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Germany WW2 Events Timeline
Though gaining tremendous ground through new techniques and technology at the outset of the war, the German war machine was stopped once more.
Total Events: 650
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The German battleship Graf Spee leaves Wilhelmshaven for the North Atlantic. She is commanded by Captain Hans Langsdorff. Her supply ship is the Altmark, which also leaves Wilhelmshaven. |
1939
Thursday
August 31st |
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Adolph Hitler provides the final orders for the invasion of Poland. |
1939
Friday
September 1st |
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German airborne elements begin bombardment of Polish defensive targets. At 6:00 AM, 50 German divisions making up Army Group North and Army Group South flood into Poland. Army Group South's mission is the capture of the Polish capital of Warsaw. |
1939
Sunday
September 3rd |
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Athenia, a British passenger liner originating from Glasgow and traveling to Montreal, is targeted and sunk by German U-boat U-30 resulting the loss of 112 people. Athenia becomes the first naval casualty of the U-boat scourge in the Atlantic. |
1939
Sunday
September 3rd |
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British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announces that Britain is officially at war with Germany. |
1939
Tuesday
September 5th |
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The Bosnia becomes the first merchantman to be sunk by the German U-boats. |
1939
Wednesday
September 6th |
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Thirty-six Allied ships set out across the Atlantic in the first coordinated convoy crossing attempt. |
1939
Friday
September 8th |
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German ground forces arrive at the outskirts of the Polish capital of Warsaw, covering an astounding 200 miles in a single week. |
1939
Saturday
September 9th |
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Polish Poznan army units launch a counter-offensive against the German army at Kutno on the Bzura. |
1939
Sunday
September 10th |
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Polish forces at the Modline fortress some 20 miles north of Warsaw fall under siege to the German Army. |
1939
Sunday
September 17th |
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Polish resistance at the Bzura River north of Lodz finally surrender to the Germans. Some 170,000 Polish prisoners are taken captive. |
1939
Tuesday
September 19th |
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German and Soviet army elements finally meet one another in Poland at Brest-Litovsk. |
1939
Wednesday
September 27th |
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The Polish capital of Warsaw officially falls. |
1939
Wednesday
September 27th |
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The German battleships Deutschland and Graf Spee are let loose on Allied shipping convoys in the North Atlantic. |
1939
Thursday
September 28th |
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Polish forces fighting it out at the Modline fortress officially surrender. |
1939
Friday
September 29th |
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The German-Soviet Boundary Friendship Treay is signed between German representative von Ribbentrop and Soviet representative Molotov. Poland is divided into a western zone under German control and an eastern zone under Soviet control. |
1939
Saturday
September 30th |
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The Graf Spee claims her first merchant vessel, the British freighter Clement, in the waters of the South Atlantic. |
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The Graf Spee goes on to sink four more Allied merchant vessels during the month of October. |
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The last valiant gap of Polish resistance - numbering some 4,500 soldiers under the command of Admiral Unruh - north of Danzig on the Pubwysep Hela peninsula falls to the Germans. |
1939
Wednesday
November 15th |
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The Graf Spee sinks the oil tanker Africa Shell off the coast of Madagascar. |
1939
Monday
November 20th |
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The Graf Spee begins her return to a pre-designated waiting area in the South Atlantic. British cruisers Ajax, Achilles, Exeter and Cumberland begin pursuit. |
1939
Wednesday
December 13th |
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At approximately 12:00 PM, Graf Spee enters the harbor at Montevideo, Uruguay, with the intention on having her damaged repaired. With political pressure from Britain, the Uruguayan government offers the Graff Spee only 72 hours rest. |
1939
Wednesday
December 13th |
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At 6:40 AM, the British cruiser Achilles is damaged by shell splinters from the Graf Spee's guns. |
1939
Wednesday
December 13th |
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The Graf Spee adds three more vessels - the Doric Star, Tairoa, Streonshalh - to its list of sunken Allied targets. She begins her voyage towards River Plate near Uruguay for a final combat patrol. |
1939
Wednesday
December 13th |
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At 6:14 AM, the Graf Spee opens fire on the British heavy cruisers Ajaz and Exeter. |
1939
Wednesday
December 13th |
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At 6:50 AM, the British cruiser Exeter is heavily damaged by the Graf Spee, leaving only one turret functional and in flames. |
1939
Wednesday
December 13th |
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At 7:25 AM, the British cruiser Ajax loses two of her turrets to the Graf Spee. |
1939
Wednesday
December 13th |
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By 7:40 AM, the British cruisers Ajax and Achilles break battle and trail out of range of the Graf Spee's guns, though still in pursuit. |
1939
Wednesday
December 13th |
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At 8:00 AM, Captain Langsdorff orders his lightly damaged Graf Spee towards the port at Montevideo in Uruguay with British ships in close pursuit. |
1939
Wednesday
December 13th |
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The Graf Spee is spotted in the early morning hours by Commodore H. H. Harwood's British cruiser squadron. |
1939
Sunday
December 17th |
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Graf Spee Captain Hans Langsdorff mistakenly believes there to be a large Royal Navy contingent waiting for his exit out of Montevideo harbor. As such, he orders the Graff Spee scuttled. The German vessel is effectively eliminated from the war. |
1939
Wednesday
December 20th |
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Choosing honor over justice, Captain Hans Langsdorff commits suicide, officially ending the reign of the Graf Spee. |
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Only 21 operational ships make up the U-boat fleet at this time. |
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German paratroopers land in The Hague and Rotterdam. |
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89 German paratroopers land and take the Belgium fortress of Eben Emael with its garrison of 2,000 soldiers. |
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German airborne elements land across Belgium and Holland in advance of ground forces, capturing key bridges and routes. |
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British and French army forces begin defensive preparations in Belgium in an effort to stave off the German advance. A long line of strategic defenses is contructed. |
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Facing light opposition, German Panzer Corps XV, XLI and XIX are free to set up three key bridge-heads covering Dinant, Montherme and Sedan. |
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Panzer Corps XV and XIX break through the Allied defenses at Sedan, allowing German forces to completely bypass the formidable defenses at the French Maginot Line. |
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The RAF sends up its first night-time bombing raid against Germany. Of the 99 aircraft sent, only one fails to return home. |
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German Panzer Corps cross into the north of France. |
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After periods of heavy bombing all across Rotterdam, the Dutch surrender to the Germans. |
