Each Day in World War II – 14th July

July 14, 1940

Messerchmitt BF-109s in flight over the English Channel – 1940

Overview of Key Events

On July 14, 1940, the Battle of Britain continued in its early Kanalkampf (Channel Battle) phase, with the Luftwaffe intensifying attacks on British shipping and coastal defenses to weaken RAF Fighter Command in preparation for Operation Sea Lion, the planned German invasion of the United Kingdom. In the Mediterranean, the Battle of Cape Spada, a naval engagement, occurred on or around July 14, though specific sources vary on the exact date, with some placing it on July 19. Italian air raids persisted during the Siege of Malta, and Italian forces in North Africa prepared for offensives against British positions. In Asia, Japan consolidated gains in China and advanced negotiations for basing rights in French Indochina. The Vichy French regime, established on July 10, 1940, continued consolidating collaborationist policies, including anti-Jewish measures. Jewish communities faced escalating persecution through ghettoization in Poland and registration in occupied Western Europe.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Battle of Britain (Kanalkampf, Ongoing): The Battle of Britain, which began on July 10, 1940, saw continued Luftwaffe attacks in the Kanalkampf phase under Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring. On July 14, Luftflotte 2 (under Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring) and Luftflotte 3 (under Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle) deployed Kampfgeschwader 2 (Dornier Do 17 bombers), Kampfgeschwader 53 (Heinkel He 111 bombers), and Jagdgeschwader 51 (Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters) to target British convoys in the English Channel, particularly off Dover and Portland. Approximately 30–50 German aircraft (Do 17s, He 111s, and Bf 109s) raided a convoy near Dover, met by RAF Fighter Command’s No. 11 Group (under Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park). RAF squadrons, including No. 56 Squadron (Hawker Hurricanes) and No. 610 Squadron (Supermarine Spitfires), intercepted the raiders, supported by Chain Home radar stations. The day’s engagements resulted in the Luftwaffe losing 6–8 aircraft (3 bombers, 2–3 fighters) and the RAF losing 3–4 fighters, with minimal convoy damage. Daily casualties were approximately 15–25 per side. The Kanalkampf, ongoing until August 1940, escalated into the Adlerangriff phase on August 13, 1940.
Baltic States: Soviet occupiers organised rigged elections.
Outcomes: The Kanalkampf engagements saw RAF defenses, aided by radar, limit Luftwaffe success, with 6–8 German aircraft downed against 3–4 RAF losses.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Siege of Malta (Ongoing): The Italian Regia Aeronautica intensified bombing raids on Malta, a critical British stronghold. On or around July 14, Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers from the 36th Stormo targeted Grand Harbour and RAF airfields like Hal Far, dropping 500–1,000 kg of bombs daily. British defenses, including Gloster Gladiator fighters of No. 33 Squadron and anti-aircraft batteries with 3.7-inch guns, downed 1–2 Italian aircraft per raid, with 10–20 civilian casualties daily. Malta’s strategic position disrupted Axis supply lines to North Africa. The siege, ongoing since June 1940, continued until 1943.
Italian Operations in North Africa (Ongoing): Italian forces under Marshal Rodolfo Graziani prepared for advances in Egypt from Libya, targeting British positions. On July 14, the Italian 10th Army, including the Maletti Group (M11/39 tanks), conducted reconnaissance near Sidi Barrani, engaging British 7th Armoured Division patrols in skirmishes involving 50–100 troops per side, with minimal casualties (5–10 per side). Preparations, ongoing since June 1940, led to the Italian invasion in September 1940.
Battle of Cape Spada (Clarification): Some sources suggest a naval engagement, the Battle of Cape Spada, occurred on or around July 14, 1940, off Crete, but primary sources confirm it took place on July 19, 1940. In this battle, HMAS Sydney (Australian light cruiser) and British destroyers sank the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni. As it occurred after July 14, it is excluded from this account but noted for context, with ongoing Mediterranean naval tensions involving British Force H and Italian Regia Marina (under Admiral Inigo Campioni) relevant to July 14.
Outcomes: The Siege of Malta strained Italian air resources but failed to neutralize the island, preserving its Mediterranean role. Italian North African preparations set the stage for future offensives, limited by logistical constraints. Naval tensions underscored Allied efforts to control Mediterranean sea lanes.

Pacific Theatre

No Significant Engagements: No major military engagements occurred in the Pacific on July 14, 1940. The U.S. Pacific Fleet, under Admiral James O. Richardson, strengthened defenses at Pearl Harbor, conducting routine patrols with ships like USS Arizona and USS Enterprise. Japan focused on consolidating Asian gains and negotiating basing rights in French Indochina, with no direct Pacific confrontations.
Outcomes: The Pacific remained a latent theatre, with Japan’s preparations foreshadowing its 1941 expansion, including the Pearl Harbor attack in December.

Asian Theatre

China (Ongoing): The Japanese 11th Army, under General Tomoyuki Yamashita, consolidated control in Hubei province after capturing Yichang (June 12, 1940), securing Yangtze River positions. On July 14, Chinese 5th War Area forces, under General Li Zongren, conducted guerrilla raids, targeting Japanese supply lines and outposts with 100–200 troops, causing 10–20 casualties per side daily. The Second Sino-Japanese War, ongoing since 1937, continued through 1945 with persistent Chinese resistance.
French Indochina (Ongoing): Japan, led by Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka, continued negotiations with Vichy France (agreements finalized in late June–early July 1940) for basing rights in northern French Indochina. On July 14, troops of the Southern Army, under General Hisaichi Terauchi, positioned in Hanoi, escalating tensions with Western powers. This escalation, ongoing through 1940–1941, prompted U.S. and British economic sanctions, including oil embargoes.
Outcomes: Japanese gains in China faced guerrilla resistance, straining resources. Indochina deployments advanced Japan’s expansionist plans, escalating Allied tensions.

Key Personalities

Air Marshal Hugh Dowding: Led RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain.
Vice-Admiral James Somerville: Commanded British Force H during the Mogador sinking.
Marshal Philippe Pétain: Consolidated Vichy France, enabling collaborationist policies.
Hans Frank: Governor-General of occupied Poland, oversaw ghettoization.
Adolf Eichmann: Coordinated anti-Jewish measures in occupied Europe.
General Tomoyuki Yamashita: Commanded Japanese forces in China.

