Each Day in World War II – 6th July

July 6, 1940

Overview of Key Events

On July 6, 1940, the aftermath of the British attack on the Vichy French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir (Operation Catapult, July 3) continued to strain Anglo-French relations, following Vichy France’s severance of diplomatic ties with Britain on July 5. Germany consolidated control over the occupied Channel Islands, while Italian air raids persisted against Malta. Luftwaffe activity escalated in the prelude to the Battle of Britain, marking early skirmishes over southern England. The Soviet Union finalized its annexation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina. In Asia, Japan strengthened its position in China and expanded basing rights in French Indochina. Holocaust-related measures intensified in occupied Poland and Western Europe, focusing on ghettoization and anti-Jewish laws.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Aftermath of Mers-el-Kébir (Operation Catapult): Following the British attack on the Vichy French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria, on July 3, which sank the battleship Bretagne, damaged Dunkerque and Provence, and killed 1,297 French sailors, Vichy France, under Marshal Philippe Pétain, had formally severed diplomatic relations with Britain on July 5. On July 6, tensions persisted as Vichy propaganda, led by Prime Minister Pierre Laval, condemned the British action, deepening alignment with Nazi Germany. The attack, executed by British Force H (under Vice Admiral James Somerville) with ships like HMS Hood, HMS Valiant, and HMS Resolution, ensured Allied naval supremacy but complicated relations with neutral and occupied nations.
German Occupation of the Channel Islands: German forces from the 216th Infantry Division (under Generalmajor Hermann von Chappuis) continued consolidating control over the Channel Islands, following occupations of Jersey (July 1), Guernsey (July 2), and Sark (July 4). On July 6, German authorities enforced occupation policies, including curfews, food requisitions, and civilian registration, with minimal resistance due to the prior British evacuation under Operation Aerial. The islands served as a propaganda victory for Germany, showcasing control over British territory.
Soviet Occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina: Soviet forces, including the 9th Army (under General Ivan Boldin) and 12th Army, completed their annexation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina from Romania, begun on June 28 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. By July 6, Soviet control was fully established, with Joseph Stalin’s directive strengthening influence in Eastern Europe, escalating tensions with Germany as the pact’s stability waned.
Battle of Britain Prelude: Luftwaffe reconnaissance and probing attacks intensified over southern England, targeting RAF airfields and coastal defenses in preparation for Operation Sea Lion, Germany’s planned invasion of Britain. On July 6, Kampfgeschwader 1 (Heinkel He 111 bombers) and Jagdgeschwader 51 (Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters) conducted raids on convoys and airfields, countered by RAF Fighter Command (under Air Marshal Hugh Dowding) with Spitfires and Hurricanes of No. 11 Group. These early skirmishes, part of the Kanalkampf (Channel battles), marked the opening phase of the Battle of Britain, which would escalate in July–August.
Holocaust-Related Events: In occupied Poland, the General Government (under Hans Frank) enforced stricter anti-Jewish measures. The Warsaw Ghetto, confining over 400,000 Jews, faced severe overcrowding, forced labor, and food shortages, with daily rations below 200 calories, leading to starvation and typhus outbreaks. In Kraków, ghettoization isolated Jews in cramped districts with inadequate sanitation. In occupied France, Nazi authorities, under figures like Theodor Dannecker and Adolf Eichmann, expanded Jewish registration and property confiscation, laying the groundwork for deportations that would begin later in 1942. The Vichy regime introduced anti-Jewish laws, such as restrictions on employment and movement, aligning with Nazi policies.
Outcomes: The Mers-el-Kébir fallout solidified Vichy’s pro-Axis stance, complicating Allied strategy. German control of the Channel Islands strengthened propaganda efforts but had limited strategic value. Soviet annexations expanded Eastern European influence, foreshadowing tensions with Germany. Luftwaffe raids tested British defenses, setting the stage for the Battle of Britain. Holocaust measures escalated persecution, preparing for mass atrocities in the coming years.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Siege of Malta: Italian Regia Aeronautica continued bombing raids on Malta, a critical British stronghold. On or around July 6, 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. The raids aimed to disrupt British supply lines to North Africa but faced determined resistance, with Malta’s defences holding firm.
Four Italian merchant ships depart Naples, heading for Benghazi, and they’re later joined by two torpedo boats and another supply ship off Messina. These ships will join a convoy from Taranto tomorrow carrying 2,190 troops, 72 Fiat M11/39 tanks and 232 other vehicles along with 16,000 tons of supplies and fuel.
Outcomes: Italian attacks caused damage but failed to neutralize Malta’s strategic role, as British forces maintained control, preserving a key Mediterranean base.