1940
Friday
May 17th - May 18th |
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Allied forces are in full retreat of the Germans, making their way towards the French coastline. |
1940
Friday
May 17th - May 18th |
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Brussels falls to the German Army. |
1940
Friday
May 17th - May 18th |
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Antwerp falls to the German Army. |
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An Allied counterattack against the German Army near Arras ends in failure as the attack is itself countered by another advancing German land force. |
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In a stunning move, Hitler orders his forces not to cross the Lens-Bethune-St Omer-Gravelines line, allowing the retreating Allied forces more time to reach the French coast. |
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German Luftwaffe bombers hammer Allied defensive positions in and around the French port city of Dunkirk. |
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More and more retreating Allied units arrive at the French port city of Dunkirk. |
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The German Army takes Boulogne. |
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Over 850 British civilian vessels take part in assisting military forces off of French soil to awaiting transports in what would become the largest military evacuation in history. |
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Operation Dynamo - the all-out evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk - officially begins at 6:57 PM. |
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Hitler orders his army forces towards Dunkirk for the final blow to the Allied cause. |
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With the fight gone out of them, the Belgian Army surrenders to the German 6th and 18th armies. Their actions, however, supply the evacuating Allies with much-needed time. |
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With Belgium out of the way, German Army elements begin making their way towards the French coastline in an attempt to completely eliminate Allied forces for good. |
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King Leopold of Belgium orders his army to surrender to the Germans. By this time, his government has already relocated to Paris, France. |
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Belgium falls to Germany in just 18 days. |
1940
Saturday
June 1st - August 12th |
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German Luftwaffe forces concentrate efforts on maintaining control over the vital shipping lanes of the North Sea. At least 30,000 merchant ships are destroyed during this period. |
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Some 40,000 French soldiers are taken prisoner by Germany at the fall of Dunkirk. |
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Operation Dynamo - the evacuation of Allied forces at Dunkirk - officially ends. 338,326 total soldiers are saved including 113,000 French troops. |
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German Luftwaffe bombers cease bombardment of Dunkirk. |
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German ships begin operating out of captured bases along the French coast. |
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Hitler delivers Fuhrer Directive 17 as Operation Sea Lion - the land invasion of the British mainland to occur between September 19th and September 26th. |
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The first attacks on RAF airfields and radar stations are conducted by German fighters and bombers. Germany intends on destroying RAF air supremacy before attempting its land invasion. |
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"Eagle Day" is enacted - a four day bombardment of key RAF airfields and radar installations. Poor weather initially delays the assault and any bombing thereafter produces mixed results. |
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Portland is heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe. |
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Andover is heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe. |
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Southampton is heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe. |
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At least 40 total Luftwaffe aircraft are destroyed by the RAF and ground-based flak teams. |
1940
Thursday
August 15th |
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74 Luftwaffe aircraft launched from bases in Denmark and Norway are lost on what will be remembered as "Black Thursday". |
1940
Saturday
August 17th |
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German U-boats are given the green light to attack any and all merchant vessels - whether armed or not - in an attempt to stranglehold the British mainland into submission. |
1940
Saturday
August 17th |
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The RAF is forced to poach the ranks of Bomber Command in an effort to fill its dwindling supply of capable fighter pilots. |
1940
Monday
August 19th - August 24th |
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Poor weather and overcast skies limit any major German bombing efforts over Britain. |
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Underestimating overall RAF fighter strength, Luftwaffe commander Hermann Goering changes offensive tactics and orders his fighters to tempt RAF fighters to duke it out in the skies as opposed to bombing them while still on the ground. |
1940
Saturday
August 24th - August 31st |
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Luftwaffe bombing resumes. During this period, RAF airfields are hammered with the loss of 200 fighters. However, losses for the Luftwaffe number some 330 aircraft. |
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The first RAF attack on the German capital of Berlin takes place. Some 81 aircraft are part of the airborne raid. |
1940
Tuesday
September 3rd |
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Due to consistent Luftwaffe losses and inconclusive results across the entire campaign, Hitler postpones Operation Sea Lion to September 21st. |
1940
Saturday
September 7th |
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348 bombers and 617 fighters of the German Luftwaffe descend on the British capital city of London in a massive bombing raid. |
1940
Saturday
September 7th |
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In an effort to break the resolve of the British people, Hitler orders the bombing of London over the bombing of strategic RAF airfields and installations. |
1940
Sunday
September 15th |
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Two massive bombing raids are conducted against Britain. The German Luftwaffe sees some 300 total RAF fighters airborne, showcasing Goering's gross estimate of total RAF air power. 80 German aircraft are lost in total. This day would go on to become "Battle of Britain Day". |
1940
Monday
September 16th |
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The German Luftwaffe redirects it sbombing campaign to now cover night-bombing of British cities. |
1940
Tuesday
September 17th |
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With the unexpected results of his campaign against Britain, Hitler officially postpones Operation Sea Lion indefinitely. |
1940
Friday
September 20th |
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Massive convoys breed equal massive measures - German U-boats begin operating in 20-strong "Wolf Packs" with coordinated attacks. |
1940
Tuesday
October 1st - October 30th |
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German BF 110 twin-engine nightfighters take advantage of the new Lichtenstein radar systems to track, target and engage RAF bombers. |
1940
Friday
October 18th - October 19th |
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An attack on two Allied convoys yields 36 sunken ships by the attacking German U-boats. |
1940
Monday
December 16th |
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RAF bombers strike on Mannheim as revenge for the German air raids over Coventry. |
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The Lend-Lease Bill is signed into law by American President Franklin Roosevelt allowing the United States the unrestricted ability to help supply the Allies in their fight against the Axis. |
