Each Day in World War II – 16th July

July 16, 1940

Invasion barges assembled for Operation Sealion at Wilhelmshaven – 1940

Overview of Key Events

On July 16, 1940, World War II was in a pivotal phase following the fall of France in June 1940. Adolf Hitler issued Directive No. 16, ordering preparations for Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of Britain. This marked a critical escalation in Nazi Germany’s strategy to defeat the United Kingdom after the Luftwaffe’s initial engagements in the Battle of Britain, which began on July 10, 1940. In the Mediterranean, British and Italian naval forces clashed in minor engagements following the Battle of Calabria (July 9). In Asia, Japan continued its campaign in China, while tensions grew over potential expansion into French Indochina. Early Holocaust-related measures intensified, with anti-Jewish policies expanding in occupied Europe and Vichy France.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Directive No. 16 (Operation Sea Lion Preparations): On July 16, 1940, Adolf Hitler issued Führer Directive No. 16, ordering the preparation of Operation Sea Lion, the planned amphibious invasion of Britain. Issued from Berlin, the directive tasked the German Wehrmacht, under the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) led by Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, with assembling an invasion force. General Alfred Jodl’s staff began planning, coordinating the Heer (under Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch), Kriegsmarine (under Admiral Erich Raeder), and Luftwaffe (under Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring). The plan required Luftwaffe air superiority over the English Channel, targeting RAF Fighter Command, and assembling 25–40 divisions (approximately 250,000–400,000 troops) with 1,000 barges for crossings from ports like Calais and Dunkirk. The Kriegsmarine’s limited resources, including only 4 destroyers and 2 cruisers, posed challenges, as noted in the directive’s emphasis on air control. Preparations, ongoing through September 1940, were contingent on the Battle of Britain’s outcome.
Battle of Britain (Ongoing): Launched on July 10, 1940, the Battle of Britain saw the Luftwaffe intensify attacks on British air defenses to pave the way for Operation Sea Lion. On July 16, during the Kanalkampf phase (Channel battles), Luftwaffe Luftflotte 2 (under General Albert Kesselring) and Luftflotte 3 (under General Hugo Sperrle) targeted British shipping and coastal defenses. Squadrons like Kampfgeschwader 2 (Dornier Do 17 bombers) and Jagdgeschwader 26 (Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters) attacked RAF airfields like Biggin Hill and convoys in the English Channel, flying 100–150 sorties daily. RAF Fighter Command (under Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding), with No. 11 Group (under Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park), deployed Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons (e.g., No. 74 Squadron) from bases like Manston. Daily losses averaged 5–10 aircraft per side, with 20–50 personnel casualties. The battle, ongoing until October 1940, aimed to cripple RAF defenses but faced fierce resistance.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Nazi-Occupied Poland: In the General Government, under Hans Frank, the Warsaw Ghetto was being established (formally sealed in November 1940), confining over 400,000 Jews. On July 16, forced labor programs, overseen by SS authorities like Theodor Dannecker, exploited 10,000–20,000 Jews in construction and factories, with daily rations below 200 calories and 5–10 deaths from malnutrition or disease. The Kraków Ghetto, isolating 60,000 Jews, saw similar restrictions. Ghettoization, ongoing since 1939, set the stage for 1942 deportations.
- Occupied Western Europe: In occupied France, German authorities under Otto Abetz enforced anti-Jewish measures, registering 150,000 Jews and imposing curfews. In Vichy France, under Marshal Philippe Pétain, preparations for anti-Jewish laws (enacted October 3, 1940) began, targeting 300,000 Jews (120,000 in France, 180,000 in North Africa). In the Netherlands, occupied in May 1940, registration of 140,000 Jews started under Arthur Seyss-Inquart, with deportations planned for 1942. These measures, ongoing since May 1940, continued through 1941.
- Germany and Austria: In Germany, 160,000 Jews faced forced labor and property confiscation under Adolf Eichmann’s oversight. The Nuremberg Laws (1935) continued to marginalize Jews, with 100–200 daily arrests for minor infractions. In Austria, 50,000 Jews faced similar restrictions, ongoing since the 1938 Anschluss.
- Jewish Responses: Emigration was heavily restricted by Nazi policies 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 aid to fewer than 5,000 Jews, focusing on food and medical supplies in Poland. In the Warsaw Ghetto, Jewish councils (Judenräte), led by figures like Adam Czerniaków, organized welfare, schools, and hospitals. Early resistance networks, such as Hashomer Hatzair, formed in ghettos, distributing newsletters but lacking arms, with fewer than 100 members in July 1940. Resistance efforts, ongoing since 1939, grew through 1941.
Outcomes: Directive No. 16 formalized plans for Operation Sea Lion, escalating pressure on Britain, though logistical challenges persisted. The Battle of Britain’s Kanalkampf phase saw RAF resilience, with daily losses of 10–20 aircraft across both sides. Anti-Jewish measures tightened, with thousands in ghettos facing starvation and labor, while Jewish resistance remained embryonic.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Naval Engagements Post-Battle of Calabria (Ongoing): Following the Battle of Calabria (July 9, 1940), minor naval skirmishes continued in the Mediterranean. On July 16, the British Mediterranean Fleet (under Admiral Andrew Cunningham), with HMS Warspite and HMS Eagle, patrolled near Sicily, engaging Italian Regia Marina destroyers (under Admiral Inigo Campioni) near Cape Spartivento. The Royal Navy’s Force H (under Vice-Admiral James Somerville) conducted patrols from Gibraltar, targeting Italian supply routes to Libya. RAF No. 202 Group (Gladiator fighters) and Sunderland flying boats supported operations, with minimal casualties (under 20 daily). These actions, ongoing since July 1940, aimed to disrupt Italian control of the Mediterranean.
Western Desert Campaign (Ongoing): In North Africa, British Western Desert Force (under Major-General Richard O’Connor), including the 7th Armoured Division, conducted patrols near the Egyptian-Libyan border against Italian 10th Army (under General Mario Berti). On July 16, small-scale raids targeted Italian outposts at Sidi Barrani, with 50–100 troops engaged per side and casualties under 20 daily. Operations, ongoing since June 1940, set the stage for Operation Compass in December 1940.
Outcomes: British naval patrols maintained pressure on Italian shipping, securing Mediterranean routes. Western Desert raids weakened Italian positions, paving the way for future offensives.