Pacific Theatre

No significant military engagements occurred in the Pacific on July 6, 1940. The U.S. Pacific Fleet (under Admiral James O. Richardson) strengthened defenses at Pearl Harbor, conducting routine patrols and training. Japan focused on consolidating Asian gains and deploying troops to French Indochina, with no direct Pacific confrontations.
Outcomes: The Pacific remained a latent theatre, with Japan’s preparations foreshadowing its expansionist campaigns in 1941, including the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Asian Theatre

In China, the Japanese 11th Army (under General Tomoyuki Yamashita) consolidated control in Hubei province after capturing Yichang (June 12), securing strategic positions along the Yangtze River. Chinese 5th War Area forces (under General Li Zongren) conducted guerrilla raids, targeting Japanese supply lines and outposts, maintaining resistance despite territorial losses.
Japan, led by Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka, implemented agreements with Vichy France (finalized late June–early July) for basing rights in French Indochina, deploying troops to prepare for invasions of Southeast Asia, including Malaya and the Philippines. This move heightened tensions with the U.S. and Britain, prompting economic sanctions, including oil embargoes.
Outcomes: Japanese gains in China strengthened their strategic hold but faced persistent Chinese resistance, straining resources. Indochina deployments advanced Japan’s expansionist plans, escalating the path to war with Western powers.

Key Personalities

Vice Admiral James Somerville: Commanded British Force H during Mers-el-Kébir, navigating diplomatic fallout.
Marshal Philippe Pétain: Led Vichy France, deepening Axis alignment post-Mers-el-Kébir.
Hans Frank: Directed anti-Jewish policies in occupied Poland, enforcing ghettoization.
General Tomoyuki Yamashita: Commanded Japanese forces in China, consolidating Hubei.
Joseph Stalin: Oversaw Soviet annexation of Bessarabia and Bukovina, shaping Eastern European strategy.

July 6, 1941

Army Group Centre advancing near Vitebsk, July 1941

Overview of Key Events

On July 6, 1941, Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union launched on June 22, saw continued German advances on the Eastern Front, particularly in the Baltic states and Ukraine, with Einsatzgruppen escalating Holocaust atrocities through mass executions. In the Mediterranean, Allied forces advanced in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign, weakening Vichy French defences. In Asia, Japan’s deployment to French Indochina intensified, heightening tensions with Western powers.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Operation Barbarossa:
- German Army Group North (under Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb) advanced after capturing Riga, Latvia (July 1). On July 6, the 18th Army and 4th Panzer Group (under General Erich Hoepner), including the 1st Panzer Division, pressed toward Pskov, engaging Soviet Northwestern Front (under General Fyodor Kuznetsov) and its 8th Army. Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 1 (Heinkel He 111 bombers) and Jagdgeschwader 54 (Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters) targeted Soviet airfields and supply lines, disrupting defenses.
- Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock) consolidated gains from the Minsk pocket, where over 300,000 Soviet troops of the Western Front (under General Dmitry Pavlov, executed for failures) were captured. The 3rd Panzer Group (under General Hermann Hoth) and 2nd Panzer Group (under General Heinz Guderian) advanced toward Smolensk, clashing with Soviet 13th Army, supported by T-34 tanks, in defensive actions. These German offensives mark the start of the attacks which will eventually lead to massive Sovviet losses at Smolensk.
- Soviet 7th and 5th Mechanised Corps of the 20th Army launch a counter attack near Lepiel, but they run into the anti-tank defences of 7th Panzer and are virtually wiped out.
- Army Group South (under Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt) pushed 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 near Lviv. Einsatzgruppe C, supported by Ukrainian collaborators, continued massacres in Lviv, following the July 4 killing of 25 Polish intellectuals, targeting Jewish communities with shootings and synagogue burnings.
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) conducted pogroms, killing thousands of Jews in early July, particularly in Riga and Daugavpils. In Ukraine, Einsatzgruppe C’s actions in Lviv included mass shootings, with hundreds of Jews killed in pits or burned in synagogues. In occupied Poland, the Warsaw Ghetto, with over 400,000 Jews, faced worsening conditions—starvation, disease, and forced labour—as SS authorities, including Hans Frank, tightened restrictions, preparing for future deportations to death camps like Treblinka.
Outcomes: German advances disrupted Soviet defenses, though resistance slowed progress in Ukraine. Holocaust atrocities, particularly Einsatzgruppen massacres, marked a brutal escalation of genocide, targeting Jews and intellectuals. Soviet losses weakened their Western Front, setting the stage for further German offensives.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Syria-Lebanon Campaign (Operation Exporter): 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, continued advancing after capturing Palmyra (July 1). On July 6, Australian 25th Brigade and Free French units pushed toward Beirut and Homs, engaging 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 Allies weakened Vichy defenses, nearing the campaign’s conclusion with an armistice signed on July 14.
Outcomes: Allied advances eroded Vichy control, securing the Levant and protecting Middle Eastern oil routes for the Allies.