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Rommel begins his attack near El Agheila. |
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Prince Paul of Yugoslavia offers his allegiance to the Axis, signing the Tripartite Pact. |
1941
Wednesday
March 26th |
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In Berlin, Hitler reportedly tells his high level officers "I have decided to destroy Yugoslavia". |
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Prince Paul of Yugoslavia is forceably removed from power via a coup led by Bora Mirkovic and Dusan Simovic. Simovic is installed as the new ruler of Yugoslavia and quickly makes an effort to break Yugoslavia's commitment to the Tripartite Pact with the Axis. |
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The German port of Emden is bombed by six Wellington bomber aircraft. |
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Rommel's forces reach Agedabia. |
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Under the direction of German Navy Grand-Admiral Raeder, Operation Rheinubung is fleshed out. The operation calls for direct hit-and-run engagements with British merchant shipping across the Atlantic. |
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Operation Marita - the dual Germany invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia - is put into action. Twenty-four total divisions are involved, including some 1200 tanks. |
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A massive German bombing raid on the Yugoslavian capital city of Belgrade nets over 300,000 civilian casualties. |
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229 RAF bomber aircraft rain 40,000 incendiary ordnance on the German naval base at Kiel. |
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The German Army moves on and captures the strategic port city of Salonika. |
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The German 12th Army encircles and defeats the Greek defensive line known as the "Metaxas Line". |
1941
Thursday
April 10th - April 16th |
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Three divisions of British, Australian and New Zealand troops at the Aliakmon Line in the Vermion Mountains are defeated. |
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The first US combat action against Germany occurs - this being the USS Niblack destroyer firing on a marauding German U-boat violating the US security zone. |
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Vermion Line Allied troops are now redeployed to defensive positions around Mount Olympus. |
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German forces launching from Romania, Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria along with an Italian contigent from Albania capture and secure the Yugoslavian capital of Belgrade. |
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The German Army destroys Yugoslavian forces at Monistar Gap, clearing a path into Greece. Greece units fighting in Albania are effectively cut off. |
1941
Wednesday
April 16th |
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Allied forces in Greece are in full retreat at the request of Greek General Alexander Papagos who sees value is less fighting to save his country from total destruction. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill accepts the request. |
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Yugoslavian leadership, along with the army, surrenders to the Germans. |
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The Greek Army surrenders to the Germans and Italians. |
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Fuhrer Directive No.28 is issued by Adolph Hitler, calling for the invasion of the island of Crete through Operation Mercury led by General Kurt Student. |
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Allied codebreakers intercept word of the impending German invasion of Crete. |
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German airborne elements attempt to capture the bridge over the Corinth Canal in an attempt to encircle the retreating allies. The bridge is lost in the attack while the Allies have already moved on. |
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Axis forces officially occupy Athens, effectively signaling the end of Greek resistance. |
1941
Wednesday
April 30th |
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Allied forces based on Crete receive a new leader in the form of Major-General Bernard Freyberg. |
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HMS Bulldog acquires the first Enigma code machine during the capture of the U-110. British codebreakers set to work on deciphering the device. |
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The British launch Operation Brevity against Rommel's dug-in forces, making little progress against the prepared defenders. |
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Allied codebreakers intercept word that Operation Mercury will commence the very next day. The Allies begin preparations. |
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In advance of the Crete invasion, RAF fighters are relocated to Egypt for safe-keeping. |
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The first day of the German invasion of Crete sees little progress as many strategic positions are not under German control yet. |
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Operation Mercury is officially launched. |
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At approximately 7:00 AM, the first German airborne troops land at locations near Maleme and Khania. |
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At least 500 Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft are utilized in the first wave of airdrops over Crete. |
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Between 1:30 and 2:00 PM, the second wave of German airborne troops take off from Greece towards drop zones in Crete. |
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At about 2:00 PM, the second wave of German paratroops land around Heraklion and Rethymnon. |
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Allied flak teams destroy as many as 50% of the invading German transport planes in the first few hours of the operation. |
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In-air losses for the second wave of German paratroopers is nearly equal to the first thanks to the stellar Allied flak defenses on Crete. |
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The German heavy cruiser KMS Prinz Eugen and the battleship KMS Bismarck leave port for the North Sea. |
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German Army troops making their way to Crete via the sea are intercepted and pummeled by elements of the Royal Navy. Just 60 of these German soldiers live to see another day. |
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The British Navy is notified of the increase in German warship activity in the North Sea. |
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In an effort to beef up Royal Navy presence in the North Sea, the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious and the battlecruiser HMS Repulse are called to action in support of existing forces under the command of Admiral Sir John Tovey. |
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A German offensive against Heraklion is pushed away by at least 8,000 dug-in Allied soldiers. |
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A hunter-killer group of 14 Royal Navy ships, including the battleships HMS King George V, HMS Hood and the HMS Prince of Wales, leave Scapa Flow. |
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The HMS Greyhound, a British destroyer, is downed by German bombers. |
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New Zealand troops are repelled from an attempt to retake the airfield at Maleme from the Germans. |
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At 7:22 PM, the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Suffolk and the HMS Norfolk spot and shadow the mighty German battleship Bismarck. Its location is radioed in to Vice-Admiral L. E. Holland. |
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German dive bombers destroy the HMS Gloucester and the HMS Fiji, two Royal Navy cruisers. |
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German dive bombers destroy the HMS Kelly and HMS Kashmir, two Royal Navy destroyers. |
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At 5:52 AM, the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen fall under attack from Royal Navy ships. |