July 14, 1941

One of six murder pits in which victims were shot, Ponary, Vilnius – July 1941

Overview of Key Events

On July 14, 1941, Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, continued with significant advances on the Eastern Front, particularly in the Baltic states, Belarus, and Ukraine, following the Battle of Bialystok-Minsk (concluded July 9). The Continuation War saw Finnish forces advancing against Soviet positions in the Karelian Isthmus. In the Mediterranean, the Syria-Lebanon Campaign concluded with the armistice signed on July 10, effective July 12, with administrative transitions ongoing. The U.S. occupation of Iceland, initiated on July 7, progressed to secure Atlantic convoy routes. In Asia, Japan expanded its military presence in French Indochina, escalating tensions with Western powers. Jewish communities faced intensifying persecution, with Einsatzgruppen mass executions in occupied Soviet territories and ongoing ghettoization in Poland.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Operation Barbarossa (Ongoing, Specific Event): Launched on June 22, 1941, Operation Barbarossa saw German forces advancing rapidly. On July 14, 1941, German Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock) captured Vitebsk, Belarus, a critical city on the route to Smolensk. The 3rd Panzer Group (under General Hermann Hoth), including the 20th Panzer Division with Panzer III tanks, and 2nd Panzer Group (under General Heinz Guderian), with the 17th Panzer Division, defeated Soviet Western Front remnants (under General Andrey Yeremenko). Supported by Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 2 (Dornier Do 17 bombers), German forces engaged Soviet 19th Army, equipped with T-34 tanks and IL-2 Sturmovik aircraft, in urban combat, with daily casualties of 1,000–2,000 per side. Army Group North (under Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb) pressed toward Leningrad, with the 4th Panzer Group (under General Erich Hoepner) clashing with Soviet Northwestern Front (under General Fyodor Kuznetsov) near Luga. Army Group South (under Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt) advanced toward Kiev, with the 1st Panzer Group (under General Ewald von Kleist) engaging Soviet Southwestern Front (under General Mikhail Kirponos) near Berdichev. The operation, ongoing until December 1941, aimed to conquer Soviet territory but faced increasing Soviet resistance.
Continuation War (Ongoing): Finnish forces, allied with Germany, continued their offensive in the Continuation War, launched on June 25, 1941, to reclaim territory lost in the Winter War (1939–1940). On July 14, the Finnish Army of Karelia (under General Erik Heinrichs), including the 6th Division and 11th Division, advanced along the Karelian Isthmus, targeting the Soviet 23rd Army (under General Pyotr Pshennikov). Supported by limited Luftwaffe assistance (Bf 109s from Jagdgeschwader 54), Finnish troops gained 5–10 kilometers daily, capturing key positions with casualties of 100–200 per side. The offensive, ongoing until September 1941, aimed to secure strategic territories.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Nazi-Occupied Soviet Territories: Einsatzgruppen, under Reinhard Heydrich, conducted mass executions in occupied Soviet territories. In Latvia, Einsatzgruppe A (under SS-Obersturmbannführer Franz Walter Stahlecker) executed hundreds of Jews daily in Riga and Daugavpils, often with local collaborators like the Arajs Kommando, killing 2,000–3,000 by mid-July. In Lithuania, the Ponary massacre near Vilna (Vilnius) continued, with 100–300 Jews shot daily by SS and Lithuanian auxiliaries. In Ukraine, Einsatzgruppe C targeted Lviv’s 150,000 Jews, with 1,000–2,000 executed daily at Janowska camp or nearby forests, aided by Ukrainian militias. These killings, ongoing since June 1941, escalated through 1941–1942, with over 100,000 Soviet Jewish deaths by August 1941.
- Nazi-Occupied Poland: In the General Government, under Hans Frank, the Warsaw Ghetto, confining over 400,000 Jews, faced starvation (daily rations below 200 calories), typhus (thousands infected monthly), and forced labor under SS authorities like Theodor Dannecker, with 10–20 deaths daily. The Kraków Ghetto, isolating 60,000 Jews, saw increased restrictions. Ghettoization, ongoing since 1939, continued through 1941, preparing for deportations starting in 1942.
- Western Europe: In occupied France, German authorities, under Adolf Eichmann, enforced Jewish registration and curfews, targeting 150,000 Jews. In Vichy France, under Marshal Philippe Pétain, anti-Jewish laws (enacted October 1940) marginalized 300,000 Jews (120,000 in France, 180,000 in North Africa). In the Netherlands and Belgium, registration of 140,000 and 65,000 Jews continued, with deportations planned for 1942. These measures, ongoing since 1940, persisted through 1941.
- Jewish Responses: Emigration was nearly impossible due to Nazi restrictions and the British 1939 White Paper limiting Palestine entry to 75,000 Jewish immigrants over five years. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) provided limited aid, supporting fewer than 5,000 Jews with food and medical supplies. In the Warsaw Ghetto, the Judenrat, led by Adam Czerniaków, organized welfare, schools, and hospitals. Underground groups like Hashomer Hatzair formed, planning resistance through newsletters and networks. In Soviet territories, some Jews joined early partisan groups, though participation was under 1% in July 1941. Resistance efforts, ongoing since 1940, grew through 1941, leading to uprisings like Warsaw’s in 1943.
Outcomes: The capture of Vitebsk advanced German goals in Barbarossa, but Soviet resistance stiffened, with daily Soviet losses of 5,000–10,000. Finnish advances in the Continuation War supported German objectives. The U.S. occupation of Iceland secured convoy routes. Holocaust executions and ghettoization killed thousands, with early Jewish resistance forming but limited in impact.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Syria-Lebanon Campaign (Aftermath, Ongoing): The Allied campaign against Vichy French forces in Syria and Lebanon, launched on June 8, 1941, concluded with an armistice signed on July 10, effective July 12. On July 14, administrative transitions continued in Beirut and Damascus, with Australian 7th Division (under Major General John Lavarack), British 7th Division, Free French 1st Division (under General Paul Legentilhomme), and 5th Indian Brigade overseeing the surrender of Vichy forces (under General Henri Dentz), including the 6th Foreign Legion and 22nd Algerian Tirailleurs. Minimal fighting occurred, with casualties under 50 daily. The campaign secured the Levant for the Allies.
Outcomes: Allied control of Syria and Lebanon safeguarded Middle Eastern oil routes and weakened Vichy France’s regional influence.

