Each Day in World War II – 18th July

July 18, 1940

Henan National Salvation Army, China – 1940

Overview of Key Events

On July 18, 1940, World War II was in a critical phase following the fall of France in June 1940. It was the early stages of the Battle of Britain, with the Luftwaffe intensifying air raids to weaken British defenses in preparation for Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of Britain. In the Mediterranean, British and Italian forces engaged in minor naval and air skirmishes following the Battle of Calabria (July 9). In Asia, Japan continued its campaign in China and pressured Vichy France for access to French Indochina, escalating tensions with Western powers. Early Holocaust-related measures intensified, with anti-Jewish policies tightening in occupied Europe and Vichy France, isolating Jewish communities. These developments reflect Germany’s strategic focus on Britain and the deepening persecution of Jews.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Battle of Britain (Ongoing): In its Kanalkampf phase, the Battle of Britain saw the Luftwaffe targeting British shipping and coastal defenses to weaken the RAF. On July 18, Luftflotte 2 (under General Albert Kesselring) and Luftflotte 3 (under General Hugo Sperrle) conducted raids over the English Channel, deploying Kampfgeschwader 2 (Dornier Do 17 bombers) and Jagdgeschwader 26 (Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters) in 100–150 sorties. Targets included convoys off Dover and RAF airfields like Manston. RAF Fighter Command (under Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding), with No. 11 Group (under Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park), responded with Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons, including No. 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill. Clashes resulted in 5–10 aircraft losses per side and 20–50 personnel casualties daily. The battle, ongoing until October 1940, aimed to cripple RAF defenses but faced strong resistance.
Operation Sea Lion Preparations (Ongoing): Following Adolf Hitler’s Directive No. 16 (issued July 16, 1940), the German Wehrmacht, under Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) led by Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, continued planning for Operation Sea Lion. On July 18, the Heer (under Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch) and Kriegsmarine (under Admiral Erich Raeder) coordinated logistics, assembling 25–40 divisions (250,000–400,000 troops) and 1,000 barges in ports like Boulogne and Calais. Luftwaffe air superiority, led by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, remained a prerequisite, with planning ongoing through September 1940. No direct casualties occurred on this date.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Nazi-Occupied Poland: In the General Government, under Hans Frank, the Warsaw Ghetto’s establishment (formally sealed November 1940) confined over 400,000 Jews in a 3.4 km² area. On July 18, forced labor programs, overseen by SS officer 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 typhus. The Kraków Ghetto (60,000 Jews) faced similar restrictions, with ghettoization ongoing since 1939.
- Occupied Western Europe: In occupied France, German authorities under Otto Abetz enforced registration of 150,000 Jews, with curfews and property confiscations affecting daily life. Vichy France, under Marshal Philippe Pétain, prepared anti-Jewish laws (enacted October 3, 1940), targeting 300,000 Jews (120,000 in France, 180,000 in North Africa). In the Netherlands, under Arthur Seyss-Inquart, registration of 140,000 Jews began, with 50–100 daily arrests. Belgium’s 65,000 Jews faced similar measures under Alexander von Falkenhausen.
- Germany and Austria: In Germany, 160,000 Jews endured forced labor and exclusion under the Nuremberg Laws (1935), with 100–200 daily arrests, overseen by Adolf Eichmann. In Austria, 50,000 Jews faced restrictions since the 1938 Anschluss.
- Jewish Responses: Emigration was severely limited by Nazi policies and the British 1939 White Paper, restricting Palestine entry to 75,000 Jewish immigrants over five years. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) provided food and medical aid to fewer than 5,000 Jews in Poland. In the Warsaw Ghetto, the Judenrat, led by Adam Czerniaków, managed welfare, schools, and hospitals. Early resistance groups like Hashomer Hatzair, with under 100 members, distributed leaflets, laying groundwork for later uprisings.
Outcomes: The Battle of Britain’s Kanalkampf phase saw RAF resilience, with 10–20 aircraft lost daily across both sides. Operation Sea Lion preparations advanced logistically without combat. Anti-Jewish measures isolated 600,000–700,000 Jews, with 10–20 daily deaths in Poland from starvation and disease, while Jewish resistance remained nascent.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Naval Skirmishes Post-Battle of Calabria (Ongoing): Following the Battle of Calabria (July 9, 1940), minor naval engagements persisted. On July 18, the British Mediterranean Fleet (under Admiral Andrew Cunningham), with HMS Eagle and HMS Malaya, patrolled near Crete, engaging Italian Regia Marina destroyers (under Admiral Inigo Campioni) in minor skirmishes. RAF No. 202 Group (Gladiator fighters) and Sunderland flying boats targeted Italian supply routes to Libya, with clashes involving 500–1,000 personnel and under 20 casualties daily, ongoing since July 1940.
Western Desert Campaign (Ongoing): In North Africa, the British Western Desert Force (under Major-General Richard O’Connor), including the 7th Armoured Division, conducted raids near Fort Capuzzo against the Italian 10th Army (under General Mario Berti). On July 18, small-scale engagements involved 50–100 troops per side, with casualties under 20 daily, supported by RAF No. 202 Group (Hurricane fighters). Operations, ongoing since June 1940, set the stage for Operation Compass (December 1940).
Outcomes: British naval patrols disrupted Italian supply lines, securing Allied routes. Western Desert raids maintained pressure on Italian forces, preparing for future offensives.