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At 6:00 AM, the Bismarck fires a salvo at the battleship HMS Hood, striker her ammunition magazine, with the resulting explosion destroying the British ship leaving only three sailors alive. |
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The HMS Suffolk loses track of the KMS Bismarck. |
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At 6:13 AM, the battleship Prince of Wales is damaged enough to pull out of the battle. |
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German Admiral Lutjens orders that the Prinz Eugen break from the Bismarck. |
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Royal Navy ships open fire with their long range guns and close in on their prey. |
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A British Coastal Command PBY Catalina flying boat spots the KMS Bismarck 700 miles from Brest. |
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The Royal Navy hunter-killer group receives some help with the arrival of the HMS Renown, HMS Sheffield and the HMS Ark Royal arriving from Gibraltar. |
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At 2:50 PM, an attack group from the HMS Ark Royal consisting of Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers begins their attack on the Bismarck. |
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Between 8:47 and 9:25 PM, the Bismarck registers two direct torpedo hits. In a stroke of luck for the British, the second torpedo hits the stern section of the Bismarck, jamming her rudder to one side, forcing the vessel to go into an uncontrolled turn. |
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The German Army takes Heraklion and her all-important airfield. |
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The first escorted convoy - HX129 - crosses the Atlantic. |
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At 10:36 AM, the mighty German battleship Bismarck sinks into blue depths, leaving only 115 German sailors to recount her story. |
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At 10:00 AM, the Bismarck's guns fall silent s she takes on water and burns. |
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At 8:47 AM, the Bismarck is now being raked from front to rear by the guns of the Royal Navy warships. The battleship HMS King George V and the HMS Rodney unleash their short range armament on the hapless German ship. |
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The brave defense of Rethymnon by Australian soldiers finally falters under intense pressure from the German Army. |
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By this date, Crete is firmly entrenched under German rule. |
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Operation Barbossa is put into effect - the German invasion of the Soviet Union. |
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General Guderian's Panzergruppe 2 meets General Hoth's Panzergruppe 3 in Minsk. |
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Russian army forces are encirlced at key cities across the Soviet Union. |
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Panzergruppe 2 and Panzergruppe 3 cross the Berezina River west of Minsk, heading towards Smolensk and Vitebsk. |
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Panzergruppe 2 and Panzergruppe 3 now form up as part of General Gunther von Kluge's 4th Panzer Army. |
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Soviet defenses at Brest-Litovsk, Bialystok, Volkovysk, Gorodishche and Minsk fall to the invading German Army. |
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Gurderian's army moves south towards Mogliev. |
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Panzergruppe 3 continues north to Vitebsk. |
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Guderian's forces cross the Dniepr River 50 miles outside of Smolensk. |
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The Soviet 19th Army makes its way into Smolensk. |
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Defenses across Smolensk are prepared under the direction of the Soviet 16th Army. |
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The Soviet 20th Army arrives in Smolensk. |
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Panzergruppe 3 heads towards Yartsevo. |
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Marshal Timoshenko and his 4th and 13th Armies near the Sohz River counterattack the Germans at Smolensk. |
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Smolensk falls to the German 29th Motorized Division. |
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The German Army begins to tighten the noose around the encircled Soviet forces numbering some 25 divisions. |
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A German High Command directive calls for the army to complete the destruction of Soviet forces around Smolensk and then head south to tackle forces in Kiev instead of marching on Moscow herself - this decision is viewed as the turning point to Germany's defeat in Russia. |
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A Soviet offensive meant to break the German stranglehold fails due to poor coordination. |
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The German Army begins to encircled in Soviet Army pockets held up outside of Smolensk, Vitebsk and Mogilev. |
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The Soviet counterattack at Smolensk is driven back by Guderian's forces. |
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The German encirclement of Soviet forces is completed. |
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The Soviet defense of Smolensk is obliterated and falls taking with it the end of the Soviet 16th and 20th Armies. |
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The drive to Smolensk nets a total of 600,000 Russian prisoners of war, 5,700 tanks and 4,600 artillery pieces. |
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300,000 Soviet prisoners, 3,200 tanks and 3,100 artillery guns are captured by the Germans at Smolensk. |
1941
Thursday
August 21st |
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The first Royal Navy convoy on its way to deliver supplies through Arctic waters into the Soviet Union leaves Scapa Flow comprised of 7 ships. |
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A report stuns the RAF by showcasing how only one-in-every-three RAF bombers actually it their targets. |
1941
Monday
September 1st |
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German Army elements begin the shelling of Leningrad. |
1941
Monday
September 15th |
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The Soviet fortress at Shlusselburg southeast of Leningrad falls to the Germans. |
1941
Monday
September 15th |
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Finnish forces, siding with the Germans, now control the Karelian isthmus, covering Leningrad from both sides. |
1941
Monday
September 15th |
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The Germans now control the southern end of Leningrad, cutting its citizens off from the rest of the Soviet Union. |
1941
Thursday
September 25th |
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The Crimea finds itself cutoff from the rest of the Soviet Union by German Army forces made up of German Army Group South. |
1941
Friday
September 26th - November 26th |
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Over the course of two months, Soviet Major-General I.Y. Pretov and his band of 32,000 Independent Maritime Army soldiers set up a vast network of defenses at the fortress in Sevastopol. The defense consists of three well-defended rings. |
1941
Wednesday
October 1st - December 31st |
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As rations begin to run out in the encircled city of Leningrad, its citizens begin to starve. |
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The Germans take the supply line route of Tikhvin, located east of Schlusselburg. |
1941
Sunday
November 16th |
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By this date, Lieutenant-General von Manstein and his German 11th Army take most of Crimea with the exception of Sevastapol. |
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The Soviets launch a full-scale counter-attack along a 500-mile front encompassing 19 Russian armies against Field Marshal von Bock's German Army Group Centre near Moscow. |
1941
Saturday
December 6th |