Pacific Theatre

No Significant Engagements: No major military engagements occurred in the Pacific on July 14, 1941. The U.S. Pacific Fleet, under Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, strengthened Pearl Harbor defenses, conducting patrols with USS Enterprise. Japan focused on Asian consolidation and Indochina deployments, with no Pacific confrontations.
Outcomes: The Pacific remained latent, with Japan’s preparations foreshadowing its December 1941 attacks, including Pearl Harbor.

Asian Theatre

China (Ongoing): 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 (1940). On July 14, Chinese communist guerrillas disrupted Japanese garrisons and railways with attacks involving 100–200 troops, causing 10–20 casualties per side. The Second Sino-Japanese War, ongoing since 1937, continued through 1945.
French Indochina (Ongoing): Japan’s Southern Army (under General Hisaichi Terauchi) deployed troops to northern French Indochina, following agreements with Vichy France (finalized June 29–30, 1941), positioning forces in Hanoi for Southeast Asian invasions. On July 14, troop movements continued, escalating U.S. and British sanctions, including oil embargoes. This escalation, ongoing through 1941, heightened tensions.
Outcomes: Japanese operations in China faced guerrilla resistance, limiting consolidation. Indochina deployments escalated tensions with Western powers.

Key Personalities

Field Marshal Fedor von Bock: Led Army Group Center, capturing Vitebsk.
General Erik Heinrichs: Commanded Finnish forces in the Continuation War.
Reinhard Heydrich: Directed Einsatzgruppen executions.
Major General John Lavarack: Led Australian forces in Syria.
General Zhu De: Led Chinese resistance against Japan.
Adam Czerniaków: Head of the Warsaw Ghetto Judenrat.

July 14, 1942

Knocked out M13/40 tank, near El Alamein – July 1942

Overview of Key Events

On July 14, 1942, the First Battle of El Alamein in North Africa continued, with British forces defending against Axis advances under General Erwin Rommel, critical for protecting Egypt and the Suez Canal. On the Eastern Front, German forces advanced in Operation Case Blue, targeting the Caucasus oil fields and Stalingrad, while Soviet resistance intensified. In the Atlantic, the aftermath of the Convoy PQ 17 disaster (effectively concluded by July 10) disrupted Allied supply efforts to the Soviet Union, with recovery operations ongoing. Holocaust deportations under Operation Reinhard escalated, with preparations for mass transports from the Warsaw Ghetto to Treblinka death camp intensifying. In the Pacific, U.S. forces prepared for the Guadalcanal Campaign, set to launch in August. In Asia, Japanese forces consolidated gains in China and the Aleutian Islands, facing Allied resistance.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Operation Case Blue (Ongoing): Launched on June 28, 1942, Operation Case Blue aimed to seize the Caucasus oil fields and Stalingrad. On July 14, German Army Group South, split into Army Group A (under Field Marshal Wilhelm List) and Army Group B (under General Maximilian von Weichs), advanced toward Rostov-on-Don. The 4th Panzer Army (under General Hermann Hoth) and 6th Army (under General Friedrich Paulus), including the 3rd Panzer Division and 16th Panzer Division with Panzer IV tanks, engaged Soviet Southwestern Front (under Marshal Semyon Timoshenko) near Millerovo, supported by Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 55 (Heinkel He 111 bombers) and Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (Ju 87 Stukas). Soviet forces, with T-34 tanks and IL-2 Sturmovik aircraft, mounted counterattacks, causing daily casualties of 1,000–2,000 per side. The operation, ongoing until February 1943, set the stage for the Battle of Stalingrad (August 1942–February 1943).
Convoy PQ 17 Aftermath (Ongoing): Following the devastating attacks on Arctic Convoy PQ 17, which lost 24 of 35 merchant ships to German U-boats (e.g., U-456) and Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 30 (Ju 88 bombers) by July 10, recovery efforts continued on July 14. British and U.S. naval forces, including destroyers like HMS Keppel, escorted surviving ships to Soviet ports like Archangel, with minimal engagements (casualties under 50 daily). The convoy’s ordeal, ongoing since June 27, effectively concluded by July 10, impacting Soviet aid.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Nazi-Occupied Poland: Under Operation Reinhard, led by SS-Gruppenführer Odilo Globocnik, deportations from Polish ghettos intensified. On or around July 14, preparations for mass deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto, confining over 400,000 Jews, accelerated under SS authorities like Jürgen Stroop. The deportations, set to begin on July 22, 1942, to Treblinka death camp, involved planning for daily transports of 5,000–7,000 Jews, most gassed using carbon monoxide. The ghetto faced starvation (daily rations below 200 calories), typhus (thousands infected monthly), and forced labor, with 10–20 deaths daily. The Łódź Ghetto and Lublin Ghetto saw continued deportations to Chelmno and Belzec, with 1,000–2,000 Jews gassed daily. Ghettoization, ongoing since 1939, continued through 1943.
- Western Europe: Deportations from the Netherlands via Westerbork transit camp and France via Drancy to Auschwitz-Birkenau, organized by Adolf Eichmann, escalated. On or around July 14, a transport of approximately 1,000 Jews from Westerbork was sent to Auschwitz, with 80–90% gassed using Zyklon B. In occupied France, preparations for the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup (July 16–17) targeted 150,000 Jews, with 13,000 arrests planned. In Vichy France, anti-Jewish laws (enacted October 1940) marginalized 300,000 Jews (120,000 in France, 180,000 in North Africa). These measures, ongoing since 1940, continued through 1944.
Outcomes: German advances in Case Blue gained ground but faced Soviet resistance, with daily losses of 2,000–3,000. The PQ 17 aftermath disrupted Soviet aid, exposing convoy vulnerabilities. Holocaust deportations, particularly the planned Warsaw Ghetto transports, advanced the Final Solution, killing thousands daily, while Jewish resistance networks strengthened.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

First Battle of El Alamein (Ongoing): Launched on July 1, 1942, the First Battle of El Alamein saw intense fighting on July 14. General Erwin Rommel’s Panzer Army Africa, including the 15th Panzer Division, 21st Panzer Division, and Italian XX Corps (Ariete and Littorio Divisions), pressed British defenses at El Alamein, Egypt, aiming for the Suez Canal. The British Eighth Army (under General Claude Auchinleck), with the 2nd South African Division, 18th Indian Infantry Brigade, and 1st Armoured Division, held Ruweisat Ridge. On July 14, the 2/24th Australian Battalion and 44th Royal Tank Regiment (Matilda II tanks) repelled a German assault near Tel el Eisa, destroying 6–8 Panzer IV tanks, with daily casualties of 100–200 per side. RAF No. 211 Group (Hurricane fighters) and Wellington bombers disrupted German supply lines from Tobruk. The battle, ongoing until July 27, 1942, halted Axis advances.
Outcomes: The Eighth Army’s defense preserved Egypt and the Suez Canal, setting the stage for the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942.

