July1944

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  Axis Jul-44 United Nations
Vichy France Thailand Romania Germany Japan Total Class Total USAGreat Britain Free France Soviet UnionCanada AustraliaNew Zealand Poland
1 0 0 3 8 11 Battleship 32 15 10 3 3 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 1 1 Fleet Carrier 15 10 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 3 3 Light Carrier 10 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 2 12 14 Heavy Cruiser 36 18 7 3 6 0 2 0 0
1 0 0 4 12 16 Light Cruiser 81 30 32 6 2 0 2 2 1
0 8 6 58 63 135 Destroyer 588 334 133 21 44 20 10 0 4
0 4 2 331 37 374 Submarine 521 203 112 19 162 0 0 0 2
0 0 0 0 6 6 Escort Carrier 98 55 40 0 0 1 0 0 0
3 0 3 17 60 80 Escorts 963 349 408 23 12 140 5 1 2
0 3 0 2 0 5 Other 14 0 7 2 0 0 2 1 0

 

United Nations   Neutral
ClassNetherlands NorwayGreece Brazil Yugoslavia Columbia Italy Argentina ChilePeru DenmarkSweden Portugal SpainTurkey
Battleship 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Fleet Carrier 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Light Carrier 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Heavy Cruiser 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Light Cruiser 2 2 0 2 0 0 7 1 0 0 0 2 0 5 0
Destroyer 2 2 5 9 2 2 15 15 8 2 0 23 5 16 6
Submarine 13 1 4 4 1 0 29 3 9 4 0 27 3 5 9
Escort Carrier 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Escorts 2 6 8 6 1 0 14 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Other 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 6 3 0 0 7 0 0 2

 

Saturday 1st July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
I-6 SubmarineLost Missing in action in Saipan area, 104 dead, 0 survivors 01/07/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 280+ aircraft attack 13 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 300+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb sites in France
The Western Front: Counterattack by the German SS Panzer Corps failed to dislodge the British Second Army around Caen. When Gerd von Rundstedt phoned Berlin to report the failure, Chief of Staff Wilhelm Keitel purportedly asked, "What shall we do?", to which Rundstedt replied, "Make peace, you fools! What else can you do?"
The Italian Campaign: The American forces capture Cecina
The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference began in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire to regulate the international monetary systems of the post-war world.

Sunday 2nd July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-543 SubmarineLost Sunk by homing torpedo & depth charges by Avenger aircraft from American warship Wake Island, in the North Atlantic, SW of the Canaries, 58 dead, 0 survivors 25.34N 21.36W 02/07/1944
 
Military

The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Noemfoor begins between Allied and Japanese forces in Netherlands New Guinea.
The Western Front: The day after his telephone outburst, Gerd von Rundstedt was sacked as Oberbefehlshaber West and replaced by Günther von Kluge.

Monday 3rd July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-154 SubmarineLost Depth charged by American warships Inch & Frost in the North Atlantic, NW of Madeira, 58 dead, 0 survivors 34.00N 19.30W 03/07/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid,  270+ aircraft strafe & bomb strongpoints, gun positions, fuel dump, comm lines, bridges, and patrol beach in the vicinity of Lessay and Periers, Normandy, France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 600+ aircraft attacked oil storage, oil refinery, and locomotive works at Bucharest, oil storage at Giurgiu, railroads at Turnu-Severin, bridge at Piatra, and other targets at Arad and Timisoara, bridge at Szeged, and oil storage at Belgrade.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 370+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb sites in France
The Burma Campaign: The Battle of Imphal ended in Allied victory.
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces capture Minsk, the last big German base on Soviet soil
The Italian Campaign: Allies forces capture Siena.

Tuesday 4th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
USA S 28 SubmarineLost Lost during torpedo exercise off Pearl Harbor 8400 feet down, 0 survivors 04/07/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 300+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb sites in France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 230+ aircraft attack on underground flying-bomb store at St-Leu-D'Esserent, France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 280+ aircraft attack on railway yards at Orleans & Villeneuve, France
The Eastern Front: The Minsk Offensive & Polotsk Offensive ends in Soviet victories.
The Western Front: Canadian forces began Operation Windsor, an offensive to take Carpiquet.
The Eastern Front: The Battle of Vuosalmi between Finnish & Soviet forces begins
The Western Front: To celebrate American Independence Day, General Omar Bradley ordered all artillery units in the American Army to open fire on the German lines precisely at noon. Some units fired red, white, and blue smoke shells at the Germans.