Pacific Theatre

No significant military engagements occurred in the Pacific on July 6, 1941. The U.S. Pacific Fleet (under Admiral Husband E. Kimmel) strengthened defenses at Pearl Harbor, conducting routine patrols and training. Japan focused on consolidating Asian gains and deploying troops to French Indochina, with no direct Pacific confrontations.
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.
Japan’s Southern Army (under General Hisaichi Terauchi) continued deploying troops to southern French Indochina, following agreements with Vichy France (finalized June 29–30), positioning forces for planned invasions of Southeast Asia, including Malaya and the Philippines. This escalation prompted U.S. and British economic sanctions, including oil embargoes, intensifying tensions.
Outcomes: Japanese operations in China faced persistent resistance, limiting consolidation. Indochina deployments strengthened Japan’s strategic position but accelerated the path to war with Western powers.

Key Personalities

Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb: Led Army Group North in the Baltic advance.
Reinhard Heydrich: Directed Einsatzgruppen mass executions in occupied Soviet territories.
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 6, 1942

25 Pounder guns of 2/8th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, in the line at El Alamein, July 1942

Overview of Key Events

On July 6, 1942, the First Battle of El Alamein in North Africa continued, with British forces holding the line against General Erwin Rommel’s Axis advance. On the Eastern Front, German forces advanced toward Voronezh as part of Operation Case Blue, following the capture of Sevastopol, Crimea. In the Atlantic, the Convoy PQ 17 disaster worsened, with German U-boats and aircraft sinking additional ships. Holocaust deportations from Western Europe and Poland to death camps escalated, marking a peak in Operation Reinhard. In the Pacific, U.S. forces prepared for the Guadalcanal Campaign, while in Asia, Japan consolidated gains in China and the Aleutian Islands.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Operation Case Blue: Launched on June 28, German Army Group South (under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock) advanced toward Voronezh and the Caucasus. On July 6, 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), neared Voronezh, engaging Soviet Southwestern Front (under Marshal Semyon Timoshenko). The 3rd Panzer Division and 16th Panzer Division, supported by Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 55 (Heinkel He 111 bombers) and Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (Ju 87 Stukas), clashed with Soviet 40th Army, capturing key positions despite Soviet T-34 tank resistance.
Consolidation of Sevastopol: After capturing Sevastopol on July 1–3, the German 11th Army (under General Erich von Manstein) completed mopping-up operations in Crimea by July 6. The German 54th Corps and Romanian 3rd Mountain Division, supported by Luftwaffe VIII Air Corps (Ju 87 Stukas), secured remaining Soviet positions, capturing over 90,000 prisoners from the Soviet Coastal Army (under General Ivan Petrov). This victory solidified German control but strained resources for Case Blue.
Convoy PQ 17 Disaster: Arctic Convoy PQ 17, en route to the Soviet Union, faced catastrophic losses after Allied escorts withdrew on July 4 due to a mistaken threat from the German battleship Tirpitz. On July 6, German U-boats (including U-456 and U-703) and Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 30 (Ju 88 bombers) continued attacks, sinking additional merchant ships. By this date, 14 of 35 ships were lost, with British destroyers like HMS Keppel and U.S. ships like USS Wainwright unable to protect the scattered convoy, severely disrupting Allied aid to the Soviets.
Holocaust-Related Events: Deportations from the Netherlands and France to Auschwitz-Birkenau, organized by Adolf Eichmann, intensified. On or around July 6, transports from Westerbork transit camp sent approximately 1,000 Jews to Auschwitz, where most were gassed upon arrival. In occupied Poland, Operation Reinhard progressed, with Jews from ghettos like Zamość and Lublin deported to Belzec death camp under SS-Gruppenführer Odilo Globocnik. The Warsaw Ghetto, with over 400,000 Jews, faced escalating terror, with SS authorities, including Jürgen Stroop, preparing for mass deportations to Treblinka, set to begin on July 22. Ghetto conditions included starvation (daily rations below 200 calories), disease, and forced labor, with thousands dying monthly.
Outcomes: German advances in Case Blue threatened Soviet industrial regions, but resistance slowed progress. Sevastopol’s fall strengthened German control in Crimea at high cost. The PQ 17 losses crippled Soviet aid, exposing Arctic convoy vulnerabilities. Holocaust deportations killed thousands, advancing the Final Solution with devastating efficiency.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