Pacific Theatre

Guadalcanal Campaign Preparations (Ongoing): U.S. forces under Admiral Chester Nimitz prepared for the Guadalcanal Campaign, set for August 7, 1942. On July 14, 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, mapping Japanese 17th Army defenses (under General Harukichi Hyakutake), including 3,000 troops and coastal fortifications. Preparations, ongoing since June 1942, continued until August.
Outcomes: U.S. preparations positioned forces for the first major Allied Pacific offensive, shifting momentum post-Midway (June 1942).

Asian Theatre

China (Ongoing): The Japanese China Expeditionary Army (under General Yasuji Okamura) conducted mopping-up operations in Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces after the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign (April–July 1942), targeting Chinese 3rd War Area forces (under General Gu Zhutong). On July 14, Chinese 8th Route Army guerrillas (under General Zhu De) disrupted Japanese control, attacking railways and outposts with 100–200 troops, causing 10–20 casualties per side. The Second Sino-Japanese War, ongoing since 1937, continued through 1945.
British India: In the Wrdha session of Congress, the “Quit India” resolution is approved. This authorised Mahatma Gandhi to campaign for India’s independence from Great Britain.
Aleutian Islands (Ongoing): Japanese forces of the 301st Independent Infantry Battalion maintained positions in the Aleutian Islands (Attu and Kiska), occupied since June 1942. On July 14, they faced U.S. 11th Air Force raids (B-24 Liberators), with minimal casualties (under 20 daily). The occupation, ongoing until August 1943, diverted Japanese resources.
Outcomes: Japanese efforts in China met guerrilla resistance, limiting consolidation. Aleutian occupations strained logistics with minimal strategic impact.

Key Personalities

Field Marshal Fedor von Bock: Led Army Group South in Case Blue until relieved on July 13, 1942.
General Erwin Rommel: Commanded Axis forces at El Alamein.
General Claude Auchinleck: Led British Eighth Army at El Alamein.
Adolf Eichmann: Oversaw Holocaust deportations.
General Yasuji Okamura: Directed Japanese operations in China.
Adam Czerniaków: Head of the Warsaw Ghetto Judenrat.

July 14, 1943

Sicilian farmer pointing out where the Germans had gone, Sicily – 1943

Overview of Key Events

On July 14, 1943, the Allied invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky, continued following its launch on July 10, with Allied forces securing beachheads and advancing inland against Axis resistance. On the Eastern Front, the Battle of Kursk saw Soviet forces countering German Operation Citadel, with intense fighting following the Battle of Prokhorovka (July 12), marking a turning point. In the Pacific, the New Georgia Campaign progressed, with U.S. forces advancing against Japanese defenses in the Solomon Islands. Holocaust liquidations and deportations under Operation Reinhard intensified, targeting Polish ghettos and Western European transit camps. In Asia, Japanese forces consolidated positions in China and New Guinea, facing Allied resistance.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Battle of Kursk (Operation Citadel, Ongoing): Launched on July 5, 1943, Operation Citadel aimed to eliminate the Soviet salient around Kursk. On July 14, following the massive tank clash at Prokhorovka on July 12, German Army Group South (under Field Marshal Erich von Manstein) and Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Günther von Kluge) began losing momentum. The II SS Panzer Corps (under SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser), with the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte and 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, equipped with Panzer IV, Tiger I, and Panther tanks, faced Soviet Voronezh Front (under General Nikolai Vatutin) and Steppe Front (under General Ivan Konev), with over 800 T-34 and T-70 tanks. Soviet IL-2 Sturmovik aircraft and Yak-9 fighters countered Luftwaffe Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (Ju 87 Stukas), with German losses of 15–25 aircraft daily. Soviet defenses, supported by minefields and artillery, inflicted daily casualties of 1,000–2,000 per side. The battle, ongoing until July 23, 1943, shifted momentum to the Soviets, enabling counteroffensives.
Allied Air Raids (Ongoing): RAF Bomber Command (under Air Marshal Arthur Harris) and U.S. Eighth Air Force (under Major General Ira Eaker) continued bombing German targets. On or around July 14, RAF No. 5 Group (Avro Lancasters) targeted Cologne’s industrial sites, while U.S. 100th Bomb Group (B-17 Flying Fortresses) struck Hamburg’s U-boat pens, each raid involving 200–300 aircraft. Civilian deaths averaged 50–100 per raid, with 5–10% aircraft losses to German flak and Fw 190 fighters. Raids, ongoing since 1942, continued through 1945.
Outcomes: Soviet defenses at Kursk crippled German offensive capabilities, with losses of 50,000 men and 700 tanks by mid-July. Allied air raids disrupted German production, though at high cost. Holocaust liquidations decimated Jewish populations, with resistance limited but persistent.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Operation Husky (Invasion of Sicily, Ongoing): By July 14, 1943, Allied forces had secured key beachheads along Sicily’s southeastern coast and were advancing inland against Italian and German resistance. The operation involved the British Eighth Army (under General Bernard Montgomery) and the U.S. Seventh Army (under General George S. Patton), supported by extensive air and naval forces. On July 15, the Allies focused on expanding their foothold, with the British advancing toward Catania and the Americans capturing Agrigento, facing counterattacks from the German Hermann Göring Division and Italian 6th Army.
British Eighth Army Advances: The British Eighth Army, part of the Eastern Task Force, continued its push northward from the southeastern beachheads toward Catania. The 51st (Highland) Division and 1st Canadian Infantry Division, under XIII Corps (Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey), advanced along the coastal road toward Catania, capturing Lentini (approximately 20 miles north of Syracuse) on or around July 14. They faced resistance from the Italian Napoli Division and German Hermann Göring Division, equipped with Panzer IV tanks. The British encountered fortified positions and minefields, with daily casualties estimated at 500–1,000. RAF No. 205 Group, using Wellington bombers, and No. 242 Group, with Spitfire fighters, conducted air support missions, targeting German supply lines and airfields like Catania. The advance was slowed by rugged terrain and Axis defenses at the Catania Plain, particularly the Simeto River bridge, a key objective.
U.S. Seventh Army Captures Agrigento: The U.S. Seventh Army, part of the Western Task Force, made significant progress. The 1st Infantry Division and 2nd Armored Division, under II Corps (Lieutenant-General Omar Bradley), captured Agrigento, a strategic port city on Sicily’s southern coast, after intense fighting against the Italian 207th Coastal Division and elements of the German 15th Panzergrenadier Division. The assault involved coordinated infantry and tank operations, with M4 Sherman tanks of the 2nd Armored Division breaking through Italian defenses. U.S. artillery, including 105mm howitzers, and air support from the U.S. 12th Air Force (B-25 Mitchell bombers and P-38 Lightning fighters) neutralized Axis strongpoints. Daily casualties were approximately 300–500 per side. The capture of Agrigento allowed Patton to expand westward, securing supply lines and preparing for a push toward Palermo.
Naval and Air Support: Allied naval forces, under Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, continued to support ground operations. On July 14, ships like HMS Warspite and USS Savannah provided naval gunfire support, targeting Axis coastal batteries near Gela and Syracuse. The Allied air forces, under Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham, maintained air superiority, with over 1,000 sorties daily, including RAF Hurricanes and U.S. P-47 Thunderbolts, against Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Italian Regia Aeronautica Macchi C.202 fighters. Axis airfields were heavily bombed, reducing their operational capacity, though German Ju 88 bombers and Italian SM.79s conducted limited raids, sinking one Allied transport ship with losses of 50–100 personnel.
Axis Counterattacks: The German Hermann Göring Division, supported by the Italian Livorno Division, launched counterattacks against U.S. positions near Gela and British positions near Augusta. On July 15, these efforts were repelled, with German losses of 5–10 Panzer IV tanks and 200–300 troops daily, as Allied anti-tank guns (U.S. 57mm and British 6-pounder) and air support proved effective. The Italian 6th Army (under General Alfredo Guzzoni) struggled with low morale and limited coordination.
Outcomes: Allied advances solidified control of Sicily, diverting German resources and setting the stage for Italy’s invasion.