Wednesday 5th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-642 SubmarineLost Bombed by American aircraft at Toulon 05/07/1944
Germany U-967 SubmarineDamaged Damaged by bombs from American aircraft in Toulon 05/07/1944
Germany U-466 SubmarineDamaged Damaged by bombs from American B-24 Liberator aircraft at Toulon 05/07/1944
Germany U-586 SubmarineDamaged Damaged by bombs from American Liberator aircraft in Toulon Harbour, 43.07N 05.55E 05/07/1944. Constructive total loss
Germany U-390 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British warships Vanderer & Tavy in the Baie de la Seine, off the Normandy coast, English Channel, 48 dead, 1 survivor captured, 49.52N 00.48W 05/07/1944
Germany U-233 SubmarineLost

Damaged by a depth charge attack from the American warship Baker & Thomas, the boat was forced to the surface and hit by gunfire before being rammed by Thomas, SE of Halifax, 32 dead, 30 survivors captured 42.16N 59.49W 05/07/1944

 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 150+ aircraft attack on railway yards at Dijon, France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 540+ aircraft attack on flying-bomb sites in France
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces began the Belostock Offensive, Siauliai Offensive and Vilnius Offensive as part of Operation Bagration.
The Western Front: Canadian forces capture Carpiquet in Operation Windsor.

Thursday 6th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Great Britain Trollope FrigateDamaged Damaged by torpedoes from German E-Boats, W of Cape d'Antifer, off Normandy, during Operation Overlord. A ship was towed to Arromanches Harbour & beached on 06/07/1944. Constructive total loss
Hokaze Destroyer EscortLost Torpedoed by American submarine Paddle, 105 miles NNE of Menado, Celebes Sea 03.24N 125.28E 06/07/1944
 
Politics

Winston Churchill gave a speech in the House of Commons about the V-1 campaign, revealing government figures that 2,752 had been killed and 8,000 injured by the flying bombs.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 500 aircraft attack bridges and rail lines at 8 locations in France. In the afternoon 5 targets are attacked, including bridges, fuel dumps, railroad tracks, and V-weapon locations.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 530+ aircraft attacked Verona, the Bergamo steel works, and Avisio viaduct, the Tagliamento Casarsa della Delizia railroad bridge, Aviano oil and gasoline storage, Porto Marghera oil storage, and Trieste oil refinery.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 550+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb sites of Sircourt & Mimoyecques in France
The Eastern Front: The Polish Home Army began Operation Ostra Brama, an armed uprising against Nazi occupiers in Wilno as part of Operation Tempest.

Other

Hungarian Regent Miklós Horthy ordered a halt to the deportation of Hungarian Jews.
The Hartford circus fire occurred when a fire broke out in a tent during a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performance in Hartford, Connecticut. 167 people died in one of the worst fire disasters in American history.