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The Soviet 31st Army cuts 12 miles into the German lines. |
1941
Saturday
December 6th |
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No fewer than 17 German motorized divisions retreat from the Soviet advance. |
1941
Tuesday
December 9th - December 13th |
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General Guderian's Panzergruppe 2 is cut off from General Kluge's 4th Army. |
1941
Wednesday
December 10th |
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The Soviets retake the town of Tikhvin. |
1941
Wednesday
December 10th |
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The Soviet supply route is restarted across frozen Lake Lagoda. |
1941
Thursday
December 11th |
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As expected, Germany and Italy side with Japan and officially declare war on the United States |
1941
Tuesday
December 16th |
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Amid the mounting pressures and expectations of his superiors back in Germany, Field Marshal von Bock requests reassignment away from Army Group Centre. |
1941
Wednesday
December 17th |
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Field Marshal von Kluge is tapped to replace Field Marshal von Bock as leader of Army Group Centre. |
1941
Wednesday
December 17th |
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Lieutenant-General von Manstein launches a major offensive against the Soviet soldiers holed up in the Sevastopol fortress. |
1941
Friday
December 26th |
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Soviet naval forces land army troops near Kerch. |
1941
Friday
December 26th |
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Manstein's offensive gains substantial ground, piercing the first two Soviet defensive rings. |
1941
Sunday
December 28th |
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In the face of growing Soviet Army opposition, von Manstein calls off his offensive on Sevastopol. |
1941
Sunday
December 28th |
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More Soviet forces land near Kerch via amphibious transports, bolstering Red Army power in the area. |
1942
Thursday
January 1st - July 31st |
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Some 800,000 of Leningrad's citizens are evacuated through the frozen passage above Lake Lagoda. |
1942
Thursday
January 1st |
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The German U-boat fleet now numbers some 331 operational vessels. |
1942
Thursday
January 1st - January 31st |
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Over the course of the month, three Soviet armies, under the command of Major-General D.T. Kozlov, are called to the newly created "Crimea Front". |
1942
Thursday
January 1st - March 1st |
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Off the east coast of the United States, some 216 vessels fall prey to the German U-boat scourge in this span. |
1942
Wednesday
January 7th |
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With progress over the Germans being made on several fronts, Soviet forces launch another offensive to try and encircle Army Group Centre. |
1942
Wednesday
January 7th |
|
|
Along the Volkhov Front to the south of Novgorod, the Soviets launch a major offensive. |
|
|
The Soviet movement begins losing steam after consecutive weeks of fighting. Man and machine are beginning to show their limitations. |
|
|
Adolph Hitler approves of the order for retreat for German forces Rostov. |
1942
Thursday
February 5th |
|
|
Rostov is officially abandoned by General Manstein's forces. |
|
|
German General Manstein meets with Hitler and proposes a new German counter-attack against the Russians. |
1942
Thursday
February 12th |
|
|
German Army Group Don is renamed Army Group South. |
1942
Thursday
February 12th |
|
|
German Army Group B is renamed Army Group Center. |
1942
Saturday
February 14th |
|
|
RAF Bomber Command issues its "Area Bombing Directive", allowing the legitimate bombing of civilian areas. |
1942
Saturday
February 14th - February 18th |
|
|
Street fighting begins between the German I SS Panzer Corps and the Russian 3rd Tank Army and 40th Army forces in Kharkov. |
1942
Tuesday
February 17th |
|
|
Adolph Hitler meets with General Manstein to plan a German counter-offensive. |
1942
Wednesday
February 18th |
|
|
German forces are officially driven from the Russian city of Kharkov. |
1942
Friday
February 20th |
|
|
The Germans unleash their counterattack using the 4th Panzer Amry, 1st Panzer Army and the II SS Panzer Corps. |
1942
Saturday
February 28th |
|
|
The Germans recapture lost ground and push elements of the Russian Army back. The German army reaches as far in as the River Donets while General Vatutin's forces are surrounded. |
1942
Sunday
March 1st - March 30th |
|
|
The whole Soviet 2nd Shock Army is lost near Novgorod. |
1942
Sunday
March 1st - March 30th |
|
|
The Soviet offensive near Novgorod is stopped by German ground and air elements. |
|
|
The Avro Lancaster heavy bomber is inducted into RAF service. |
1942
Sunday
March 1st - April 30th |
|
|
Hitler and his commanders flesh out Operation Blue - in invasion of the oil-rich Russian-held Caucasus. |
|
|
German General Hoth and his 4th Panzer Army form up and launch an offensive against the Voronezh Front near Kharkov. |
|
|
Street fighting throughout Kharkov erupts once more as German forces enter Kharkov. |
|
|
The 4th Panzer Army surrounds the city of Kharkov. |
1942
Wednesday
March 18th |
|
|
The Germans complete the retaking of Kharkov. |
1942
Wednesday
March 18th - March 26th |
|
|
The Soviets and Germans both dig in within and around the city of Kharkov, preparing to fight another day. |
|
|
British Convoy PQ13 sets sail for Russia but comes under fire from German U-Boats. Five of the 19 ships are lost. |
|
|
234 RAF bombers drop incendiaries on Lubeck. 12 aircraft are lost. |
|
|
The British utilize the "Gee" electronic navigation system for the first time. |
1942
Wednesday
April 1st - May 31st |
|
|
Over a two month period, German forces are resupplied and strengthened before a major offensive - Operation Bustard - to remove the Soviets from the Kerch peninsula. Among the resupply deliveries are 33 massive artillery pieces meant to destroy the Soviet defensive works at the fort in Sevastopol. |
|
|
Hitler issues the official Fuhrer Directive for Operation Blue. |
|
|
Spring over Russia brings about seasonal rains turning once solid and dependable ground into a muddy nightmare for both armies. As such, offensives are limited or stalled altogether. |
|
|
By this time, over 1 million German soldiers have been killed in action since the start of Operation Barbarossa. |
|
|
German Army forces partially regroup and recover from the constant barrage of Soviet offensives. |
|
|
German General Manstein leads his 11th Army onto the Kerch Peninsula towards the city of Sevastopol. |
|
|
Lieutenant-General von Manstein launches his assault. |
|
|
Soviet ground forces launch a pre-emptive offensive against German-held Kharkov. |
|
|
German forces enact Operation Fridericus and attempt to take Izyum. |
|
|
The convoy system is formally adopted by the United States in an effort to protect its merchant shipping in the Atlantic. |
|
|
Sevastopol is cutt off from the rest of the Soviet Union by German Army elements. |
|
|
Manstein's offensive results in the taking of the Kerch peninsula from the Soviets. |
|
|
Manstein begins planning his next major offensive to take Sevastopol - this becomes Operation Sturgeon. |
|
|
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division begins training for Operation Rutter on the Isle of Wight. |
|
|
Rommel begins his offense against the Gazala Line, made up of some 50 miles of British defenses. |
|
|
Beginning at 7:00PM, the German 90th Infantry Division, the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions and the Italian XX Corps under Rommel launch their offensive along the southern portion of the Gazala Line. |
|
|
German forces south of Bir Hacheim make progress and begin to move northwards. |
|
|
The 1st Free French Brigade at Bir Hacheim holds off the German progress. |
|
|
While trying to take Sidra Ridge, German Panzer force casaulties begin to mount significantly. |
|
|
RAF Bomber Command attack Cologne with 1,046 aircraft in the first of their "1,000 Bomber" raids. |
|
|
As the Allied defense along the Gazala line holds, Rommel is forced to change tactics, now concentrating his forces against the British 150th Brigade near Sidi Muftah. |
|
|
Rommel orders his forces to begin defensive preparations across a 10 mile stretch. |
1942