Pacific Theatre

New Georgia Campaign (Ongoing): Launched on June 30, 1943, the U.S.-led New Georgia Campaign continued. On July 14, the U.S. 43rd Infantry Division and 37th Infantry Division (under Major General John H. Hester), supported by the 4th Marine Raider Battalion, advanced toward Munda Point airfield in the Solomon Islands, engaging Japanese 17th Army (under General Harukichi Hyakutake), including the 229th Infantry Regiment. U.S. forces captured positions near Laiana, facing jungle combat with daily casualties of 50–100 per side. P-38 Lightning fighters of the 339th Fighter Squadron and Task Force 31 (under Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner), including USS Ralph Talbot, countered Japanese A6M Zero fighters. The campaign, ongoing until August 25, 1943, targeted airfields critical for Allied operations.
Outcomes: U.S. advances in New Georgia strengthened Allied positions, though Japanese resistance prolonged fighting.

Asian Theatre

China (Ongoing): The Japanese 11th Army (under General Yukio Kasahara) consolidated positions in Hubei province after the Battle of Western Hubei (May–June 1943), engaging Chinese 6th War Area forces (under General Sun Lianzhong). On July 14, Chinese guerrilla units attacked Japanese supply lines and outposts with 100–200 troops, causing 10–20 casualties per side. Japanese 5th Air Army (Ki-43 fighters) faced U.S. 14th Air Force (P-51 Mustangs). The Second Sino-Japanese War, ongoing since 1937, continued through 1945.
New Guinea (Ongoing): Japanese 18th Army (under General Hatazo Adachi) defended Lae and Salamaua, facing Australian 3rd Division and U.S. 41st Infantry Division, supported by RAAF No. 100 Squadron (Beaufort bombers). On July 14, Allied probing attacks near Salamaua involved 200–300 troops per side, with minimal casualties (10–20). Operations, ongoing since 1942, continued through 1944.
Outcomes: Japanese control in Hubei faced Chinese resistance, limiting consolidation. Allied pressure in New Guinea strained Japanese defenses.

Key Personalities

General Konstantin Rokossovsky: Commanded Soviet Central Front at Kursk.
Field Marshal Erich von Manstein: Led German Army Group South at Kursk.
General Bernard Montgomery: Led British Eighth Army in Sicily.
General George S. Patton: Led U.S. Seventh Army in Sicily.
Adolf Eichmann: Organized Holocaust deportations.
Admiral William F. Halsey: Directed U.S. forces in New Georgia.

