but faced resistance. Japanese defeats in India-Burma weakened their regional position, strengthening Allied control.

Key Personalities

• General Konstantin Rokossovsky: Commanded Soviet 1st Belorussian Front in capturing Minsk.
• General Omar Bradley: Led U.S. First Army in Normandy.
• Lieutenant General Holland Smith: Directed U.S. forces on Saipan.
• Adolf Eichmann: Oversaw Hungarian deportations.
• General Yasuji Okamura: Led Operation Ichi-Go in China.

---

July 3, 1945

Overview of Key Events

On July 3, 1945, the European war had ended with Germany’s surrender on May 8, shifting focus to post-war occupation and the pursuit of Nazi war criminals. In the Pacific, the Battle of Balikpapan in Borneo, which began on July 1, saw Australian forces advancing against Japanese defences. Mopping-up operations continued in Okinawa, while in Asia, Japanese forces retreated in China and Burma, facing Allied counteroffensives. Efforts to address the Jewish population’s post-war plight, including early Zionist activities toward establishing a Jewish state in Palestine, gained momentum. .

European and Atlantic Theatre

• Post-War Occupation: Following Germany’s surrender, Allied forces maintained occupation zones in Germany and Austria. Soviet forces, including the 1st Baltic Front (under General Ivan Bagramyan), controlled eastern Germany and Poland, implementing Yalta Conference agreements (February 1945). The Polish Provisional Government of National Unity, led by Edward Osóbka-Morawski, solidified Soviet-backed governance, having begun operations on June 28. Allied efforts focused on denazification and rebuilding infrastructure.
• Nazi War Criminals and Jewish Population: By July 3, 1945, the Allies intensified efforts to identify and apprehend Nazi war criminals. The International Military Tribunal was being organized in Nuremberg, targeting figures like Hermann Göring, Luftwaffe chief and a key architect of Nazi economic exploitation, and Ernst Kaltenbrunner, head of the Reich Security Main Office, who oversaw Einsatzgruppen operations. In Poland, Jewish survivors faced antisemitic violence, such as attacks in Kraków, prompting many to seek emigration to Palestine. The Jewish Brigade, a British-formed Jewish unit under Brigadier Ernest Benjamin, operated in occupied Europe, aiding survivors and facilitating illegal immigration to Palestine (Aliyah Bet), supporting Zionist efforts toward a Jewish state.
• Outcomes: Soviet occupation shaped Eastern Europe’s post-war landscape, setting the stage for Cold War tensions. The pursuit of Nazi war criminals laid the groundwork for the Nuremberg Trials, while Jewish survivor emigration strengthened Zionist momentum in Palestine.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

• No military operations occurred, as the European and North African campaigns had concluded. Allied forces, including the British Eighth Army and U.S. Fifth Army, focused on occupation duties in Italy and reconstruction in North Africa, emphasizing infrastructure repair and repatriation of displaced populations. The Jewish Brigade, based in Italy, assisted Jewish refugees, coordinating with organizations like the Haganah to support immigration to Palestine.
• Outcomes: The Mediterranean transitioned to post-war stabilization, with Allied efforts centered on demobilization and humanitarian aid, while Jewish Brigade activities bolstered Zionist aspirations.

Pacific Theatre

• Battle of Balikpapan: Launched on July 1, the Australian-led Battle of Balikpapan in Borneo, part of Operation Oboe, continued on July 3. The Australian 7th Division (under Major General Edward Milford), including the 2/9th Battalion, 2/10th Battalion, and 2/1st Pioneer Battalion, advanced inland, capturing key oil facilities and engaging Japanese 37th Army (under Lieutenant General Masao Baba). Supported by RAAF No. 76 Squadron (P-40 Kittyhawk fighters), U.S. Navy Task Force 74 (including USS Phoenix), and Dutch KNIL units, Australian forces overcame Japanese fortified positions and Type 95 Ha-Go tanks, securing strategic ridges.
• Battle of Okinawa: The campaign ended on June 22, but mopping-up operations continued against remnants of the Japanese 32nd Army (under Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima, killed June 22). On July 3, U.S. 10th Army (under General Roy S. Geiger) conducted sweeps with the 1st Marine Division and 96th Infantry Division around Mabuni, neutralizing small Japanese pockets and defending against isolated kamikaze attacks by A6M Zero fighters.
• Outcomes: Australian advances in Balikpapan secured Borneo’s oil fields, weakening Japanese logistics. Okinawa’s capture provided a staging base for the planned invasion of Japan, at a cost of over 12,000 U.S. and 110,000 Japanese lives.

Asian Theatre

• Borneo Campaign (Operation Oboe): Beyond Balikpapan, Australian 9th Division (under Major General George Wootten) advanced in northern Borneo, securing Labuan Island and Brunei Bay against Japanese 37th Army. On July 3, the 2/28th Battalion and 2/12th Commando Squadron pushed inland, engaging Japanese guerrilla forces, supported by RAAF No. 76 Squadron and HMAS Shropshire.
• China (Battle of West Hunan): Japanese China Expeditionary Army (under General Yasuji Okamura) continued retreating in Guangxi and Hunan provinces, pursued by Chinese 3rd War Area forces (under General He Yingqin). The Chinese 74th Army recaptured territory, aided by U.S. 14th Air Force (P-51 Mustang fighters), disrupting Japanese supply lines.
• Burma Campaign: Japanese Burma Area Army (under General Hyotaro Kimura) retreated toward the Sittang River after losing Rangoon (May 1945). British 14th Army (under General William Slim), including Indian 5th Division and British 2nd Division, pursued, supported by RAF No. 221 Group (Hurricane fighters). On July 3, British forces engaged Japanese rearguards in the Sittang Bend.
• Outcomes: Australian advances in Borneo secured strategic resources. Chinese counteroffensives reclaimed territory, weakening Japanese control. Japanese retreats in Burma diminished their regional presence, solidifying Allied dominance.

Key Personalities

• Edward Osóbka-Morawski: Led the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity.
• General Ivan Bagramyan: Oversaw Soviet occupation in Eastern Europe.
• Major General Edward Milford: Commanded Australian 7th Division at Balikpapan.
• General Roy S. Geiger: Directed U.S. 10th Army in Okinawa’s final operations.
• General William Slim: Led British 14th Army in Burma.
• Hermann Göring: Nazi war criminal targeted for Nuremberg Trials.
• Brigadier Ernest Benjamin: Led Jewish Brigade, aiding Jewish survivors and Zionist efforts.

---

Join us again tomorrow to find out what happened every day in WWII

Looking for unique World War II themed merch? Check out our store!