Monday
June 1st - June 3rd |
|
|
A German pocket develops near Sidi Muftah. |
1942
Monday
June 1st - June 30th |
|
|
June of 1942 marks the single worst month of Allied shipping losses, totaling some 834,000 tons of goods at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
|
Nearly 30% of German tanks have been lost in Rommel's offensive. |
|
|
600 German artillery guns open fire on Sevastopol. |
|
|
The Allies attempt an offensive to drive the German pocket back from Sidi Muftah and fail. 230 Allied tanks are lost in the attack. |
|
|
The British 150th Brigade is utterly destroyed under the German assault, resulting in 4,000 British prisoners of war. |
|
|
The German Luftwaffe is called in to bomb Sevastopol. |
|
|
The German artillery guns cease fire on Sevastopol. The bombardment on the Soviets has spanned five days. |
|
|
The German 11th Army begins their assault on Sevastopol from the north at 2:30AM. |
|
|
The 1st Free French Brigade at Bir Hacheim can hold no more and retreat under the mounting German pressure. |
|
|
The German-allied Romanian Mountain Corps and 30th Army Corps launch their attack on Sevastopol. |
|
|
The German Army breaks out of their pocket near Sidi Muftah. |
|
|
German forces breaking out near Sidi Muftah target the British 7th Armored Division near El Adem. |
|
|
The Allies go into full retreat as the Germans advance. |
1942
Friday
June 12th - June 16th |
|
|
The German offensive against Sevastopol is repulsed by the 180,000 or so Russian soldiers holed up in the city. |
|
|
Manstein launches another assault on Sevastopol. |
|
|
The city of Tobruk, defended by the 2nd South African Division, is completely surrounded by German forces. |
|
|
Rommel begins his offensive against the defenders in Tobruk. |
|
|
Artillery shells and Luftwaffe bombs rain upon Tobruk. |
|
|
At 7:00PM, the German 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions have made it past Tobruk's first line of defense, making headway into the city. |
|
|
The 2nd South African Division under Allied General Klopper officially concede defeat and hand control of Tobruk to the Germans. |
|
|
German forces complete their capture of Izyum. |
1942
Saturday
June 27th - July 28th |
|
|
Convoy PQ17 loses 34 of its 36 ships to Geman U-Boats and surface ships. |
|
|
The Romanian and German army forces capture key hilltop positions near Sevastopol. |
|
|
The Soviet Army is encircled and defeated at Kharkov, netting the Germans some 250,000 Soviet prisoners. |
|
|
The German Army turns its attention towards the Volga. |
|
|
German forces reach the outskirts of Sevastopol. |
|
|
By this date, over 90% of the Soviet defensive fortifications have fallen to the Germans. |
|
|
The German 2nd Army and 4th Panzer Army launch their attack towards Voronezh near Kursk. |
|
|
Evacuation of Russian soldiers from Sevastopol begins with help from the Soviet Black Sea Fleet under Vice-Admiral F.S. Oktyabrsky. |
|
|
German General von Paulus attacks at Belgorod. |
|
|
German General Erwin Rommel attempts to break through the Allied defensive perimeter at El Alamein. |
1942
Wednesday
July 1st - July 22nd |
|
|
The First Battle of El Alamein takes place with Erwin Rommel hoping to put a dent in the Allied defense near El Alamain. Rommel's forces consist of his Afrika Corps and three Italian troop corps. |
1942
Wednesday
July 1st - July 31st |
|
|
Hitler orders two directives in the operation against Leningrad. The first calls for its immediate encirclement and the second for its immediate destruction from land and air. |
|
|
One last German push secures strategic positions throughout the city of Sevastopol. |
|
|
The last of the Soviet forces are evacuated by sea leaving little to stop the German onslaught. |
|
|
The Soviet city of Sevastopol officially falls to the Germans. |
|
|
The Allies put up a stubborn defense, repelling Rommel's offensive. |
|
|
Sevastopol officially falls to German control. |
|
|
German control and the subsequent round up on the city nets some 90,000 Soviet army prisoners of war. |
|
|
The German 6th Army moves on Stalingrad. |
|
|
The Soviet city of Voronezh falls to the German Army. |
|
|
The German 6th Army reaches the Don River. |
|
|
This date is set aside for Operation Rutter - the amphibious landing at the port city of Dieppe in occupied France. |
|
|
Bad weather cancels this original date for Operation Rutter. Discussions begin on whether or not to nix the entire endeavor. It returns to the planning stages under a new name - Operation Jubilee. |
|
|
German General Field Marshal List takes command of the new Army Goup A, made up of the 1st Panzer Army and the 17th Army. |
|
|
German Army Group South is renamed Army Group B and placed under the control of Field Marshal von Bock. |
|
|
The German Army begins its move towards Rostov. |
|
|
General von Weichs takes control of Army Group B from Bock. |
|
|
Adolph Hitler assigns General von Paulus and his 6th Army to take Stalingrad. |
|
|
Hitler diverts the 4th Panzer Army away from Stalingrad and sends them towards the Caucasus. |
|
|
German U-boats off the eastern coast of the US are relocated to better assault the merchant fleets streaming across the Atlantic. |
|
|
Hitler issues a supplemental directive to Operation Blue requiring his 6th Army to take Stalingrad. |
|
|
Rostov falls to the German Army Group A, netting some 83,000 Soviet prisoners as a result. |
|
|
The macabre resolution of "not one step backwards" is issued by Stalin to his generals and troops. |
1942
Saturday
August 1st - August 31st |
|
|
Any further convoys passing to the Arctic to Russia are suspended for the time being as resources are pressed for service in the Allied landings occurring in North Africa. |
1942
Saturday
August 1st - August 30th |
|
|
German forces are strengthened by the arrival of another Italian division, a German parachute brigade and more tanks. |
|
|
De Havilland DH 98 Mosquito twin-engine fighters are assigned as "Pathfinder" units charged with lighting up ground targets via flares and incendiary ordnance for ensuing RAF heavy bombers. |
|
|
Elements of the German Army cross the Aksay River towards Stalingrad. |
|
|
The German Army crosses the Kuban River near Armavir. |
|
|
Elements of the German Army attack Soviet forces near Kalach. |
|
|
The German German Army captures the strategic port of Yeysk and Krasnador on the Sea of Azov. |
|
|
Army Group A captures the Maikop oil field on the Black Sea. |
|
|
German forces cross the Kuban river near Krasnador. |
|
|
German General Paulus and his 6th Army is ordered to attack the Soviet city of Stalingrad. |
1942
Wednesday
August 19th |
|
|
At 5:35 AM, Allied armor makes it to the beach. Over half of the tanks are lost in the action. |
1942
Wednesday
August 19th |
|
|
Operation Jubilee is officially put into action. |
1942
Wednesday
August 19th |
|
|
By 11:00 AM, disaster has completely befallen the invaders. Many are trapped, forced back or dead to a prepared German defense. |
1942
Wednesday
August 19th - September 30th |
|
|
A Soviet offensive aimed at smashing through the German lines fails. |
1942
Wednesday
August 19th |
|
|
At 5:20 AM, the main invasion force - made up of the 14th Army Tank Regiment, the Essex Scottish Regiment, and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry - come ashore. |
1942
Wednesday
August 19th |
|
|
At 4:30 AM, Canadian soldiers wade ashore and take on the German coastal batteries at Berneval, Puys, Pourville and Varengville. |
1942
Wednesday
August 19th |
|
|
4,962 Canadian soldiers, along with 1,000 British troops and a 50-man contingent of American US Army Rangers set sail on no fewer than 237 boats towards Dieppe. |
1942
Wednesday
August 19th |
|
|
This date is targeted for Operation Jubilee. |
1942
Wednesday
August 19th |
|
|
By 2:00 PM, all survivors of the Dieppe invasion have been rescued. Left behind are 3,367 casualties, wounded, prisoners of war or missing. |
1942
Wednesday
August 19th |
|
|
At 3:48 AM, several Allied invasion vessels run into a German convoy, which actively engages the ships, ruining any chance the Allies held in the element of surprise. This event is a fore-telling of the day to follow. |
|
|
Nazi-allied French leader Marshal Petain celebrates the German victory over the Allied invasion at Dieppe. |
1942
Saturday
August 22nd |
|
|
German land forces advancing into the Caucasus are stopped. |
|
|
Army Group B reaches the Volga River. |
|
|
Stalingard is officially under siege by the Germans Army. |
|
|
Rommel begins a new offensive starting from Bab el Qattara that becomes the Battle of Alam Halfa near El Alamein. The objective is the high ridge at Alam Halfa some 13 miles through the Allied defensive perimeter in the south. |