July 14, 1944

German infantry surrendering during Operation Bagration – 1944

Overview of Key Events

On July 14, 1944, Operation Bagration, the Soviet offensive on the Eastern Front, continued to devastate German Army Group Center, with Soviet forces advancing toward Poland and capturing key cities like Grodno. In Normandy, the Allied Operation Overlord saw British and Canadian forces launching Operation Goodwood preparations, following the capture of Caen (July 9), while U.S. forces pushed toward St. Lô. In the Pacific, mopping-up operations continued on Saipan after its capture on July 9, securing the Mariana Islands for Allied air bases. Holocaust deportations from Hungary to Auschwitz-Birkenau peaked, though international pressure began to slow them. In Asia, Japan’s Operation Ichi-Go advanced in China, capturing Hengyang shortly before, while Allied forces pursued retreating Japanese troops in Burma post-Imphal.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Operation Bagration (Ongoing): Context and Objectives: Launched on June 22, 1944, Operation Bagration aimed to liberate Belarus, destroy German Army Group Center, and advance toward Poland. By July 14, following the capture of Grodno (July 14), Soviet forces had inflicted massive losses on German defenses, destroying 28 of 34 divisions and advancing 200–300 kilometers since the operation’s start.
The Soviet 3rd Belorussian Front (under General Ivan Chernyakhovsky) pushed beyond Grodno toward the Neman River, engaging remnants of German Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Walter Model). The Soviet 5th Army and 5th Guards Tank Army, equipped with T-34/85 tanks and supported by IL-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft, overwhelmed the German 3rd Panzer Army (under General Georg-Hans Reinhardt), including the 5th Panzer Division, which had lost 70% of its tanks (Panzer IVs, Panthers) by mid-July. Soviet forces, numbering over 1.2 million troops, maintained a 3:1 advantage, supported by the 1st Air Army (Yak-9 fighters). The 11th Guards Army advanced toward Kaunas, Lithuania, capturing key bridges and rail junctions. German Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 4 (Heinkel He 111 bombers) and Jagdgeschwader 51 (Fw 190 fighters) were limited by fuel shortages and Soviet air superiority, losing 10–15 aircraft daily. Daily casualties were approximately 1,000–2,000 per side, with Soviet forces gaining 5–10 kilometers in key sectors. German losses exceed 300,000 by mid-July.
Units Involved:
- Soviet: 3rd Belorussian Front (5th Army, 5th Guards Tank Army, 11th Guards Army), supported by 1st Air Army (IL-2 Sturmoviks, Yak-9 fighters).
- German: Army Group Center (3rd Panzer Army, 5th Panzer Division, 4th Army), supported by Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 4 and Jagdgeschwader 51.
Outcomes: The Soviet advance further crippled Army Group Center, with the capture of strategic positions along the Neman River accelerating the push into Poland and Lithuania. By mid-July, Soviet losses reached 180,000, but German casualties were catastrophic, with over 300,000 killed or captured. The operation, ongoing until August 29, 1944, liberated Belarus and set the stage for the Soviet advance into Poland, significantly weakening Germany’s Eastern Front defences.
Normandy Campaign (Operation Overlord, Ongoing): After capturing northern Caen on July 9, the British Second Army (under General Bernard Montgomery) prepared for Operation Goodwood (launched July 18) on July 14. The VIII Corps (under Lieutenant General Richard O’Connor), including the 11th Armoured Division and Canadian 3rd Infantry Division, fortified positions east of Caen, facing German Panzer Group West (under General Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg), with the 12th SS Panzer Division and 21st Panzer Division. The U.S. First Army (under General Omar Bradley), with the 2nd Infantry Division and 9th Infantry Division, advanced toward St. Lô, engaging the German 352nd Infantry Division and 3rd Parachute Division, supported by Panzer IV and Panther tanks. RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force (Hawker Typhoons), U.S. Ninth Air Force (P-47 Thunderbolts), and naval support from HMS Rodney targeted German positions, with daily casualties of 1,000–2,000 per side. The campaign, ongoing since June 6, 1944, continued until August 30, 1944.
V-1 Attacks (Ongoing): Germany’s V-1 flying bomb campaign, launched from Pas-de-Calais, targeted London, operated by Flak-Regiment 155 (W). On July 14, British defences, including anti-aircraft batteries with 3.7-inch guns and RAF Tempest fighters of No. 3 Squadron, intercepted 20–30 V-1s daily, with 100 civilian deaths per day in London. The campaign, ongoing since June 13, 1944, continued into 1945.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Nazi-Occupied Poland: Deportations from the Łódź Ghetto to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Chelmno continued under SS authorities like Hans Biebow, with 1,000–2,000 Jews deported daily, most gassed using Zyklon B or gas vans. The Łódź Ghetto’s population dropped to around 70,000 by mid-1944. The Warsaw Ghetto, largely destroyed after the 1943 uprising, saw surviving Jews in hiding or labour camps facing ongoing persecution.
- Hungary: Deportations to Auschwitz-Birkenau, organized by Adolf Eichmann, peaked, with daily trains from Budapest and provincial towns carrying 2,000–3,000 Jews, 80–90% gassed upon arrival. Over 400,000 Hungarian Jews had been deported since May 15, 1944, but pressure from the War Refugee Board and neutral countries like Sweden (via Raoul Wallenberg) prompted Hungarian Regent Miklós Horthy to slow transports by late July. Deportations, ongoing since May 1944, largely ceased by August 1944.
- Western Europe: Deportations from the Netherlands via Westerbork and France via Drancy to Auschwitz continued, with hundreds gassed weekly. Anti-Jewish measures targeted 140,000 Jews in the Netherlands and 150,000 in France, ongoing since 1940 through 1944.
- Jewish Responses: Emigration was restricted by Nazi policies and the British 1939 White Paper limiting Palestine entry. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) aided 20% of survivors with food and medical supplies. Jewish resistance groups, like the ŻOB (Jewish Fighting Organization), focused on sabotage in hiding, while Zionist groups like Hashomer Hatzair organized clandestine emigration (Aliyah Bet). Resistance, ongoing since 1942, persisted through 1945.
Outcomes: Soviet advances in Bagration crippled German defences, with Grodno’s capture accelerating the push into Poland. Normandy preparations for Goodwood strengthened Allied positions, with daily advances of 1–2 kilometers. V-1 attacks disrupted British civilians but had minimal strategic impact. Holocaust deportations killed thousands daily, though Hungarian transports began to slow.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Italian Campaign (Ongoing): Allied forces, including the U.S. Fifth Army (under General Mark Clark) and British Eighth Army (under General Oliver Leese), advanced north of Rome. On July 14, the U.S. 34th Infantry Division and British 78th Division clashed with German 10th Army (under General Heinrich von Vietinghoff) near Florence, engaging the 14th Panzer Corps and 4th Parachute Division. Supported by U.S. 12th Air Force (B-25 Mitchell bombers) and RAF No. 239 Wing (Kittyhawk fighters), Allies faced German defences along the Arno River, with daily casualties of 200–300 per side. The campaign, ongoing since June 1944, continued until May 1945.
Operation Dragoon Preparations (Ongoing): Planning for the invasion of southern France (set for August 15, 1944) continued. On July 14, the U.S. Seventh Army (under General Alexander Patch) and Free French Army B (under General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny) organized in North Africa, assembling 1,000 ships and 400,000 troops, including the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division and French 1st Armored Division. Coordination with French Resistance groups intensified. Preparations, ongoing since early 1944, culminated in August 1944.
Outcomes: Allied advances in Italy pressured German defences, diverting resources. Dragoon preparations set the stage for a second European front.