First Battle of El Alamein: The battle, ongoing since July 1, saw intense fighting on July 6, with General Erwin Rommel’s Panzer Army Africa, including the 15th Panzer Division, 21st Panzer Division, and Italian XX Corps (Ariete Division), pressing British defences at El Alamein, Egypt. The British Eighth Army (under General Claude Auchinleck, who assumed direct command) held the line with the 9th Australian Division, 2nd South African Division, 18th Indian Infantry Brigade, and 1st Armoured Division, supported by RAF No. 211 Group (Hurricane fighters). British forces repelled Axis assaults at Ruweisat Ridge, using Matilda II tanks and 6-pounder anti-tank guns to counter German Panzer IVs and 88mm Flak guns.
Outcomes: The Eighth Army’s defense halted Rommel’s advance, protecting Egypt and the Suez Canal, marking a critical stand 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 6, 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, mapping Japanese defenses.
Outcomes: U.S. preparations positioned forces for the first major Allied offensive in the Pacific, setting the stage for a strategic shift 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 impact.

Key Personalities

General Erich von Manstein: Led German 11th Army in consolidating 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 6, 1943

T34/76 tanks advancing during Battle of Kursk, 1943

Overview of Key Events

On July 6, 1943, the Battle of Kursk, one of the largest battles in history, continued after Germany’s launch of Operation Citadel on July 5, with intense fighting on the Eastern Front as Soviet forces countered German advances. In the Pacific, the New Georgia Campaign saw U.S. forces advancing against Japanese defences in the Solomon Islands. Allied forces finalized preparations for the invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky), set for July 10. 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 (Operation Citadel): Launched on July 5, Operation Citadel saw German Army Group South (under Field Marshal Erich von Manstein) and Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Günther von Kluge) attacking the Soviet salient around Kursk. On July 6, the 4th Panzer Army (under General Hermann Hoth), 9th Army (under General Walter Model), and Army Detachment Kempf pressed forward with the 3rd Panzer Division, 11th Panzer Division, and SS Panzer Corps (1st, 2nd, and 3rd SS Panzer Divisions), using Panzer IV, Tiger I, and Panther tanks. Luftwaffe units like Kampfgeschwader 55 (Heinkel He 111 bombers) and Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (Ju 87 Stukas) supported the assault. Soviet Central Front (under General Konstantin Rokossovsky) and Voronezh Front (under General Nikolai Vatutin), with the 13th Army, 5th Guards Army, and 5th Guards Tank Army, countered with T-34 tanks, anti-tank guns, and minefields. Soviet IL-2 Sturmovik aircraft disrupted German armour. Heavy fighting at Prokhorovka and Ponyri resulted in significant German losses, with Soviet defenses holding key positions.
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 6, 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: The liquidation of the Lviv Ghetto, overseen by SS and Police Leader Friedrich Katzmann, was nearly complete after its initiation in June. By July 6, most remaining Jews were deported to Belzec death camp or executed at Janowska labor camp, with minimal resistance due to overwhelming SS and Ukrainian auxiliary forces. Deportations from the Netherlands via Westerbork transit camp to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Sobibor continued, organized by Adolf Eichmann, with hundreds gassed upon arrival. In Poland, the Warsaw Ghetto faced increasing pressure, with preparations for further deportations to Treblinka intensifying.
Outcomes: The Battle of Kursk saw Soviet forces absorbing German assaults, inflicting heavy losses and marking a turning point on the Eastern Front. 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, set 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 defences in Sicily, targeting 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 6, 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 defences 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 in 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 6, 1944