Pacific Theatre

No Significant Engagements: No major military actions occurred in the Pacific on July 16, 1940. The U.S. Pacific Fleet, under Admiral James O. Richardson, strengthened defenses at Pearl Harbor, conducting patrols with USS Enterprise. Japan focused on consolidating gains in China, with no Pacific confrontations.
Outcomes: The Pacific remained calm, with Japan’s preparations for expansion into Southeast Asia ongoing, foreshadowing 1941 conflicts.

Asian Theatre

China (Second Sino-Japanese War, Ongoing): The Japanese China Expeditionary Army (under General Yasuji Okamura) engaged Chinese National Revolutionary Army (under General Chiang Kai-shek) in Hubei and Henan provinces. On July 16, Japanese 11th Army (under General Waichiro Sonobe) conducted operations in central China, facing Chinese 5th War Area forces (under General Li Zongren). Chinese guerrilla attacks, involving 100–200 troops, disrupted Japanese supply lines, with 10–20 casualties per side daily. Japanese 3rd Air Division (Ki-27 fighters) countered Chinese air raids. The war, ongoing since 1937, continued through 1945.
French Indochina (Tensions Rising): Japan pressured Vichy France for access to northern French Indochina, with negotiations ongoing for airfields and troop deployments. On July 16, Japan’s Southern Army (under General Hisaichi Terauchi) prepared plans, escalating tensions with Western powers. These moves, ongoing through September 1940, led to the Japanese occupation of Indochina.
Outcomes: Japanese operations in China faced guerrilla resistance, limiting control. Indochina tensions heightened, prompting Allied sanctions.

Key Personalities

Adolf Hitler: Issued Directive No. 16, ordering Operation Sea Lion preparations.
Hermann Göring: Led Luftwaffe operations in the Battle of Britain.
Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding: Commanded RAF Fighter Command.
Hans Frank: Oversaw General Government, enforcing ghettoization in Poland.
Admiral Andrew Cunningham: Led British Mediterranean Fleet operations.
General Yasuji Okamura: Directed Japanese forces in China.