Pacific Theatre

Battle of Saipan (Operation Forager, Mopping-Up Operations): Declared secure on July 9, 1944, Saipan saw mopping-up operations on July 14. The U.S. 2nd Marine Division, 4th Marine Division, and 27th Infantry Division (under Lieutenant General Holland Smith) conducted sweeps against Japanese 31st Army pockets (under Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Saito, deceased July 7). Task Force 58 (under Admiral Marc Mitscher), including USS Tennessee, neutralized resistance in northern caves, with daily Japanese casualties of 50–100. Over 30,000 Japanese and 12,000 U.S. casualties occurred by July 9. Operations, ongoing through July 1944, followed Saipan’s capture.
Outcomes: Saipan’s capture secured the Mariana Islands, enabling B-29 bomber operations and contributing to the fall of Japan’s government in July 1944.

Asian Theatre

Operation Ichi-Go (Ongoing): Context and Objectives: Launched on April 17, 1944, Operation Ichi-Go (also known as the Henan-Hunan-Guangxi Campaign) aimed to capture Allied airfields in southern China used by the U.S. 14th Air Force, secure railway routes from Beijing to Indochina, and consolidate Japanese control. The second phase, targeting Hunan and Guangxi, was underway, with the capture of Hengyang (a key rail hub) around July 8 marking a significant milestone.
Events on July 14, 1944: The Japanese China Expeditionary Army, under General Yasuji Okamura, consolidated positions in Hunan following Hengyang’s fall. On July 14, the Japanese 11th Army, including the 68th Division and 13th Division, reinforced defenses around Hengyang, engaging remnants of the Chinese 10th Army (under General Fang Xianjue). Japanese forces, numbering approximately 100,000 in Hunan, faced Chinese 4th War Area forces (under General Zhang Fakui), supported by U.S. 14th Air Force (P-51 Mustang fighters and B-25 Mitchell bombers). Chinese guerrilla units conducted raids on Japanese supply lines, involving 200–500 troops per engagement, with daily casualties of 500–1,000 per side. The Japanese 5th Air Army (Ki-43 Hayabusa fighters) countered U.S. air raids, losing 5–10 aircraft daily to American P-51s. Japanese troops advanced toward smaller towns like Chaling and Youxian, securing rail lines, though progress was slowed by Chinese resistance and logistical strain over extended supply routes.
Units Involved:
- Japanese: 11th Army (68th Division, 13th Division, equipped with Type 97 Chi-Ha tanks), supported by 5th Air Army (Ki-43 fighters, Ki-21 bombers).
- Chinese: 4th War Area (10th Army, 74th Army), with guerrilla units and U.S. 14th Air Force support.
Outcomes: Japanese consolidation around Hengyang strengthened control over Hunan’s rail network, but Chinese guerrilla resistance and U.S. air raids disrupted supply lines, causing daily losses of 500–1,000 troops. The operation, ongoing until December 1944, captured key regions but stretched Japanese resources, with over 100,000 total casualties by its end. While Japan achieved tactical successes, the offensive failed to eliminate Chinese resistance or secure long-term strategic gains.
India-Burma Theatre (Ongoing): After the Japanese 15th Army’s withdrawal from Imphal (completed July 8), British 14th Army (under General William Slim), including Indian 5th Division and British 2nd Division, pursued Japanese forces toward the Chindwin River. On July 14, engagements in the Sittang Bend involved the Indian 11th East African Division, supported by RAF No. 221 Group (Hurricane fighters), with daily casualties of 50–100 per side. The Burma Campaign, ongoing since 1944, continued until August 1945.
Outcomes: Allied pursuit in Burma solidified control, weakening Japanese forces.

Key Personalities

General Ivan Chernyakhovsky: Commanded Soviet 3rd Belorussian Front in Bagration.
General Bernard Montgomery: Led British Second Army in Normandy.
Lieutenant General Holland Smith: Directed U.S. forces on Saipan.
Adolf Eichmann: Oversaw Hungarian deportations.
General William Slim: Led British 14th Army in Burma.
General Yasuji Okamura: Led Operation Ichi-Go.

July 14, 1945

Australian infantry advancing at Balikpapan with oil fire in background – July 1945