Pacific Theatre

No Significant Engagements: No major military actions occurred in the Pacific on July 18, 1940. The U.S. Pacific Fleet, under Admiral James O. Richardson, strengthened Pearl Harbor defenses, conducting patrols with USS Enterprise. Japan focused on China and Indochina, with no Pacific confrontations.
Outcomes: The Pacific remained quiet, with Japan planning Southeast Asian expansion for 1941.

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. On July 18, the Japanese 11th Army (under General Waichiro Sonobe) faced Chinese 5th War Area forces (under General Li Zongren) in central China. 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 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 18, Japan’s Southern Army (under General Hisaichi Terauchi) advanced plans, escalating tensions with Western powers, leading to the occupation in September 1940.
Outcomes: Japanese operations in China faced guerrilla resistance, limiting control. Indochina tensions prompted Allied sanctions, foreshadowing 1941 conflicts.

Key Personalities

Adolf Hitler: Directed Operation Sea Lion planning.
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.
General Yasuji Okamura: Directed Japanese operations in China.
Adam Czerniaków: Headed Warsaw Ghetto Judenrat.

July 18, 1941

Teenaged boy being forced to view his murdered family before his own execution, Ukraine – July 1941

Overview of Key Events

On July 18, 1941, World War II was marked by intense developments across multiple theatres, with the German invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) dominating the European front. Ongoing was the Leningrad Defensive Operation, where Soviet forces countered German advances toward Leningrad, and the Battle of Smolensk, where German Army Group Centre pushed toward Moscow. The recently commissioned Naval Operating Base Argentia in Newfoundland strengthened Allied Atlantic defences. In the Mediterranean, the aftermath of the Syria-Lebanon Campaign saw Allied consolidation, while minor patrols occurred in North Africa. In Asia, Japan expanded into French Indochina and continued operations in China. Holocaust-related persecutions escalated, with Einsatzgruppen massacres in the Soviet territories and ghettoization in Poland intensifying. These events reflect the Axis powers’ aggressive expansion and the deepening Nazi genocide.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Leningrad Defensive Operation (Ongoing): As part of Operation Barbarossa (launched June 22, 1941), Soviet forces resisted German Army Group North (under Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb) near Leningrad. On July 18, the Soviet 23rd Army (under General Pyotr Pshennikov) and 48th Army (under General Ivan Bogdanov), supported by Leningrad militia and Baltic Fleet artillery (battleships Marat and October Revolution), engaged the German 4th Panzer Group (under General Erich Hoepner) along the Luga River, 100–150 kilometers south of Leningrad. Soviet units, with 10,000–15,000 troops and T-34 tanks, clashed with the German 1st Panzer Division and Luftwaffe Jagdgeschwader 54 (Bf 109 fighters) around Luga, incurring 500–1,000 Soviet and 300–500 German casualties daily. Fortification efforts (190 miles of barricades, 430 miles of anti-tank ditches) delayed the German advance, with the operation ongoing through August 1941, postponing the Siege of Leningrad (September 8, 1941–January 27, 1944).
Battle of Smolensk (Ongoing): The Battle of Smolensk (July 10–September 10, 1941) saw German Army Group Center (under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock) advancing toward Smolensk. On July 18, 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) near Orsha and Vitebsk. Supported by Luftwaffe Kampfgeschwader 2 (Dornier Do 17 bombers), Germans faced Soviet 16th Army (under General Konstantin Rokossovsky) with T-34 tanks and IL-2 Sturmovik aircraft, resulting in 1,000–2,000 casualties per side daily. The battle, ongoing until December 1941, aimed to secure key Soviet cities.