1942
Tuesday
September 1st - September 30th |
|
|
German progress throughout the Casucasus is slowed by Soviet resistance and fuel/supply shortages. |
1942
Tuesday
September 1st - September 30th |
|
|
The month is spent ironing out plans for the Allied invasion of German-occupied North Africa. |
1942
Tuesday
September 1st |
|
|
The Germans establish a bridgehead over the Terek River. |
1942
Tuesday
September 1st |
|
|
Germany Army elements, backed by Romanians cross the Kerch Straits. |
1942
Wednesday
Setember 2nd - September 26th |
|
|
Convoy PQ18 reaches Russia despite losing 13 of her ships. |
1942
Wednesday
September 2nd |
|
|
Convoy PQ18 sets sail for Russia, comprised of some 40 ships and beefed up protection through 17 destroyers. The escort carrier HMS Avenger provides air cover. |
1942
Wednesday
September 2 |
|
|
Rommel's assault is thwarted, his tank forces suffering high losses in the attack - and his army is pushed back to Bab el Qattara. |
1942
Thursday
September 3rd - October 23rd |
|
|
General Montgomery decides to make El Alamein a war of numbers and stockpiles his supplies to eventually try and overwhelm the Germans. |
1942
Thursday
September 3rd |
|
|
The Germans enact an offensive aimed at the heart of Stalingrad. |
1942
Sunday
September 6th |
|
|
The strategic Black Sea port city Novorossiysk falls to the Germans. |
1942
Thursday
September 10th |
|
|
100,000 incendiary bombs are dropped on Dusseldorf by no fewer than 476 RAF bombers. |
1942
Tuesday
September 15th |
|
|
The Soviet Army is unleashed on Voronezh. |
1942
Thursday
September 24th |
|
|
The German Army makes headway toward Tuapse. |
1942
Friday
September 25th |
|
|
With winter upon the German Army once more, Hitler orders a halt to any major offensives around Leningrad. |
1942
Thursday
October 1st - October 31st |
|
|
With a lull in the fighting, Soviet forces near Leningrad are able to receive much needed supplies and reinforcements. |
|
|
Malgobek falls to the German Army. |
|
|
The Soviet government hands all military powers to the Soviet Army. |
|
|
The German drive against Tuapse is stopped by the Soviets. |
|
|
At 10:00PM, British XIII Corps hits the German 21st Panzer Division and Italian Brescia and Folgore Divisions in the south of the German defensive wall as a diversion to its north-bound actions. |
|
|
XXX and X Corps begin their assault on Axis nothern positions. |
|
|
The Allied counter-offensive begins through Operation Lightfoot, a massive artillery bombardment of dug-in German forces. |
1942
Wednesday
October 14th |
|
|
Adolph Hitler stops all further offensives against Soviet targets in the region for the year and orders his commanders to hold their positions until 1943. |
|
|
Allied mine-clearing operations begin whiel combat continues |
|
|
Montgomery enacts Operation Supercharge and pulls some diversionary forces from his southern attacks to reinforce the north where losses continue to mount. |
|
|
Four Allied brigades have managed to break through the German defensive lines. |
|
|
The Germans enact a new offensive in the Caucasus. |
|
|
The Caucasus town of Alagir is captured by the Germans. |
|
|
The Caucasus town of Ordzhonikidse is captured by the Germans. |
|
|
As more and more Allied armor crosses through the German perimeter, Rommel orders his battle-weary forces on an eastward retreat, keeping his forces within easy access to the North African coast. |
1942
Wednesday
November 4th |
|
|
British X Corps makes a substantial gain in capturing Tel el Aqqaqir, running straight through the beleagured Axis lines, effectively ending the Battle of El Alamain in favor of the Allies. The victory is a major one for the Germans are in full retreat throughout North Africa. The action officially ends all Axis presence on the continent. |
1942
Saturday
November 7th |
|
|
Three Allied task forces - the US Western, Central and the British Eastern - approach the coast of North Africa. |
|
|
The Allied invasion forces reach North African shores. |
1942
Thursday
November 12th |
|
|
British paratroopers land near Bone and take the nearby airfield. |
1942
Thursday
November 12th |
|
|
German paratrooper forces attack the British paratroopers near Bone but are repelled. |
1942
Thursday
November 12th |
|
|
German paratroopers move into the area near the airfield at Bone. |
1942
Sunday
November 15th |
|
|
Army Group A reaches as far as Ordzhonikidze and Mt. Elbus. |
1942
Monday
November 16th |
|
|
Allied forces begin their move into German-held Tunisia. |
1942
Tuesday
November 17th |
|
|
The Allies capture Beja. |
1942
Wednesday
November 18th |
|
|
The Allies take Sidi Nsir. |
1942
Thursday
November 19th |
|
|
The Soviets push forward a new two-part offensive - Operation Uranus - north of Stalingrad and break through the Romanian-held defenses. |
1942
Friday
November 20th |
|
|
Part 2 of Operation Uranus is enacted at the southern end of Stalingrad. |
1942
Friday
November 20th |
|
|
German General Manstein is appointed the commander of Army Group Don. |
1942
Friday
November 20th |
|
|
The Allied assault on the strategic city of Medjez el Bab begins. |
1942
Sunday
November 22nd |
|
|
Two elements of the Soviet Army meets at Kalach, effectively encircling the German 6th Army at Stalingrad. |
1942
Wednesday
November 25th |
|
|
In an effort to resupply their troops, the German Luftwaffe is called upon to exercise airdrops of vital supplies to the German 6th Army. |
1942
Thursday
November 26th |
|
|
Medjez el Bab falls to the Allies. |
1942
Monday
November 30th |
|
|
Despite the consistent progression throughout North Africa, the Allied invasion offensive grounds to a halt in the face of growing German resistance at key junctions. The total liberation of North Africa will have to wait. |
1942
Monday
November 30th |
|
|
German General von Paulus and his 6th Army is contained by the fierce resisting Soviets in Stalingrad, putting Hitler's plans on hold. |
1942
Saturday
December 12th |
|
|
While Hitler rejects any plea from the German 6th Army to retreat from their position, the 4th Panzer Army is used through Operation Winter Storm in an attempt to relieve the beleaguered German troops at Stalingrad. |
1942
Wednesday
December 16th |
|
|
German Army forces are called off from further offensives at Tuapse. |
1942
Wednesday
December 16th |
|
|
The Italian Army goes into full retreat from the Soviet advance. |
1942
Wednesday
December 16th |
|
|
The Soviet Army puts Operation Little Saturn into effect and attacks Rostov. |
1942
Monday
December 21st |
|
|
Soviet relief forces and supplies headed for Stalingrad are stopped at Myshkova. |
1942
Wednesday
December 23rd |
|
|
All further attempts to relieve Stalingrad are put on hold, indefinitely. |
1942
Thursday
December 24th |
|
|
The Soviet Army launches a fresh attack at Kotelnikovo, routing its Romanian defenders and putting them into full retreat. |
1942
Monday
December 28th |
|
|
German Army Group A is given the official order to retreat from the Caucasus region. |
1942
Thursday
December 31st |
|
|
The Battle of Barents Sea takes place. Convoy JW51B comes under attack from German surface ships comrpised of the battleships KMS Admiral Hipper and KMS Lutzow along with 6 destroyers. Six British destroyers are up to the task as they repel the much larger force at the cost of two Royal Navy destroyers. No merchant vessels are lost to enemy fire. The loss in battle forces the resignation of German Navy Admiral Raeder and leaves Adolph Hitler hungry for blood. |
|
|
The H2S navigation system is delivered to the RAF for installation into bombers. |
|
|
German forces at Terek retreat. |
|
|
Soviet generals send in the formal request for surrender of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad, a request which is formally rejected. |
|
|
Soviet General Rokossovsky unleashes hell on the German 6th Army through thousands of artillery cannons and Katyusha rockets. |
1943
Tuesday
January 12th |
|
|
Soviet troops make headway against the defensive lines at the Don River held by Hungarian and Italian troops. |
1943
Tuesday
January 12th |
|
|
German Caucasus elements make it to their bridgehead over the Kuban River. |
1943
Tuesday
January 12th |
|
|
The Soviets enact Operation Spark and cut a path through the German lines clearing a path to Leningrad. This offers the citizens of the city some much needed foot rations. |
1943
Wednesday
January 13th |
|
|
German Army elements at Terek retreat to the Nagutskoye-Alexsandrovskoye position. |
1943
Thursday
January 14th |
|
|
U-boat bases at Cherbourg and Lorient are targeted by the Royal Air Force. |
1943
Thursday
January 14th |