July 16, 1941

German soldier repurposing Lenin statue, Leningrad – 1941

Overview of Key Events

On July 16, 1941, World War II was marked by significant developments across multiple theatres. The Red Army initiated a counter-attack against the Wehrmacht near Leningrad as part of the Leningrad Defensive Operation within Operation Barbarossa, and Naval Operating Base Argentia in Newfoundland was commissioned, strengthening Allied control of the North Atlantic. These events occurred amidst broader campaigns, including the ongoing Battle of Smolensk, the Finnish Continuation War, the aftermath of the Syria-Lebanon Campaign, and escalating Holocaust-related persecutions. In Asia, Japan expanded its presence in French Indochina, heightening tensions with Western powers.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Red Army Counter-Attack Near Leningrad: The Red Army launched a counter-attack against the Wehrmacht near Leningrad, part of the Leningrad Defensive Operation to counter German Army Group North’s advance during Operation Barbarossa (launched June 22, 1941). The Soviet 23rd Army (under General Pyotr Pshennikov) and 48th Army (under General Ivan Bogdanov), supported by Leningrad militia units and Baltic Fleet naval artillery (battleships Marat and October Revolution), engaged German 4th Panzer Group (under General Erich Hoepner) near the Luga River, 100–150 kilometers south of Leningrad. The counter-attack involved 10,000–15,000 Soviet troops, using T-34 tanks and Katyusha rocket launchers, targeting German positions around Luga and Kingisepp. Luftwaffe Jagdgeschwader 54 (Bf 109 fighters) supported German forces, which included the 1st Panzer Division. Daily casualties were 500–1,000 Soviet and 300–500 German, with the action delaying the German advance, allowing Leningrad to construct fortifications (190 miles of barricades, 430 miles of anti-tank ditches). This effort, ongoing through August 1941, delayed the Siege of Leningrad (September 8, 1941–January 27, 1944).
Argentia Naval Air Base Commissioning: Naval Operating Base Argentia in Newfoundland was officially commissioned under the 1940 Destroyers-for-Bases Agreement between the U.S. and Britain. Located in Placentia Bay, the base, built by civilian contractors (George A. Fuller Company, Merritt-Chapman and Scott Corporation), included three runways (5,500 ft, 5,300 ft, 7,000 ft), a dockyard, and a seaplane base. Operated by the U.S. Navy’s Newfoundland Base Command, it supported PBY Catalina seaplanes and destroyers like USS Prairie for anti-submarine patrols and convoy escorts. By September 1941, five U.S. destroyers from Argentia escorted trans-Atlantic convoys, protecting against German U-boats. The base, alongside Fort McAndrew (U.S. Army), employed 20,000 personnel at its peak, with minimal casualties (under 50 daily) during setup. Argentia later hosted the Atlantic Charter meeting (August 10, 1941).
Operation Barbarossa (Battle of Smolensk, Ongoing): The Battle of Smolensk (July 10–September 10, 1941) continued, with German Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock) advancing toward Smolensk. On July 16, the 2nd Panzer Group (under General Heinz Guderian) and 3rd Panzer Group (under General Hermann Hoth), with Panzer III and IV tanks, engaged Soviet Western Front (under General Andrey Yeremenko) and 16th Army (under General Konstantin Rokossovsky) near Orsha. Supported by Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 2 (Dornier Do 17 bombers), Germans encircled Soviet units, facing T-34 tanks and IL-2 Sturmovik aircraft, with 1,000–2,000 casualties per side daily. The operation, ongoing until December 1941, aimed to capture key Soviet cities.
Continuation War (Ongoing): Launched on June 25, 1941, the Finnish Continuation War saw the Finnish Army of Karelia (under General Erik Heinrichs), including the 6th and 11th Divisions, advance on the Karelian Isthmus against the Soviet 23rd Army. On July 16, Finnish forces gained 5–10 kilometers daily, supported by Luftwaffe Jagdgeschwader 54 (Bf 109 fighters), with 100–200 casualties per side. The offensive, ongoing until September 1941, aligned with German goals.
German-Occupied Soviet Territories (Mass Executions):
Latvia: Einsatzgruppe A, under SS-Obersturmbannführer Franz Walter Stahlecker, conducted mass shootings of Jews following the German occupation of Latvia in early July 1941. On or around July 16, in Riga and Daugavpils, 100–300 Jews were executed daily by SS units and local collaborators, such as the Arajs Kommando, led by Viktors Arājs. Victims, primarily men and community leaders, were shot in forests like Bikernieki, with 2,000–3,000 total deaths by mid-July. These killings targeted Latvia’s 90,000 Jews, with 70% killed by the end of 1941.
Lithuania: The Ponary massacre near Vilna (Vilnius), where Einsatzgruppe A and Lithuanian auxiliaries (Ypatingasis būrys) executed 100–300 Jews daily in July 1941. On July 16, shootings continued at Ponary, targeting Vilna’s 70,000 Jews, with victims forced to dig mass graves. Approximately 10,000 Jews were killed by late July, part of a broader campaign reducing Lithuania’s 200,000 Jews by 80% by 1941’s end.
Ukraine: Einsatzgruppe C activities in Lviv, where 150,000 Jews faced persecution after German occupation on June 30, 1941. On July 16, 1,000–2,000 Jews were executed daily at Janowska camp or nearby forests, often with Ukrainian militia support. These massacres, ongoing since June 1941, targeted community leaders and intellectuals, with over 100,000 Ukrainian Jewish deaths by August 1941.
German-Occupied Poland (Ghettoization):
- Warsaw Ghetto: The ghetto, housing over 400,000 Jews in a 3.4 km² area, was a center of extreme hardship by July 1941. On July 16, Jews faced starvation (daily rations below 200 calories), typhus outbreaks (thousands infected monthly), and forced labor under SS oversight (Theodor Dannecker). Daily deaths averaged 10–20 from malnutrition and disease. The Judenrat, led by Adam Czerniaków, struggled to manage welfare, with smuggling networks providing minimal food. Ghettoization, ongoing since October 1940, continued through 1941, setting the stage for 1942 deportations to Treblinka.
- Other Ghettos: Ongoing ghettoization in Kraków (60,000 Jews), Łódź (160,000 Jews), and Lublin (40,000 Jews). On July 16, these ghettos faced similar conditions: forced labor, food shortages (rations under 500 calories), and SS-enforced restrictions, with 5–15 daily deaths per ghetto. These measures, ongoing since 1939, aimed to isolate and weaken Jewish populations.
Western Europe (Anti-Jewish Measures):
- France: German authorities under Otto Abetz and Vichy France under Marshal Philippe Pétain intensified anti-Jewish policies. On July 16, registration of 150,000 Jews in occupied France and 300,000 (including 180,000 in North Africa) in Vichy France continued, with curfews and property confiscations. Preparations for anti-Jewish laws (enacted October 1940, expanded in 1941) restricted Jewish businesses and public access, affecting daily life with 100–200 arrests for non-compliance.
- Netherlands and Belgium: In the Netherlands, under Arthur Seyss-Inquart, 140,000 Jews faced registration and exclusion from public life, with 50–100 daily arrests for violating curfews. In Belgium, 65,000 Jews underwent similar measures under Alexander von Falkenhausen. These policies, ongoing since May 1940, set the stage for 1942 deportations to Auschwitz.
Germany and Austria: In Germany, 160,000 Jews faced forced labor and social exclusion under the Nuremberg Laws (1935), with 100–200 daily arrests for minor infractions, overseen by Adolf Eichmann. In Austria, 50,000 Jews faced similar restrictions since the 1938 Anschluss, with ongoing emigration barriers.
Outcomes: The Red Army’s Leningrad counter-attack delayed German Army Group North, costing 5,000–10,000 total casualties but buying time for fortifications. Argentia’s commissioning strengthened Allied convoy protection with minimal losses. Barbarossa’s Smolensk advance gained ground but faced resistance. Finnish operations supported German objectives. Holocaust atrocities killed thousands daily, with Jewish resistance emerging.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Syria-Lebanon Campaign (Aftermath, Ongoing): The Allied campaign against Vichy French forces concluded with an armistice effective July 12, 1941. On July 16, Australian 7th Division (under Major General John Lavarack), British 7th Division, Free French 1st Division (under General Paul Legentilhomme), and 5th Indian Brigade oversaw transitions in Beirut and Damascus, managing 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.
Western Desert Campaign (Ongoing): British XIII Corps (under Lieutenant-General Noel Beresford-Peirse), including the 7th Armoured Division and 4th Indian Division, conducted patrols near Sidi Barrani against Italian 10th Army (under General Giovanni Berti). On July 16, small-scale raids targeted Italian outposts, with 50–100 troops engaged per side and casualties under 20 daily, supported by RAF No. 202 Group (Hurricane fighters).
Outcomes: The Syria-Lebanon Campaign secured the Levant, protecting Allied oil routes. Western Desert patrols maintained pressure on Italian forces, setting the stage for future offensives.