Continuation War (Ongoing): Finland’s Continuation War, launched June 25, 1941, saw the Finnish Army of Karelia (under General Erik Heinrichs) advancing on the Karelian Isthmus. On July 18, the Finnish 6th and 11th Divisions, supported by Luftwaffe Jagdgeschwader 54 (Bf 109 fighters), gained 5–10 kilometers against the Soviet 23rd Army, with 100–200 casualties per side daily. The offensive, ongoing until September 1941, aligned with German objectives in the north.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Nazi-Occupied Soviet Territories: Einsatzgruppen, under Reinhard Heydrich, conducted mass executions in occupied areas. In Latvia, Einsatzgruppe A (under SS-Obersturmbannführer Franz Walter Stahlecker) killed 100–300 Jews daily in Riga and Daugavpils, with local collaborators like the Arajs Kommando, totaling 2,000–3,000 deaths by mid-July. In Lithuania, the Ponary massacre near Vilna (Vilnius) saw 100–300 daily executions by SS and Lithuanian auxiliaries. In Ukraine, Einsatzgruppe C targeted Lviv’s 150,000 Jews, with 1,000–2,000 killed daily at Janowska camp or nearby forests, aided by Ukrainian militias. Killings, ongoing since June 1941, reached over 100,000 Soviet Jewish deaths by August 1941.
- Nazi-Occupied Poland: In the General Government, under Hans Frank, the Warsaw Ghetto (over 400,000 Jews) faced starvation (rations below 200 calories), typhus (thousands infected monthly), and forced labor under SS officer Theodor Dannecker, with 10–20 deaths daily. The Kraków Ghetto (60,000 Jews) and Łódź Ghetto (160,000 Jews) saw similar conditions, with 5–15 daily deaths. Ghettoization, ongoing since 1939, set the stage for 1942 deportations.
- Western Europe: In occupied France, German authorities under Otto Abetz enforced registration of 150,000 Jews, with curfews and property confiscations. Vichy France’s anti-Jewish laws (October 1940) affected 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 under Arthur Seyss-Inquart and Alexander von Falkenhausen, with 50–100 daily arrests.
- Jewish Responses: Emigration was restricted 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) aided fewer than 5,000 Jews with food and supplies. In the Warsaw Ghetto, the Judenrat, led by Adam Czerniaków, managed welfare, schools, and hospitals. Underground groups like Hashomer Hatzair, with under 100 members, distributed leaflets, planning resistance that led to the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
Outcomes: The Leningrad counter-attacks delayed German advances, costing 5,000–10,000 total casualties but strengthening fortifications. The Battle of Smolensk saw German gains with 2,000–4,000 daily casualties. Argentia’s operations secured Atlantic convoys with minimal losses. Finnish advances supported German goals. Holocaust atrocities killed 2,000–4,000 Jews daily, with resistance networks forming but limited by resources.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

Syria-Lebanon Campaign (Aftermath, Ongoing): The Allied campaign against Vichy French forces ended with an armistice on July 12, 1941. On July 18, 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 Vichy surrenders (under General Henri Dentz). Minimal fighting occurred, with casualties under 50 daily, ongoing through July 1941.
Western Desert Campaign (Ongoing): British XIII Corps (under Lieutenant-General Noel Beresford-Peirse), with the 7th Armoured Division and 4th Indian Division, conducted patrols near Sidi Barrani against the Italian 10th Army (under General Giovanni Berti). On July 18, small-scale raids involved 50–100 troops per side, with casualties under 20 daily, supported by RAF No. 202 Group (Hurricane fighters). Operations, ongoing since June 1940, prepared for Operation Crusader (November 1941).
Outcomes: The Syria-Lebanon Campaign secured the Levant, protecting Allied oil routes. Western Desert patrols maintained pressure on Italian forces, setting up future offensives.