Soviet air attack on German convoy during Operation Bagration, 1944

Overview of Key Events

On July 6, 1944, Soviet forces advanced in Operation Bagration, pushing toward Poland after capturing Minsk on July 3–4, significantly weakening German Army Group Center. In Normandy, Allied forces continued their advance, with intense fighting around Caen as the British prepared for Operation Charnwood. Holocaust deportations from Hungary to Auschwitz-Birkenau were at their peak, with thousands killed daily. In the Pacific, U.S. forces neared victory on Saipan, facing fierce Japanese resistance, with a major banzai attack occurring the next day (July 7). In Asia, Japan’s Operation Ichi-Go progressed in China, while Japanese forces retreated in the India-Burma theatre.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Operation Bagration: Following the capture of Minsk (July 3–4), Soviet forces of the 1st Belorussian Front (under General Konstantin Rokossovsky) and 3rd Belorussian Front (under General Ivan Chernyakhovsky) advanced toward Poland. On July 6, the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army and 65th Army, equipped with T-34 tanks and supported by IL-2 Sturmovik aircraft, pursued retreating German Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Walter Model), engaging remnants of the 4th Army and 9th Army near Baranovichi. Soviet forces aimed for the Vistula River, encountering German rearguards reinforced by the 5th Panzer Division.
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, finalized preparations for Operation Charnwood (July 7–9) 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, though British defenses, including anti-aircraft guns and RAF Tempest fighters, were improving interception rates.
Holocaust-Related Events: Deportations from Hungary to Auschwitz-Birkenau, organized by Adolf Eichmann, were at their peak, with daily trains from Budapest and provincial towns carrying thousands of Jews. On or around July 6, approximately 2,000–3,000 Jews were gassed upon arrival at Auschwitz, with others selected for forced labor in subcamps like Buna-Monowitz. In Poland, the Łódź Ghetto faced intensified deportations to Auschwitz and Chelmno, with SS authorities targeting remaining workers and families under the direction of Hans Biebow. The Warsaw Ghetto, reduced after the 1943 uprising, saw surviving Jews in hiding or forced labor camps facing ongoing persecution.
Outcomes: Soviet advances in Bagration crippled Army Group Center, pushing German forces toward Poland and shifting Eastern Front momentum decisively. Allied progress in Normandy strengthened their position, with Caen’s capture imminent. V-1 attacks disrupted British civilians but had limited strategic impact. Holocaust deportations marked a devastating phase of the genocide, with Hungary’s Jewish population decimated.

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, preparing amphibious landings and coordinating with Resistance groups.
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), were nearing victory on Saipan against the Japanese 31st Army (under Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Saito). On July 6, U.S. troops consolidated positions north of Mount Tapotchau, capturing key terrain despite fierce Japanese resistance from bunkers, caves, and artillery. Task Force 58 (under Admiral Marc Mitscher), including USS Tennessee, provided naval bombardment, while the 27th Infantry Division reinforced the assault. Japanese forces prepared a massive banzai attack, which would occur on July 7, resulting in heavy casualties.
Outcomes: U.S. progress on Saipan threatened Japan’s inner defense perimeter, paving the way for the Mariana Islands campaign’s success and airfields for B-29 bombers, though the impending banzai attack highlighted Japanese desperation.

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 Hengyang after taking Changsha in June. Chinese resistance, including guerrilla tactics, slowed Japanese progress, with the Chinese 74th Army engaging in defensive actions.
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), engaging rearguards near the Chindwin River.
Outcomes: Japanese gains in China threatened Allied airfields but faced resistance, limiting consolidation. Japanese defeats in India-Burma weakened their regional position, strengthening Allied control.