Pacific Theatre

No Significant Engagements: No major military actions occurred in the Pacific on July 16, 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.
Outcomes: The Pacific remained quiet, with Japan preparing for 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 16, 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 16, troop movements continued, escalating U.S. and British sanctions, including oil embargoes.
Outcomes: Japanese operations in China faced guerrilla resistance, limiting consolidation. Indochina deployments heightened tensions with Western powers.

Key Personalities

Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb: Led German Army Group North toward Leningrad.
General Pyotr Pshennikov: Commanded Soviet 23rd Army in Leningrad’s defense.
Field Marshal Fedor von Bock: Led Army Group Center in Smolensk.
General Erik Heinrichs: Commanded Finnish forces in the Continuation War.
Reinhard Heydrich: Directed Einsatzgruppen executions.
Major General John Lavarack: Led Australian forces in Syria’s aftermath.
General Zhu De: Led Chinese resistance against Japan.
Adam Czerniaków: Headed Warsaw Ghetto Judenrat.

July 16, 1942

Two Jewish women in Paris wearing Star of David badge – 1942

Overview of Key Events

On July 16, 1942, World War II saw critical developments across multiple theatres. The Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup began in Paris, marking a significant escalation in the Holocaust with the mass arrest of 13,152 Jews for deportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Concurrently, the First Battle of El Alamein in North Africa continued, with British forces holding off Axis advances under General Erwin Rommel. On the Eastern Front, Operation Case Blue saw German forces advancing toward Rostov-on-Don and the Caucasus, engaging Soviet defences. In the Pacific, U.S. forces finalized preparations for the Guadalcanal Campaign, set to launch in August. In Asia, Japanese forces consolidated gains in China and the Aleutian Islands. Holocaust-related activities under Operation Reinhard intensified, with preparations for Warsaw Ghetto deportations to Treblinka ongoing. These events reflect a pivotal moment in the war, with the Holocaust’s genocide accelerating alongside major military campaigns.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup (Began July 16, 1942): Vichy French police, under René Bousquet and in collaboration with German SS authorities led by Adolf Eichmann, began the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in Paris. Over two days (July 16–17), 13,152 Jews (including 4,115 children) were arrested, targeting 150,000 Jews in occupied France. The operation, planned since early July, involved 9,000 French police and gendarmes, who rounded up Jews (primarily foreign-born and stateless) from their homes, detaining them at the Vélodrome d’Hiver stadium under dire conditions (no food, water, or sanitation). Most were transferred to Drancy internment camp, then deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where 80–90% were gassed upon arrival using Zyklon B. Daily casualties during the roundup were minimal (under 50 deaths), but the operation marked a turning point in France’s complicity in the Holocaust.
Operation Case Blue (Ongoing): Launched on June 28, 1942, Operation Case Blue aimed to capture the Caucasus oil fields and Stalingrad. On July 16, 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), with the 3rd and 16th Panzer Divisions (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), Germans faced Soviet T-34 tanks and IL-2 Sturmovik aircraft, with 1,000–2,000 casualties per side daily. The operation, ongoing until February 1943, set the stage for the Battle of Stalingrad.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Nazi-Occupied Poland: Under Operation Reinhard, led by SS-Gruppenführer Odilo Globocnik, preparations for mass deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto (over 400,000 Jews in 3.4 km²) to Treblinka death camp intensified. On July 16, SS authorities, including Hermann Höfle, coordinated logistics for transports starting July 22, planning to deport 5,000–7,000 Jews daily, most gassed using carbon monoxide. The ghetto faced starvation (rations below 200 calories), typhus (thousands infected monthly), and forced labor, with 10–20 deaths daily. Deportations from the Łódź Ghetto (160,000 Jews) to Chelmno and Lublin Ghetto (under 10,000 Jews) to Belzec continued, with 1,000–2,000 gassed daily.
- Netherlands: Deportations to Auschwitz-Birkenau began on July 14–15, 1942. On July 16, transports of 1,000–1,500 Jews, primarily German and Dutch, left Westerbork, with 80–90% gassed upon arrival, coordinated by Adolf Eichmann. Daily arrests in Amsterdam by SS and Dutch police targeted 140,000 Jews.
- Eastern Occupied Territories: In Ukraine and Belarus, Einsatzgruppen (e.g., Einsatzgruppe C) executed 100–500 Jews daily in smaller massacres, targeting remaining communities in Lviv and Minsk. These killings, ongoing since June 1941, supported the broader genocide.
- Jewish Responses: In the Warsaw Ghetto, the Judenrat, led by Adam Czerniaków, managed welfare, schools, and hospitals under SS pressure. Underground groups like ŻOB (Jewish Fighting Organization) and ŻZW (Jewish Military Union), with activists like Mordechai Anielewicz, formed, spurred by deportation rumors, distributing leaflets but limited to fewer than 100 members, as noted in Jewish Resistance in the Holocaust. In the Netherlands, the Westerweel Group aided Jews in hiding (under 1,000), and in France, the Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants (OSE) prepared to hide children post-Vel’ d’Hiv. Emigration was nearly impossible due to Nazi restrictions and the British 1939 White Paper (75,000 Jewish immigrants to Palestine over five years). The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) supported fewer than 5,000 Jews with aid.
Outcomes: The Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup deported 13,152 Jews, with most killed at Auschwitz, marking Vichy France’s complicity. Operation Case Blue advanced but faced Soviet resistance, with 2,000–3,000 daily casualties. Holocaust deportations and ghetto liquidations killed 5,000–10,000 Jews daily, with resistance networks forming but limited by resources.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

First Battle of El Alamein (Ongoing): General Erwin Rommel’s Panzer Army Africa, with the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions 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, defended Ruweisat Ridge. On July 16, the 2/23rd Australian Battalion and 8th Royal Tank Regiment (Matilda II tanks) repelled a German assault near Tel el Eisa, destroying 5–7 Panzer IV tanks, with 100–200 casualties per side daily. RAF No. 211 Group (Hurricane fighters) and Wellington bombers disrupted German supply lines from Tobruk. The battle, ongoing until July 27, 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 (October 1942).