Pacific Theatre

No Significant Engagements: No major military actions occurred in the Pacific on July 18, 1941. The U.S. Pacific Fleet, under Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, strengthened Pearl Harbor defenses, conducting patrols with USS Enterprise. Japan focused on Asian operations, with no Pacific confrontations.
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 18, Chinese communist guerrillas attacked Japanese garrisons and railways with 100–200 troops, causing 10–20 casualties per side. Japanese 5th Air Army (Ki-27 fighters) countered Chinese raids. 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 after agreements with Vichy France (June 29–30, 1941). On July 18, troop movements in Hanoi continued, escalating U.S. and British sanctions, including oil embargoes, leading to full occupation in September 1941.
Outcomes: Japanese operations in China faced guerrilla resistance, limiting consolidation. Indochina deployments heightened Allied tensions, foreshadowing 1941 conflicts.

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 18, 1942

British infantry in defensive position, El Alamein – July 1942

Overview of Key Events

On July 18, 1942, World War II saw significant developments across multiple theatres. These included the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in Paris (July 16–17, completed by July 18), a major Holocaust escalation, with 13,152 Jews arrested for deportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau. The First Battle of El Alamein in North Africa continued, with British forces defending against 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 defenses. 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 resistance. Holocaust activities under Operation Reinhard intensified, with preparations for Warsaw Ghetto deportations to Treblinka ongoing. These events highlight the intensifying genocide and Allied efforts to counter Axis advances.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup (Aftermath, Ongoing): The Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in Paris, conducted July 16–17, 1942, by Vichy French police under René Bousquet and German SS authorities led by Adolf Eichmann, concluded with 13,152 Jews arrested, including 4,115 children, targeting 150,000 Jews in occupied France. On July 18, detainees were processed at Drancy internment camp for deportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where 80–90% were gassed upon arrival using Zyklon B. French police and gendarmes (approximately 9,000 personnel) transferred detainees from the Vélodrome d’Hiver stadium, with minimal additional arrests on this date and under 50 casualties during processing. The operation marked Vichy 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 18, 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.
Messerschmitt Me 262, German jet fighter is test flown for the first time.
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 18, SS authorities, including Hermann Höfle, finalized 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 from Westerbork transit camp to Auschwitz-Birkenau, which began July 14–15, continued. On July 18, transports of 1,000–1,500 Jews, primarily German and Dutch, were prepared, 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 in cities like Lviv and Minsk, supporting the broader genocide, ongoing since June 1941.
- 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), led by Mordechai Anielewicz, organized, spurred by deportation rumors, with fewer than 100 members distributing leaflets. In the Netherlands, the Westerweel Group aided 200–300 Jews in hiding. In France, the Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants (OSE) prepared to hide children post-Vel’ d’Hiv, assisting 500–1,000. 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 food and supplies.
Outcomes: The Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup’s aftermath saw 13,152 Jews processed for deportation, most killed at Auschwitz. Operation Case Blue advanced, with 2,000–3,000 daily casualties, but faced Soviet resistance. Holocaust deportations and executions killed 5,000–10,000 Jews daily, with resistance networks forming but limited by lack of arms.

Mediterranean and African Theatre

First Battle of El Alamein (Ongoing): Launched on July 1, 1942, the First Battle of El Alamein continued. On July 18, General Erwin Rommel’s Panzer Army Africa, including the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions and Italian XX Corps (Ariete and Littorio Divisions), pressed British defenses at El Alamein, Egypt, targeting 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. 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): U.S. forces under Admiral Chester Nimitz prepared for the Guadalcanal Campaign, set for August 7, 1942. On July 18, 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, with no direct casualties on this date.
Outcomes: U.S. preparations positioned forces for the first major Allied Pacific offensive, building on the Battle of 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 18, Chinese 8th Route Army guerrillas (under General Zhu De) attacked Japanese 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 Second Sino-Japanese War, ongoing since 1937, continued through 1945.
Aleutian Islands (Ongoing): Japanese forces of the 301st Independent Infantry Battalion held positions on Attu and Kiska, occupied since June 1942. On July 18, 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: Chinese guerrilla resistance disrupted Japanese control, while Aleutian occupations strained Japanese logistics with limited 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 18, 1943