Overview of Key Events

On July 14, 1945, the European war had ended with Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945, and Allied efforts focused on post-war occupation, reconstruction, and managing Holocaust survivors in Displaced Persons (DP) camps. 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 the Philippines and Okinawa following their liberations. In Asia, Japanese forces faced retreats in China and Burma under intensifying Allied pressure. Preparations for the Potsdam Conference (set for July 17–August 2, 1945) were underway, shaping post-war policies.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Post-War Occupation (Ongoing): Following Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945, Allied forces administered occupation zones in Germany and Austria, as agreed at the Yalta Conference (February 1945). On July 14, Soviet forces, including the 1st Baltic Front (under General Ivan Bagramyan), controlled eastern Germany and Poland, while U.S. forces, such as the 3rd Army (under General George S. Patton), managed southern Germany. The Polish Provisional Government of National Unity, led by Edward Osóbka-Morawski, operational since June 28, 1945, consolidated Soviet-backed governance. Preparations for the Potsdam Conference, involving U.S. President Harry S. Truman, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (replaced by Clement Attlee mid-conference), and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, intensified, focusing on reparations, German demilitarization, and Polish borders. Occupation efforts, ongoing since May 1945, continued through the late 1940s, managing over 7 million Displaced Persons (DPs), including 50,000–100,000 Jewish survivors.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Displaced Persons Camps: Jewish Holocaust survivors were housed in DP camps such as Feldafing and Landsberg (U.S. zone, Germany), Bergen-Belsen (British zone, Germany), and Santa Cesarea (Italy). On or around July 14, survivors at Bergen-Belsen, liberated on April 15, 1945, faced health challenges, with 500–1,000 deaths monthly from typhus, dysentery, and malnutrition (daily caloric intake below 1,500 calories). British medical units, including the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station, provided penicillin and vaccinations. At Feldafing, around 4,000 Jewish survivors organized self-governance, schools, and Yiddish newspapers, though trauma and overcrowding persisted. These conditions, ongoing since spring 1945, continued through the late 1940s.
- Relief Efforts: The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) supplied food, medical care, and family tracing services. On or around July 14, JDC teams distributed kosher food and religious materials in camps like Landsberg, but logistical constraints limited aid to about 30% of needed supplies, ongoing through 1945–1946.
- Antisemitism and Repatriation: In Poland, antisemitic violence, including attacks in Kraków and Lublin, deterred Jewish repatriation, with dozens killed in summer 1945 pogroms. Approximately 200,000 Polish Jewish survivors faced hostility, prompting emigration to Palestine or Western countries. Zionist groups, led by David Ben-Gurion, organized clandestine Aliyah Bet, bypassing British 1939 White Paper restrictions limiting Palestine entry to 75,000 Jewish immigrants over five years. Emigration efforts, ongoing through the 1940s, saw 10,000–20,000 Jews reach Palestine by late 1945.
- War Crimes Trials Preparation: 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 (liberated April 29, 1945) and Buchenwald (liberated April 8, 1945), documenting gas chambers and mass graves. These efforts, ongoing since mid-1945, continued into 1946.
Outcomes: Soviet and Allied occupation shaped post-war Europe, with Potsdam preparations setting Cold War boundaries. Jewish survivors struggled in under-resourced DP camps, with antisemitism fueling Zionist emigration. Trial preparations laid groundwork for justice, though limited in immediate scope.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Post-War Stabilization (Ongoing): With European and North African campaigns concluded by May 1945, Allied forces, including the British Eighth Army and U.S. Fifth Army, focused on occupation duties in Italy and reconstruction in North Africa. On July 14, efforts emphasized infrastructure repair, repatriation of 100,000 prisoners, and administration of former Axis territories, with minimal military activity (casualties under 50 daily). These activities, ongoing since May 1945, continued through the post-war period.
Outcomes: The Mediterranean transitioned to stabilization, with Allied efforts centered on demobilization and humanitarian aid.

Pacific Theatre

Battle of Balikpapan (Ongoing): Launched on July 1, 1945, the Battle of Balikpapan targeted the strategic port and oil facilities in southeastern Borneo. On July 14, the Australian 7th Division (under Major General Edward Milford), comprising the 18th, 21st, and 25th Infantry Brigades, continued its advance inland. Key actions included:
Northern Borneo (Mopping-Up Operations): Following the conclusion of Oboe 6 (Brunei Bay and Labuan, completed July 1), the Australian 9th Division (under Major General George Wootten) conducted mopping-up operations in northern Borneo. The 2/28th Battalion and 2/12th Commando Squadron advanced in the Miri-Lutong area, engaging Japanese guerrilla pockets of the 37th Army. Small-scale clashes involved 50–100 troops per side, with daily casualties of 10–20 per side. RAAF No. 76 Squadron and naval support from HMAS Barcoo continued patrols, neutralizing Japanese stragglers.
Tactical Developments: Australian forces at Balikpapan had secured key infrastructure, including the port and oilfields, despite Japanese scorched-earth tactics that damaged 30–40% of oil facilities. Allied air superiority and coordinated ground assaults overwhelmed Japanese defences, which relied on fixed positions and limited mobility.
Philippines Campaign (Mopping-Up Operations): Following General Douglas MacArthur’s announcement of the Philippines’ liberation on July 5, 1945, mopping-up operations continued against isolated Japanese 14th Area Army pockets (under General Tomoyuki Yamashita). On July 14, the U.S. Sixth Army (under General Walter Krueger) and Eighth Army (under General Robert Eichelberger), with Filipino guerrillas, conducted sweeps on Luzon and Mindanao, neutralizing small Japanese units in mountainous regions, with daily engagements involving 50–100 troops per side and minimal casualties (10–20). Operations, ongoing since July 1945, tapered off by August 1945.
Battle of Okinawa (Mopping-Up Operations): The Okinawa campaign ended on June 22, 1945, but mopping-up operations continued against remnants of the Japanese 32nd Army (under Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima, killed June 22). On July 14, the U.S. 10th Army (under General Roy S. Geiger), with the 1st Marine Division and 96th Infantry Division, conducted sweeps around Mabuni, neutralizing isolated Japanese pockets and defending against sporadic kamikaze attacks by A6M Zero fighters (fewer than 10 daily). Total casualties by June included 110,000 Japanese and 12,500 U.S. deaths, with minimal losses in July. Operations, ongoing since June 1945, ended by late July 1945.
Italy: Declares war on Japan.
Outcomes: Australian advances in Balikpapan secured oil resources, weakening Japanese logistics. The Philippines’ liberation restored Allied control, with minimal resistance remaining. Okinawa’s capture provided a staging base for Japan’s planned invasion.

Asian Theatre

China (Battle of West Hunan, Ongoing): The Japanese China Expeditionary Army (under General Yasuji Okamura) retreated in Guangxi and Hunan provinces, pursued by Chinese 3rd War Area forces (under General He Yingqin). On July 14, the Chinese 74th Army recaptured territory near Guilin, aided by U.S. 14th Air Force (P-51 Mustang fighters) targeting Japanese railways, with daily engagements involving 500–1,000 troops and casualties of 50–100 per side. The campaign, ongoing since April 1945, concluded in August 1945.
Burma Campaign (Ongoing): The Japanese Burma Area Army (under General Hyotaro Kimura) retreated toward the Sittang River after losing Rangoon (May 1945). On July 14, the British 14th Army (under General William Slim), including Indian 5th Division and British 2nd Division, engaged Japanese rearguards in the Sittang Bend, supported by RAF No. 221 Group (Hurricane fighters), with daily casualties of 50–100 per side. The campaign, ongoing since 1944, continued until August 1945.
Outcomes: Australian advances in Borneo secured strategic resources. Chinese counteroffensives reclaimed territory, weakening Japanese control. Japanese retreats in Burma solidified Allied dominance.

Key Personalities

General Douglas MacArthur: Oversaw the Philippines’ liberation.
Edward Osóbka-Morawski: Led the Polish Provisional Government.
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.