Pacific Theatre

Guadalcanal Campaign Preparations (Ongoing): On July 16, 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 operations in Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces after the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign (April–July 1942). On July 16, 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. Japanese 5th Air Army (Ki-43 fighters) faced U.S. 14th Air Force (P-51 Mustangs). The war, ongoing since 1937, continued through 1945.
Aleutian Islands (Ongoing): Japanese 301st Independent Infantry Battalion positions on Attu and Kiska, occupied since June 1942. On July 16, U.S. 11th Air Force (B-24 Liberators) conducted raids, 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

Adolf Eichmann: SS-Obersturmbannführer, organized Vel’ d’Hiv and Westerbork deportations.
René Bousquet: Vichy France police chief, executed Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup.
Odilo Globocnik: SS-Gruppenführer, oversaw Operation Reinhard.
Adam Czerniaków: Head of Warsaw Ghetto Judenrat.
General Erwin Rommel: Commanded Axis forces at El Alamein.
General Claude Auchinleck: Led British Eighth Army at El Alamein.
Field Marshal Wilhelm List: Led Army Group A in Case Blue.
General Yasuji Okamura: Directed Japanese operations in China.
Mordechai Anielewicz: Led early ŻOB resistance in Warsaw Ghetto.

July 16, 1943

Il-2 Shturmovik in action at Kursk – 1943

Overview of Key Events

On July 16, 1943, World War II was at a turning point, with the Allies gaining momentum against the Axis powers. In the European and Atlantic Theatre, the Battle of Kursk on the Eastern Front, the largest tank battle in history, saw Soviet forces countering German advances in Operation Citadel. In the Mediterranean and African Theatre, Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, progressed, with British and American forces advancing against Italian and German defences. Holocaust-related activities under Operation Reinhard continued, with deportations from ghettos like Warsaw and Białystok to death camps like Treblinka and Auschwitz-Birkenau. In the Pacific Theatre, the Guadalcanal Campaign had concluded, but Allied forces prepared for further offensives in the Solomon Islands. In the Asian Theatre, Japanese forces faced Chinese resistance in the Second Sino-Japanese War and consolidated positions in occupied territories. These events reflect the intensifying Allied pressure and the ongoing genocide of Jewish populations.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Battle of Kursk (Ongoing): Launched on July 5, 1943, Operation Citadel was Germany’s attempt to regain initiative on the Eastern Front. On July 16, the battle’s southern sector near Prokhorovka saw Soviet counter-offensives by the 5th Guards Tank Army (under General Pavel Rotmistrov) against German Army Group South (under Field Marshal Erich von Manstein). The Soviet 29th and 18th Tank Corps, with T-34 and KV-1 tanks, engaged the II SS-Panzer Corps (under SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser), including the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte and 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich with Panther and Tiger tanks. Supported by Luftwaffe Fliegerkorps IV (Ju 87 Stukas) and Soviet 2nd Air Army (IL-2 Sturmoviks), daily clashes involved 500–1,000 tanks per side, with 1,000–2,000 casualties each. The Soviet counter-offensive, part of the broader Kursk Strategic Offensive (July 12–August 18, 1943), halted German advances, with the battle ongoing until July 23.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Nazi-Occupied Poland: The Warsaw Ghetto, reduced to under 50,000 Jews after the April–May 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, faced ongoing deportations to Treblinka under Operation Reinhard, led by SS-Gruppenführer Odilo Globocnik. On July 16, remaining Jews were subjected to forced labor and sporadic roundups, with 1,000–2,000 deported daily to Treblinka or Majdanek, where most were gassed using carbon monoxide or Zyklon B. The Białystok Ghetto (30,000 Jews) saw similar deportations to Treblinka, with 500–1,000 daily deaths,. The Łódź Ghetto (80,000 Jews) continued forced labor for German industries, with 10–20 daily deaths from starvation (rations below 200 calories) and typhus.
- Western Europe: Ongoing deportations from the Netherlands via Westerbork transit camp to Auschwitz-Birkenau, coordinated by Adolf Eichmann. On July 16, transports of 1,000–1,500 Jews left Westerbork, with 80–90% gassed upon arrival. In occupied France, deportations from Drancy camp, overseen by SS-Hauptsturmführer Alois Brunner, continued, targeting 150,000 Jews, with 500–1,000 weekly deportees. In Belgium, 65,000 Jews faced similar measures.
- Italy: Under Benito Mussolini’s regime, Italy’s 40,000 Jews faced increasing restrictions but no deportations yet, as Germany pressured Mussolini for harsher measures. On July 16, anti-Jewish policies (e.g., exclusion from public life since 1938) continued, with 50–100 daily arrests for non-compliance.
- Eastern Occupied Territories: In Ukraine and Belarus, Einsatzgruppen (e.g., Einsatzgruppe C) conducted smaller-scale massacres, killing 100–500 Jews daily in cities like Lviv and Minsk. These actions, ongoing since 1941, targeted remaining Jewish communities.
- Jewish Responses: In Poland, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (April 19–May 16, 1943) had been crushed, but survivors like Marek Edelman organized underground resistance, as noted in Jewish Resistance in the Holocaust. In Białystok, early resistance groups (e.g., Anti-Fascist Bloc) planned uprisings, with fewer than 100 members. In the Netherlands, the Westerweel Group hid 200–300 Jews, and in France, the Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants (OSE) saved 1,000–2,000 children by July 1943. Emigration was nearly impossible due to Nazi restrictions and the British 1939 White Paper (75,000 Jewish immigrants to Palestine over five years). The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) aided fewer than 5,000 Jews with food and supplies.
Outcomes: The Battle of Kursk’s Soviet counter-offensive halted German advances, with 2,000–4,000 daily casualties, shifting momentum to the Soviets. Holocaust deportations killed 2,000–4,000 Jews daily across Europe, with resistance growing but limited by resources.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Operation Husky (Ongoing):The Allied invasion of Sicily, launched on July 10, 1943. On July 16, the British Eighth Army (under General Bernard Montgomery), with the XXX Corps (51st Highland Division, 1st Canadian Division), and U.S. Seventh Army (under General George S. Patton), with the II Corps (1st and 45th Infantry Divisions), advanced inland. They faced German Panzergruppe West (under General Hans-Valentin Hube), including the 15th Panzergrenadier Division, and Italian 6th Army (under General Alfredo Guzzoni). The British captured Augusta, while U.S. forces took Gela, with 500–1,000 casualties per side daily. Allied air support from RAF No. 205 Group (Wellington bombers) and U.S. 12th Air Force (P-51 Mustangs) targeted German supply lines, destroying 10–20 vehicles daily. The operation, ongoing until August 17, aimed to secure Sicily and pressure Italy.
Outcomes: Allied advances in Sicily gained ground, weakening Italian morale and setting the stage for Mussolini’s fall (July 25, 1943).