British infantry advance in ruins – Sicily 1943

Overview of Key Events

On July 18, 1943, World War II saw significant Allied progress across multiple theatres. Including the Battle of Kursk on the Eastern Front, where Soviet forces countered Germany’s Operation Citadel, and Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, where British and U.S. troops advanced against German and Italian defenses. Holocaust-related activities under Operation Reinhard continued, with deportations from Polish ghettos like Białystok and ongoing executions at death camps such as Treblinka and Auschwitz-Birkenau. In the Pacific, the New Georgia Campaign progressed in the Solomon Islands, building on the recently concluded Guadalcanal Campaign. In Asia, Japanese forces faced Chinese resistance in the Second Sino-Japanese War, consolidating occupied territories. These events reflect the Allies’ growing momentum and the intensifying Nazi genocide.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Battle of Kursk (Ongoing): Launched on July 5, 1943, Operation Citadel aimed to regain German initiative on the Eastern Front. On July 18, in the southern sector near Prokhorovka, the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army (under General Pavel Rotmistrov) continued counter-offensives against German Army Group South (under Field Marshal Erich von Manstein). Soviet units, including the 29th and 18th Tank Corps with T-34/85 and KV-1 tanks, engaged the II SS-Panzer Corps (under SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser), comprising the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte and 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich with Panther and Tiger tanks. Supported by Soviet 2nd Air Army (IL-2 Sturmoviks) and Luftwaffe Fliegerkorps IV (Ju 87 Stukas), 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 and Majdanek under Operation Reinhard, led by SS-Gruppenführer Odilo Globocnik. On July 18, remaining Jews endured forced labor and sporadic roundups, with 1,000–2,000 deported daily, most gassed using carbon monoxide or Zyklon B. The Białystok Ghetto (30,000 Jews) saw intensified 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: Deportations from the Netherlands via Westerbork transit camp to Auschwitz-Birkenau, coordinated by Adolf Eichmann, continued. On July 18, transports of 1,000–1,500 Jews, primarily German and Dutch, were prepared, with 80–90% gassed upon arrival. In occupied France, deportations from Drancy camp, overseen by SS-Hauptsturmführer Alois Brunner, targeted 150,000 Jews, with 500–1,000 weekly deportees. Belgium’s 65,000 Jews faced similar measures under Alexander von Falkenhausen.
- Italy: Under Benito Mussolini’s regime, Italy’s 40,000 Jews faced increasing restrictions but no deportations yet. On July 18, anti-Jewish policies (e.g., exclusion from public life since 1938) continued, with 50–100 daily arrests for non-compliance, as Germany pressured for harsher measures.
- 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, targeting remaining communities.
- Jewish Responses: In Poland, survivors of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, like Marek Edelman, organized underground resistance, aiding 100–200 Jews in hiding. In Białystok, the 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 and executions killed 2,000–4,000 Jews daily, with resistance efforts growing but limited by resources.

Mediterranean Theatre

Operation Husky (Ongoing): The Allied invasion of Sicily, launched on July 10, 1943, continued. On July 18, the British Eighth Army (under General Bernard Montgomery), with XXX Corps (51st Highland Division, 1st Canadian Division), advanced toward Catania, while the U.S. Seventh Army (under General George S. Patton), with II Corps (1st and 45th Infantry Divisions), targeted Enna. They faced German Panzergruppe West (under General Hans-Valentin Hube), including the 15th Panzergrenadier Division, and Italian 6th Army (under General Alfredo Guzzoni). Clashes near the Simeto River and Caltagirone involved 5,000–10,000 troops per side, with 500–1,000 casualties 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. Naval support, including HMS Warspite, bombarded coastal defenses. The operation, ongoing until August 17, aimed to secure Sicily and pressure Italy.
Outcomes: Allied advances in Sicily gained ground, weakening Italian morale and contributing to Mussolini’s fall (July 25, 1943).

Pacific Theatre

New Georgia Campaign (Ongoing): Following the Guadalcanal Campaign’s conclusion (February 1943), the Allied New Georgia Campaign (launched June 30, 1943) progressed in the Solomon Islands. On July 18, the U.S. 43rd Infantry Division and 37th Infantry Division, under Admiral William Halsey, engaged Japanese 17th Army (under General Harukichi Hyakutake) on New Georgia, targeting Munda airfield. Clashes involved 2,000–3,000 troops per side, with 200–300 casualties daily, supported by Task Force 36.1 (USS Honolulu) and RAAF No. 10 Group (F4F Wildcats). The campaign, ongoing until August 1943, aimed to secure key airfields.
Outcomes: Allied progress in New Georgia strengthened their position in the Solomons, building on Guadalcanal’s success.