Friday 7th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Poland Dragon Light CruiserLost Damaged by torpedo from German Negar human torpedo, off Sword Beach, Normandy, during Operation Overlord. Mine exploded on her port side between her funnels, and the ship's magazine exploded, 37 dead on 07/07/1944. Towed by tugs off Arromanches & it is used as an AA battery ship with many of her crew evacuated on 09/07/1944. The ship was repairable but decided to scuttle as blockship Normandy Mulberry Harbour 20/07/1944
Great Britain Javelin DestroyerDamaged Damaged in collision with British warship Eskimo, off Ushant, in the Bay of Biscay. The ship suffered major structural damage & disabled her rudder. 3 dead, 1 injured 07/07/1944. Ship steering by main engines arrived at Plymouth for temporary repair Devonport Dockyard 10/07/1944. Depart for Belfast for repair 20/07/1944. Arrived for repair Harland & Wolff, Belfast 27/07/1944
Great Britain Eskimo DestroyerDamaged Damaged in collision with British warship Javelin, off Ushant, in the Bay of Biscay. The ship suffered serious structural damage & disabled engines. A ship towed back to Plymouth by Canadian warship Huron 07/07/1944. Arrived temporary repair Devonport Dockyard 12/07/1944. Depart to Liverpool for repair 13/07/1944. Arrived for repair Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 14/07/1944
Usugumo DestroyerLost Torpedoed by American submarine Skate, 330 miles WSW of Paramushiro, Kurle Islands, Okhotsk Sea. The ship was hit by two torpedoes which broke her back. She quickly listed to port & sank in 6 minutes, 267 dead, 49 survivors 47.43N 147.55E 07/07/1944
Tamanami DestroyerLost Torpedoed by American submarine Mingo, 150 miles WSW of Manila. Ship blew up & sank, 0 survivors 13.55N 118.30E 07/07/1944
Germany U-678 SubmarineLost Depth charged by Canadian warships Ottawa & Kootenay & British warship Statice, in the English Channel, SSW of Brighton, 52 dead, 0 survivors 50.32N 00.23W 07/07/1944
 
Politics

Operation Valkyrie: General Helmuth Stieff was to kill Hitler at a display of new uniforms at Klessheim castle near Salzburg. However, Stieff felt unable to kill Hitler. Stauffenberg now decided to do both, assassinate Hitler and manage the plot in Berlin.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 100+ aircraft bomb rail bridge near Tours, and targets in Lisieux and Beuzeville areas, France.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 560+ aircraft bomb 2 synthetic oil plants at Blechhammer, synthetic oil and coking plant at Odertal, and Zagreb.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid 1,000+ aircraft attack 3 synthetic oil plants, 8 aircraft assembly plants and engine works, at Hameln, Germany
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 460+ aircraft attack on Normandy battlefront in support of British & Canadian forces on Caen. Northern suburbs of Cean in ruins


Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 210+ aircraft attack on underground flying-bomb store at St-Leu-D'Esserent, France

Other

Regent of Hungary Miklós Horthy ordered a stop to the deportation of Jews from the country. Even so, the Nazis declared all of Hungary except for Budapest free of Jews.

Saturday 8th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
France Perle SubmarineLost Bombed in error by British aircraft, in the Mid North Atlantic 55.27N 33.50W 08/07/1944
Germany U-243 SubmarineLost

Depth charged by Australian Sunderland aircraft in the Bay of Biscay 150 miles WNW of the Lorient 11 dead, 38 survivors captured 47.06N 06.40W 08/07/1944

 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 280+ aircraft bomb V-weapon HQ at Chateau-deRibeaucourt, numerous strongpoints in Caen battle area, rail bridges at Mantes-La-Jolie, Saumur, Nogent-leRoi, and Caen and (late in the evening) fuel dumps in Rennes and bridge at Nantes.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 520+ aircraft bombing targets in the Vienna area, bombing refineries at Vosendorf and Korneuburg, aircraft factory at Zwolfaxing, Markersdorf, and Munchendorf, and oil storage at Viennaircraft factory, and aircraft factory at Veszprem.
The Western Front: British and Canadian forces launched Operation Charnwood with the goal of at least partially capturing the city of Caen, which remained in German hands despite repeated attempts to take it over the past month.

Other

With Soviet forces approaching, German SS authorities began liquidating the Kovno Ghetto. About 8,000 Jews would be transferred to Stutthof and Dachau.

Sunday 9th July 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Saipan ends in an American victory

Military Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 220+ aircraft bomb Xenia and Concordia Vega oil refineries at Ploesti
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 310+ aircraft bomb targets in France; bad weather prevents others from bombing. Targets hit are rail bridge, crossing, overpass and highway bridge at Ablis, Orleans, Vendome, and Montfort-sur-Risle.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, During the morning mission 140+ aircraft bombed 2 railroad bridges, a railroad viaduct, a road bridge, and an aircraft factory in France.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 350+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb sites in France
The Western Front: British and Canadian forces launched Operation Charnwood with the goal of at least partially capturing the city of Caen, which remained in German hands despite repeated attempts to take it over the past month.