Pacific Theatre

Post-Guadalcanal Operations (Ongoing): The campaign ended in February 1943, but on July 16, Allied forces under Admiral William Halsey prepared for the New Georgia Campaign (launched June 30, 1943) in the Solomon Islands. The U.S. 43rd Infantry Division and 37th Infantry Division, supported by Task Force 36.1 (USS Honolulu), engaged Japanese 17th Army (under General Harukichi Hyakutake) on New Georgia, with 200–300 casualties per side daily. PBY Catalina aircraft and F4F Wildcats provided reconnaissance and air cover. The campaign, ongoing until August 1943, aimed to secure airfields like Munda.
Outcomes: Allied progress in New Georgia strengthened their position in the Solomons, building on Guadalcanal’s success.

Asian Theatre

China (Ongoing): Japanese operations in Hubei and Hunan provinces by the China Expeditionary Army (under General Yasuji Okamura). On July 16, Chinese 4th War Area forces (under General Zhang Fakui) and 8th Route Army guerrillas (under General Zhu De) conducted raids, disrupting Japanese supply lines with 100–200 troops, causing 10–20 casualties per side. Japanese 5th Air Army (Ki-43 fighters) faced U.S. 14th Air Force (P-40 Warhawks). The war, ongoing since 1937, continued through 1945.
Outcomes: Chinese guerrilla resistance limited Japanese control, though Japan maintained strategic dominance.

Key Personalities

Field Marshal Erich von Manstein: Led German Army Group South at Kursk.
General Pavel Rotmistrov: Commanded Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army at Kursk.
General Bernard Montgomery: Led British Eighth Army in Sicily.
General George S. Patton: Led U.S. Seventh Army in Sicily.
Odilo Globocnik: Oversaw Operation Reinhard deportations.
Adolf Eichmann: Organized Western European deportations.
Marek Edelman: Led surviving Warsaw Ghetto resistance.
General Yasuji Okamura: Directed Japanese operations in China.

July 16, 1944

M5 Stuart light tank in action, Normandy – 1944

Overview of Key Events

On July 16, 1944, World War II was marked by significant Allied advances and ongoing Holocaust atrocities. In the European and Atlantic Theatre, the Soviet Operation Bagration was dismantling German Army Group Centre in Belarus, while the Normandy Campaign saw Allied forces preparing for Operation Cobra, the breakout from Normandy. Holocaust-related activities under Operation Reinhard and other Nazi programs continued, with mass deportations from Hungary to Auschwitz-Birkenau and ongoing liquidations of Polish ghettos like Łódź. In the Pacific Theatre, the Battle of Saipan concluded, marking a major Allied victory, while preparations for the invasion of Guam intensified. In the Asian Theatre, Japan’s Operation Ichi-Go in China aimed to secure strategic regions, facing Chinese resistance. These events reflect the Allies’ growing momentum and the Holocaust’s peak intensity, with millions of Jews already killed and resistance efforts struggling against Nazi oppression.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Operation Bagration (Ongoing): Launched on June 22, 1944 this Soviet offensive aimed to destroy German Army Group Centre in Belarus. On July 16, the 1st Belorussian Front (under General Konstantin Rokossovsky) and 2nd Belorussian Front (under General Georgiy Zakharov) advanced toward Minsk and Grodno, engaging remnants of German 4th Army (under General Kurt von Tippelskirch) and 9th Army (under General Hans Jordan). Soviet forces, including the 3rd Guards Tank Army with T-34/85 tanks, faced German Panzergrenadier units like the 5th Panzer Division, supported by Luftwaffe Fliegerkorps VI (Fw 190 fighters). Daily clashes involved 10,000–20,000 troops per side, with 1,000–2,000 Soviet and 2,000–3,000 German casualties. The operation, ongoing until August 19, 1944, liberated Belarus and pushed toward Poland, devastating German defenses.
Normandy Campaign (Ongoing): Following the D-Day landings (June 6, 1944), Allied forces were consolidating positions. On July 16, the British Second Army (under General Miles Dempsey) and U.S. First Army (under General Omar Bradley) prepared for Operation Cobra (launched July 25, 1944), targeting German Panzergruppe West (under General Heinrich Eberbach). The U.S. 1st Infantry Division and British 7th Armoured Division, with Sherman and Churchill tanks, engaged German 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich near Caen and Saint-Lô, supported by RAF No. 83 Group (Typhoon fighters) and U.S. 9th Air Force (P-47 Thunderbolts). Daily casualties were 500–1,000 per side, with 10–20 tanks destroyed. The campaign, ongoing until August 1944, aimed to break out of Normandy.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Nazi-Occupied Poland:The Warsaw Ghetto, reduced to under 20,000 Jews after the 1943 uprising, faced final liquidations. On July 16, remaining Jews were deported to Majdanek or forced into labor camps, with 500–1,000 daily deaths from executions or disease. The Łódź Ghetto (70,000 Jews), under Hans Biebow, faced intensified deportations to Chelmno and Auschwitz-Birkenau, with 1,000–2,000 gassed daily using gas vans or Zyklon B, as part of Operation Reinhard’s final phase.
- Hungary: Mass deportations to Auschwitz-Birkenau, organized by Adolf Eichmann. From May 15 to July 9, 1944, 437,000 Hungarian Jews were deported, with 10,000–15,000 sent daily. On July 16, deportations slowed due to international pressure (e.g., Horthy’s halt order on July 7), but 1,000–2,000 Jews were still sent to Auschwitz, with 80–90% gassed upon arrival. Hungarian gendarmes and SS units, including those under Otto Skorzeny, enforced roundups.
- Western Europe: Ongoing deportations from Drancy camp to Auschwitz, with 500–1,000 Jews deported weekly, overseen by SS-Hauptsturmführer Alois Brunner. In the Netherlands, Westerbork camp sent 1,000–1,500 Jews weekly to Auschwitz, targeting the remaining 60,000 Jews. Belgium’s 25,000 remaining Jews faced similar measures.
- Jewish Responses: In Poland, surviving resistance groups from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, like those led by Yitzhak Zuckerman, operated underground, aiding 100–200 Jews in hiding, per Jewish Resistance in the Holocaust. In Hungary, the Zionist Youth Resistance smuggled 500–1,000 Jews to Romania. In France, the Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants (OSE) hid 2,000–3,000 children by July 1944. In the Netherlands, the Westerweel Group assisted 300–500 Jews in hiding. Emigration was blocked by Nazi policies and the British 1939 White Paper (75,000 Jewish immigrants to Palestine over five years). The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) provided aid to fewer than 5,000 Jews.
Outcomes: Operation Bagration crippled German Army Group Centre, with 5,000–6,000 daily casualties, pushing toward Poland. The Normandy Campaign’s preparations for Cobra set the stage for a breakout, with 1,000–2,000 daily casualties. Holocaust deportations killed 3,000–5,000 Jews daily, with resistance efforts saving small numbers but unable to halt the genocide.