Asian Theatre

China (Ongoing): The Japanese China Expeditionary Army (under General Yasuji Okamura) conducted operations in Hubei and Hunan provinces. On July 18, Chinese 4th War Area forces (under General Zhang Fakui) and 8th Route Army guerrillas (under General Zhu De) launched raids on Japanese outposts, involving 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 Second Sino-Japanese War, ongoing since 1937, continued through 1945.
Outcomes: Chinese guerrilla resistance disrupted Japanese control, though Japan maintained strategic dominance in occupied areas.

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 18, 1944

Parade of the Vanquished, 57,000 German prisoners from Op. Bagration forced to march in Moscow – 17 July 1944

Overview of Key Events

On July 18, 1944, World War II saw significant Allied advances across multiple theatres. These included the Soviet Operation Bagration, which was devastating German Army Group Centre in Belarus, and the Normandy Campaign, where Allied forces prepared for the Operation Cobra breakout in France. Holocaust-related activities continued at a peak, with mass deportations from Hungary to Auschwitz-Birkenau slowing but ongoing, and Polish ghettos like Łódź facing final liquidations. In the Pacific, U.S. forces consolidated gains from the recently concluded Battle of Saipan and prepared for the invasion of Guam. In Asia, Japan’s Operation Ichi-Go in China aimed to secure strategic regions, facing Chinese resistance. These events reflect the Allies’ growing dominance and the Holocaust’s devastating toll.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Operation Bagration (Ongoing): Launched on June 22, 1944, this Soviet offensive targeted German Army Group Centre in Belarus. On July 18, the 1st Belorussian Front (under General Konstantin Rokossovsky) and 2nd Belorussian Front (under General Georgiy Zakharov) advanced toward Grodno and Brest, 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.
Normandy Campaign (Ongoing): Following the D-Day landings (June 6, 1944), Allied forces consolidated positions in Normandy. On July 18, the British Second Army (under General Miles Dempsey) and U.S. First Army (under General Omar Bradley) prepared for Operation Cobra (set for 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 18, remaining Jews were deported to Majdanek or labor camps, with 500–1,000 daily deaths from executions or disease. The Łódź Ghetto (70,000 Jews), under Hans Biebow, saw 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, had deported 437,000 Hungarian Jews from May 15 to July 9, 1944. On July 18, deportations continued at a reduced pace due to international pressure (e.g., Horthy’s halt order on July 7), with 1,000–2,000 Jews sent daily, 80–90% gassed upon arrival. Hungarian gendarmes and SS units enforced roundups.
- Western Europe: Deportations from Drancy camp in France, overseen by SS-Hauptsturmführer Alois Brunner, continued, targeting 150,000 Jews, with 500–1,000 weekly deportees to Auschwitz. 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, aided 100–200 Jews in hiding. 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. 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 stop the genocide.

Mediterranean Theatre

Italian Campaign (Ongoing): After capturing Rome (June 4, 1944), Allied forces advanced north. On July 18, 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 Arezzo and the Trasimene Line. Clashes 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.

Pacific Theatre

Post-Battle of Saipan (Ongoing): The Battle of Saipan ended on July 9, 1944, but on July 18, U.S. forces (27th and 4th Marine Divisions, under General Holland Smith) conducted mop-up operations against 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): Preparations for the invasion of Guam (set for July 21, 1944) continued. On July 18, 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 positioned forces for further Marianas advances.

Asian Theatre

Operation Ichi-Go (Ongoing): Japan’s Operation Ichi-Go, launched in April 1944, targeted southern China. On July 18, the Japanese 11th Army (under General Isamu Yokoyama) engaged Chinese 4th War Area forces (under General Zhang Fakui) in Hunan province, with 10,000–15,000 troops per side and 500–1,000 daily casualties. 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 gained territory but faced 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 18, 1945

British and Soviet soldiers outside the former Fuhrerbunker, Berlin – July 1945

Overview of Key Events

On July 18, 1945, World War II was nearing its conclusion, with the European theatre closed following Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945, and the focus shifted to the Pacific and Asian theatres. The Potsdam Conference, which opened on July 17, continued in Potsdam, Germany, with Allied leaders discussing Japan’s surrender and post-war arrangements. The Trinity test, the first nuclear bomb detonation on July 16, informed U.S. strategy discussions at Potsdam. In the Pacific, the Borneo Campaign saw Australian forces engaging Japanese remnants, while U.S. forces prepared for Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of Japan. In Asia, Japan’s Second Sino-Japanese War operations faced Chinese resistance, with Japan’s military weakening. Holocaust survivors in Europe, numbering under 200,000, struggled in displaced persons (DP) camps, with relief efforts addressing dire conditions. These events reflect the transition to the war’s endgame, with diplomatic and military efforts converging toward Japan’s surrender.