|
|
In an effort to replenish and build up their army ranks along the East Front, German Generals proposed conscription service of the Baltic people for service . |
|
|
The German Panzer Corps at the Don are officially surrounded. |
1943
Tuesday
January 19th |
|
|
The Soviets retake the city of Shlusselburg. |
|
|
German forces at Voronezh retreat. |
|
|
German forces at Armavir retreat. |
|
|
A Soviet offensive splits the German 6th Army at Stalingrad. |
|
|
German General Paulus formally surrenders his southern Stalingrad army to the Soviets. |
|
|
A Presidential directive calls for some 250 American aircraft to begin offensive actions in the Atlantic. |
1943
Tuesday
February 2nd |
|
|
The German Army north pocket at Stalingrad formally surrenders to the Soviet Army. |
1943
Tuesday
February 2nd |
|
|
The liberation of Stalingrad is officially over. |
1943
Sunday
February 14th |
|
|
At 4AM, elements of the 10th Panzer Division and 21st Panzer Division under General von Arnim, launch their attack at Allied forces near Sidi Bou Zid and Bir el Hafey. |
1943
Monday
February 15th |
|
|
German General Erwin Rommel commences with his assault through Operation Morgenluft. His attack takes him towards Gafsa, Feriana and Thelepte. |
1943
Thursday
February 18th |
|
|
General von Arnim and General Rommels forces finally meet at Kasserine. |
1943
Friday
February 19th |
|
|
American armored forces hold up the German advanced at Kasserine Pass. |
1943
Saturday
February 20th |
|
|
The Americans fold under the immense German assault and Kasserine Pass falls to the invaders. |
1943
Saturday
February 20th |
|
|
Allied units move from Le Kef for the counter-attack. |
1943
Saturday
February 20th |
|
|
The British 6th Armored Brigade moves towards Thala and Sbiba. |
1943
Saturday
February 20th |
|
|
US forces move in to stop the German advance around Tebessa. |
1943
Sunday
February 21st |
|
|
The German forces at Kasserine Pass under Rommel await the Allied counter-offensive that never materializes. |
1943
Monday
February 22nd |
|
|
Allied forces hold the Germans in check at Sbiba, Tebessa and Thala, inflicting 2,000 German casualties and forcing Rommel to call for a retreat. |
1943
Thursday
February 25th |
|
|
Rommel relocates his forces east and plans his defense against Montgomery and his 8th Army at the Mareth ine. |
1943
Thursday
February 25th |
|
|
Kasserine is now firmly in Allied control, the Germans having retreated and Rommel's attention now elsewhere. |
1943
Monday
March 1st - July 31st |
|
|
Any further British convoy runs to Russia are postponed as supplies are funneled to other areas of the Atlantic. |
1943
Monday
March 1st - March 31st |
|
|
The German battleship KMS Scharnhorst makes its way to Norway, building up the already potent German Navy force that includes the KMS Tirpitz and KMS Lutzow. |
|
|
RAF Bomber Command numbers total some 950 bombers of various types. Most important are the Avro Lancasters. |
|
|
For the first time, RAF bombers make use of the "Oboe" navigational aid in a large-scale operation. |
1943
Saturday
May 1st - May 31st |
|
|
By the end of May, 43 U-boats are sunk to just 34 merchant vessels. |
|
|
Allied aircraft are fitted with U-boat detecting radar systems. |
|
|
RAF bombers make their most famous raid of the war to date - this through Operation Chastise - as 19 Lancasters attack the dams at Mohne, Eder, Sorpe and Schwelme supplying power to the Ruhr industrial sector. 9,000lb bouncing mines are used in the successful attack. |
|
|
Some 33 U-boats assail an Allied convoy. However, the streamlined Allied response nets zero ship losses and fatalities. The U-boats come up empty. |
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Due to dwindling results, German Admiral Karl Donitz calls back his U-boats from operations in the Atlantic. |
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The German U-boats are unleashed once more, this time operating in substantially smaller groups. |
1943
Tuesday
June 1st - June 30th |
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British and American authorities work together to formulate the Pointblank Directive - a combined air bombing campaign against the air production facilities of the German Luftwaffe. |
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The Allied D-Day landings in the North of France eventually render the French-German U-boat bases inoperable. |
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No fewer than eight German U-Boats shadow convoy PQ17. |
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The Germans enact Operation Citadel - the assault on the Kursk salient. The operation begins at 4:30am but major elements are delayed until 5:00am thanks to intense artillery attacks by the prepared Russians. |
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Soviet Marshal-General Rokossovsky and his Central Front army engage in a counter-attack against the German offensive. The counter-attack fails but is enough to slow the German 9th Army some. A measly 6 miles of territory is gained by the Germans. |
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German General Hoth and his 4th Panzer Army move into the salient, covering some 20 miles of territory. Their advantage brings them near Pokrovka. |
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The Allied invasion fleets sail out to Sicily. |
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US 82nd Airborne Division and British 1st Airborne Division paratroopers land at strategic locations across Sicily prior to the invasion force's arrival. |
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15th Army Group begins their initial assault to the south. |
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Operation Husky begins. Target - German-held Sicily. Some 2,590 naval vessels take part in the invasion which encompasses two army groups of American and British forces invading at two different coasts of the island. |
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Soviet resistance to the German offensives is so intense that German General Hoth is forced to bring up his reserves and commit them to the fight. The advancing Germans are slowed evermore by the stinky Soviet defenders, also made up of deadly anti-tank teams. |
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The British 5th Division takes Cassibile. |
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The Hermann Goring Panzer Division engages the US 1st Infantry Division at Gela. US forces are assited by offshore bombardment from Royal Navy ships and repel the German attack. |
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Soviet generals Zhukov and Vassilevky are given total control of the actions in and around Kursk by Stalin himself. |
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The Soviet Bryansk Front northeast of Kursk moves in on German General Model's 9th Army. |
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Soviet General Sokolosky moves against German Army Group Center and the 9th Army in a counter-offensive. |
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The Soviets commit more tanks against Hoth and his 4th Panzer Army. |
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A huge battle involving more than 1,000 tanks of the German and Soviet armies duke it out near Pokrovka. |
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Allied airborne elements parachute into Sicily and capture key bridges. However, a German counter-attack drives back any gains of the day. |
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By this date, some 478,000 Allied troops have landed on Sicily. |
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Adolph Hitler orders an end to Operation Citadel. |
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The Allies control key airfields across the island, allowing air support more resources from which to work with. |
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British and American forces finally meet at Comiso and Ragusa. |
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German Paratroopers repel Allied forces from the Primasole bridge. |
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Fighting in the Kursk salient officially ends. |
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The Primsole bridge is recaptured from the Germans. |
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US General George C. Patton and his fabled 7th Army move along the west of the island at speed, claiming the Sicilian capital of Palermo in the process. |
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