Mediterranean Theatre

Italian Campaign (Ongoing): Allied forces, after capturing Rome (June 4, 1944), advanced north. On July 16, the British Eighth Army (under General Oliver Leese) and U.S. Fifth Army (under General Mark Clark), including the U.S. 34th Infantry Division and British 4th Infantry Division, engaged German 10th Army (under General Heinrich von Vietinghoff) near the Gustav Line’s remnants. Clashes near Arezzo involved 5,000–10,000 troops per side, with 200–300 casualties daily, supported by RAF No. 205 Group (Wellington bombers). The campaign, ongoing until May 1945, aimed to tie down German forces.
Outcomes: Allied advances in Italy gained ground, weakening German defenses and diverting resources from other fronts.

Pacific Theatre

Battle of Saipan (Concluded July 9, 1944): The battle ended on July 9, 1944, but on July 16, U.S. forces (27th and 4th Marine Divisions, under General Holland Smith) consolidated control, mopping up Japanese stragglers (under General Yoshitsugu Saito). Fewer than 100 casualties occurred daily. The victory secured a key airbase for B-29 bombers.
Preparations for Guam (Ongoing): U.S. preparations for the July 21, 1944, invasion. On July 16, Task Force 53 (under Admiral Richard Conolly) and the 3rd Marine Division (under General Allen Turnage) conducted pre-invasion bombardments, with USS Indianapolis targeting Japanese defenses (10,000 troops under General Takeshi Takashina). Minimal casualties (under 50 daily) occurred.
Outcomes: Saipan’s capture strengthened U.S. air capabilities, while Guam preparations set the stage for further Marianas advances.

Asian Theatre

Operation Ichi-Go (Ongoing): Japan’s Operation Ichi-Go, launched in April 1944 to capture southern China. On July 16, the Japanese 11th Army (under General Isamu Yokoyama) advanced in Hunan province, engaging Chinese 4th War Area forces (under General Zhang Fakui). Clashes involved 10,000–15,000 troops per side, with 500–1,000 casualties daily. Japanese 5th Air Army (Ki-43 fighters) faced U.S. 14th Air Force (P-40 Warhawks). The operation, ongoing until December 1944, aimed to secure airfields and supply routes.
Outcomes: Japanese advances in China gained territory but faced fierce Chinese resistance, straining resources.

Key Personalities

General Konstantin Rokossovsky: Led Soviet 1st Belorussian Front in Bagration.
General Omar Bradley: Led U.S. First Army in Normandy.
Adolf Eichmann: Organized Hungarian deportations to Auschwitz.
Alois Brunner: Oversaw Drancy deportations.
General Holland Smith: Led U.S. forces in Saipan.
General Isamu Yokoyama: Directed Japanese 11th Army in Ichi-Go.
Yitzhak Zuckerman: Led surviving Warsaw Ghetto resistance.