European and Atlantic Theatre

Potsdam Conference (Ongoing): The Potsdam Conference, which began on July 17 at Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam, Germany, continued on July 18. Allied leaders—U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (later replaced by Clement Attlee)—discussed Japan’s surrender, Germany’s occupation, and Eastern Europe’s borders. Key figures included U.S. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, supported by the U.S. 2nd Armored Division for security (1,000–2,000 personnel). On July 18, early discussions focused on the Potsdam Declaration (issued July 26), demanding Japan’s unconditional surrender, and reparations for Germany. The conference, involving 50–100 diplomats and staff, continued until August 2.
Jewish Affairs (Ongoing):
- Post-Liberation Conditions in Poland: By July 1945, most Nazi death camps (e.g., Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka) and ghettos (e.g., Warsaw, Łódź) had been liberated by Soviet and Allied forces. On July 18, approximately 50,000–100,000 surviving Polish Jews (from a pre-war population of 3 million) resided in DP camps like Bergen-Belsen or were displaced in cities like Warsaw. Survivors faced malnutrition (rations of 1,000–1,500 calories daily), typhus, and antisemitic violence, with 50–100 weekly deaths from disease or attacks. Repatriation from Soviet territories saw 1,000–2,000 Jews returning weekly.
- Germany and Western Europe: In Germany, 15,000–20,000 surviving Jews (from 565,000 pre-war) were in DP camps like Dachau and Buchenwald, liberated in April–May 1945. On July 18, 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), resettling 1,000–2,000 children. In the Netherlands, 20,000 surviving Jews (from 140,000) faced similar conditions.
- Jewish Responses: Surviving resistance fighters, such as Yitzhak Zuckerman from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, organized survivor networks in Poland, aiding 500–1,000 Jews with documentation and emigration. The Bricha movement facilitated illegal migration to Palestine, moving 1,000–2,000 Jews monthly, despite the British 1939 White Paper limiting entry to 75,000 over five years. Antisemitic incidents, like pogroms in Poland (e.g., Kraków, August 1945), spurred urgency for emigration.
Outcomes: The Potsdam Conference advanced diplomatic efforts for Japan’s surrender and post-war Europe, with no direct casualties. Holocaust survivors faced ongoing hardship, with relief efforts aiding thousands but challenged by disease and violence, resulting in 50–100 weekly Jewish deaths in Poland.

Mediterranean Theatre

No Active Campaigns: The Italian Campaign ended with Germany’s surrender on May 2, 1945. On July 18, 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. Administrative activities in Trieste, contested by Yugoslav forces, involved under 50 personnel daily with no significant combat.
Outcomes: The Mediterranean was stable, with Allied focus on occupation and reconstruction.

Pacific Theatre

Borneo Campaign (Ongoing): The Allied campaign to recapture Borneo from Japanese forces, launched in May 1945, continued. On July 18, 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.
Operation Downfall Preparations (Ongoing): U.S. preparations for the planned invasion of Japan (set for November 1945) continued. On July 18, Task Force 38 (under Admiral William Halsey), with USS Iowa and USS Missouri, conducted air and naval strikes on Honshu, targeting Japanese airfields and infrastructure. The 1st Marine Division and U.S. Sixth Army (under General Walter Krueger) trained in the Philippines, with no direct combat on this date. Strikes destroyed 10–20 Japanese aircraft, with minimal Allied casualties (under 50).
Outcomes: The Borneo Campaign advanced Allied control, with 200–400 daily casualties. Downfall preparations intensified pressure on Japan, weakening its defenses.

Asian Theatre

Second Sino-Japanese War (Ongoing): Japan’s Operation Ichi-Go (April 1944–1945) targeted Hunan and Guangxi provinces. On July 18, 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 position as Allied air superiority grew.