Key Personalities

General Konstantin Rokossovsky: Commanded Soviet 1st Belorussian Front in Bagration.
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 6, 1945

Female SS Guards from Bergen-Belsen, 1945

Overview of Key Events

On July 6, 1945, the European war had ended with Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945, and focus shifted to post-war occupation and Holocaust survivor recovery. In the Pacific, the Battle of Balikpapan in Borneo, part of Operation Oboe, continued with Australian forces advancing against Japanese defences. Mopping-up operations persisted in Okinawa, while General Douglas MacArthur’s announcement of the Philippines’ liberation on July 5 marked a significant milestone. In Asia, Japanese forces retreated in China and Burma under Allied pressure.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Post-War Occupation: Following Germany’s surrender, Allied forces managed 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, operational since June 28, 1945, solidified Soviet-backed governance. Allied efforts focused on denazification, rebuilding infrastructure, and managing over 7 million Displaced Persons (DPs) across Europe, including Jewish survivors.
Holocaust-Related Events: Approximately 50,000–100,000 Jewish survivors were housed in Displaced Persons (DP) camps such as Feldafing and Landsberg (U.S. zone, Germany), Bergen-Belsen (British zone, Germany), and Santa Cesarea (Italy). On or around July 6, survivors faced ongoing challenges:
- Conditions: Bergen-Belsen, liberated on April 15, 1945, by British forces, saw continued struggles with typhus, dysentery, and malnutrition, with daily caloric intake often below 1,500 calories. British medical units, including the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station, worked to stabilize survivors, but post-liberation deaths persisted due to weakened conditions. Feldafing, an all-Jewish camp, saw survivors organizing self-governance, education, and cultural activities like Yiddish theater to rebuild community.
- Relief Efforts: The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) provided food, medical care, and family tracing services. On July 6, JDC teams distributed kosher food and religious materials in camps like Feldafing, though logistical constraints limited aid to about 30% of needed supplies.
- Antisemitism and Repatriation: In Poland, antisemitic violence, such as attacks in Kraków and Lublin, deterred repatriation, with dozens of Jews killed in summer 1945 pogroms. Approximately 200,000 Polish Jewish survivors faced hostility, prompting many to seek emigration to Palestine or Western countries. Zionist groups, led by figures like David Ben-Gurion, organized clandestine emigration (Aliyah Bet) to bypass British restrictions.
- War Crimes Trials: Preparations for the Nuremberg Trials (set for November 1945) advanced, with the United Nations War Crimes Commission collecting survivor testimonies and evidence from camps like Dachau and Buchenwald, including gas chamber documentation and mass grave findings.
Outcomes: Soviet occupation shaped Eastern Europe’s post-war landscape, setting Cold War tensions. Holocaust survivors struggled in under-resourced DP camps, with antisemitism blocking repatriation and fueling emigration drives. Trial preparations laid groundwork for justice, though limited in scope.

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, repatriation, and administration of former Axis territories.
Outcomes: The Mediterranean transitioned to post-war stabilization, with Allied efforts centered on demobilization and humanitarian aid.

Pacific Theatre

Battle of Balikpapan: Launched on July 1, the Australian-led Battle of Balikpapan in Borneo, part of Operation Oboe, continued on July 6. 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 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.
Philippines Liberation: Following General Douglas MacArthur’s July 5 announcement of the Philippines’ liberation, U.S. Sixth Army (under General Walter Krueger) and Eighth Army (under General Robert Eichelberger), supported by Filipino guerrillas, conducted mopping-up operations against isolated Japanese pockets of the 14th Area Army (under General Tomoyuki Yamashita). On July 6, operations focused on Luzon and Mindanao, neutralizing remaining resistance.
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 6, 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: The Philippines’ liberation restored Allied control, weakening Japanese logistics. Australian advances in Balikpapan secured Borneo’s oil fields. 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 6, 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 6, 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

General Douglas MacArthur: Oversaw the Philippines’ liberation, announced on July 5.
Edward Osóbka-Morawski: Led the Polish Provisional Government, influencing Jewish repatriation challenges.
General Ivan Bagramyan: Oversaw Soviet occupation in Eastern Europe.
Major General Edward Milford: Commanded Australian 7th Division at Balikpapan.
General William Slim: Led British 14th Army in Burma.
David Ben-Gurion: Advocated for Jewish emigration to Palestine, shaping survivor aspirations.