July 16, 1945

The first successful nuclear test detonation, New Mexico – 1945

Overview of Key Events

On July 16, 1945, World War II was nearing its conclusion, with the European theatre ended after Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945, and the Pacific and Asian theatres approaching a climax. The Trinity test, the first successful detonation of a nuclear bomb at Alamogordo, New Mexico, marking a critical milestone in the Manhattan Project. In Europe, the Potsdam Conference began on July 17, but preparations were underway on July 16, involving Allied leaders planning the war’s final stages and post-war Europe. Holocaust survivors faced dire conditions in liberated camps and ghettos, with relief efforts starting. In the Pacific Theatre, the Borneo Campaign continued with Australian forces engaging Japanese remnants, while U.S. forces prepared for Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of Japan. In the Asian Theatre, Japan’s Second Sino-Japanese War operations faced Chinese resistance, with Japan’s military weakened. These events reflect the transition from active combat to strategic planning and the Holocaust’s aftermath, with the Trinity test signaling the war’s impending end through nuclear power.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Potsdam Conference Preparations (Ongoing): The conference, held from July 17 to August 2, 1945, began with preparations on July 16. Allied leaders—U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (later Clement Attlee)—arrived in Potsdam, Germany, with their delegations, including U.S. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. The U.S. delegation, supported by the 2nd Armored Division for security, coordinated logistics at Cecilienhof Palace. Discussions, planned since the Yalta Conference (February 1945), focused on Japan’s surrender, post-war Germany, and Eastern Europe’s borders. No casualties were associated with preparations, which set the stage for the Potsdam Declaration (July 26, 1945).
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Post-Liberation Conditions in Poland: By July 1945, most death camps (e.g., Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka) and ghettos (e.g., Warsaw, Łódź) had been liberated by Soviet and Allied forces. On July 16, approximately 50,000–100,000 surviving Polish Jews (from a pre-war population of 3 million) faced dire conditions in displaced persons (DP) camps like Bergen-Belsen and displaced communities in Warsaw and Łódź. Ongoing repatriation efforts, with 1,000–2,000 Jews returning weekly from Soviet territories. Survivors faced malnutrition (daily rations of 1,000–1,500 calories), typhus, and antisemitic violence from local populations, with 50–100 deaths weekly from disease or attacks, per the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- Germany and Western Europe: 15,000–20,000 surviving German Jews (from 565,000 pre-war) were in DP camps like Dachau and Buchenwald, liberated in April–May 1945. On July 16, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) distributed food and medical supplies, aiding 5,000–10,000 Jews. In France, 50,000 surviving Jews (from 350,000) received aid from the Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants (OSE), with 1,000–2,000 children resettled. In the Netherlands, 20,000 surviving Jews (from 140,000) faced similar conditions.
- Jewish Responses: Surviving resistance fighters, like those from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (e.g., Yitzhak Zuckerman), organized survivor networks, aiding 500–1,000 Jews in Poland with documentation and emigration. The Bricha movement facilitated illegal migration to Palestine, moving 1,000–2,000 Jews monthly by July 1945, despite the British 1939 White Paper limiting entry to 75,000 over five years. Antisemitic pogroms in Poland (e.g., Kraków, August 1945) prompted urgency.
Outcomes: Potsdam preparations set the stage for Japan’s surrender terms and post-war restructuring, with no direct casualties. Holocaust survivors, numbering under 200,000 in Europe, faced ongoing hardship, with relief efforts saving thousands but challenged by disease and violence.

Mediterranean Theatre

No Active Campaigns: Italy’s fighting ended with Germany’s surrender on May 2, 1945. On July 16, Allied occupation forces, including the British Eighth Army (under General Richard McCreery) and U.S. Fifth Army (under General Lucian Truscott), maintained order in northern Italy, with no significant combat. Minimal administrative activities (under 50 personnel daily) occurred in Trieste, contested by Yugoslav forces.
Outcomes: The Mediterranean was stable, with Allied focus shifting to occupation and reconstruction.

Pacific Theatre

Borneo Campaign (Ongoing): Allied operations to recapture Borneo from Japanese forces, launched in May 1945. On July 16, the Australian 7th Division (under Major General Edward Milford) and 9th Division (under Major General George Wootten) engaged Japanese 37th Army (under Lieutenant General Masao Baba) in Balikpapan, Borneo. Australian troops, supported by HMAS Shropshire and U.S. 7th Fleet destroyers, faced 2,000–3,000 Japanese defenders, with 100–200 casualties per side daily. RAAF No. 10 Group (Beaufighter aircraft) targeted Japanese positions. The campaign, ongoing until August 1945, secured oilfields and airbases.
Trinity Test: The U.S. conducted the Trinity test, the first nuclear bomb detonation at Alamogordo, New Mexico, under J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves. The plutonium implosion device, equivalent to 20 kilotons of TNT, was tested by the 509th Composite Group, with no casualties. The test, a culmination of the Manhattan Project (1942–1945), enabled the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 1945).
Operation Downfall Preparations (Ongoing): U.S. preparations for the planned invasion of Japan (set for November 1945). On July 16, Task Force 38 (under Admiral William Halsey), with USS Iowa and USS Missouri, conducted pre-invasion strikes on Honshu, targeting Japanese airfields. The 1st Marine Division and U.S. Sixth Army (under General Walter Krueger) trained in the Philippines, with no direct combat on this date.
Outcomes: The Borneo Campaign advanced Allied control, with 200–400 daily casualties. The Trinity test marked a technological breakthrough, paving the way for Japan’s surrender. Downfall preparations strengthened Allied pressure.

Asian Theatre

Second Sino-Japanese War (Ongoing): Japan’s Operation Ichi-Go (April 1944–1945) in Hunan and Guangxi. On July 16, the Japanese 11th Army (under General Isamu Yokoyama) engaged Chinese 4th War Area forces (under General Zhang Fakui) near Changsha, with 10,000–15,000 troops per side and 500–1,000 daily casualties. Chinese 8th Route Army guerrillas (under General Zhu De) disrupted Japanese supply lines, supported by U.S. 14th Air Force (P-51 Mustangs) against Japanese 5th Air Army (Ki-43 fighters). The war, ongoing since 1937, continued until Japan’s surrender in August 1945.
Outcomes: Chinese resistance slowed Japanese advances, weakening Japan’s strategic position as Allied air superiority grew.