The Eastern Front: The Battle of Tali–Ihantala ends with a Finnish victory


The Western Front: The Battle of Saint-Lô starts

Monday 10th July 1944
Daily Report
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 210+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb sites in France
The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of the Driniumor River began near Aitape in New Guinea.
The Eastern Front: The Battle of Vyborg Bay ended in a defensive victory for the German/Finnish forces.

Other

Because of the danger of the German flying bombs, over 41,000 mothers and children left London in the second wartime exodus from the city and returned to their former wartime billets in the country.

Tuesday 11th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-1222 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British Sunderland aircraft, in the Bay of Biscay, SW of Lorient, 56 dead, 0 survivors 46.31N 05.29W 11/07/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 970+ bomb Munich & Augsburg, Germany.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 580+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb sites on Gapennes, France
The Western Front: The new German Tiger II heavy tank saw frontline combat for the first time during the Normandy campaign against Canadian & British forces

Wednesday 12th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
USA Bataan Light Carrier withdrew Withdrawn for repair when the forward deck elevator failed completely on 12/07/1944. Arrived for refit & repair Hunters Point 30/07/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 170+ aircraft bomb aero engine plant, and aircraft factory at Munich. Germany.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 130+ aircraft with an escort by 140+ British Spitfires, attack 10 V-weapon sites in the Rouen area.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 300+ aircraft attack fuel dumps at Foret d'Andaine and Foret d'Ecouves, military concentrations at Foret de Cinglais, rail bridges at Merey, Cinq Mars-la-Pile, Saumur, Nantes, and Nogent-le-Roi, and other rail and road targets.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 420+ aircraft attack targets in SE France, scoring numerous hits on Nimes and Miramas, and cutting rail lines at Theoule-sur-Mer bridge and Var R bridge in Provence.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 150+ aircraft attack on railway yards in and around Paris
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 220+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb storage dump at Giverny, France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 230+ aircraft attack on flying-bomb sites at Bremont-les-Hautes
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 370+ aircraft attack on railway targets at Revigny, Culmont & Villeneuve
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces capture Idritsa.
The Italian Campaign: American forces capture  Lajatico.
The Western Front: Theodore Roosevelt Jr., 56, American politician, business leader and brigadier general dies of a heart attack, in Normandy, France

Thursday 13th July 1944
Daily Report
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 1,500+ aircraft attack Saarbrucken, Munich & Karlsruhe, Germany
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 580+ aircraft attack targets in NE Italy, hitting Verona, Mestre, Brescia, Mantua, Pinzano al Tagliamento railroad bridge, and oil storage at Porto Marghera and Trieste.
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces began the Lviv–Sandomierz Offensive.
The Nazis burn down the hospital in the Kovno Ghetto, killing hundreds of patients.

Friday 14th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-415 SubmarineLost Mined by a German mine, W of the torpedo-net barrier off Brest Harbour, 2 dead, 8 injured 14/07/1944
I-55 SubmarineLost Depth charged by American warship Miller, off Tinian Island, in the Pacific Ocean. An underwater explosion followed by oil & debris on the surface confirmed her loss, 112 dead, 0 survivors 15.18N 144.26E 14/07/1944
 
Politics

Operation Valkyrie: Claus von Stauffenberg attends Hitler's conferences carrying a bomb in his briefcase, but because the conspirators had decided that Heinrich Himmler and Hermann Göring should be killed simultaneously he held back at the last minute because Himmler was not present. In fact, it was unusual for Himmler to attend military conferences.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 430+ aircraft attack 4 oil refineries at Budapest and Petfurdo and at Mantua
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 110+ aircraft attack on flying-bomb sites at Andeleck & Les Landes
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 240+ aircraft attack on railway targets at Revigny & Villeneuve, France
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces began the Lviv–Sandomierz Offensive.
The Eastern Front:  Operation Ostra Brama ended in victory for the Polish Home Army when the German occupiers in Wilno were defeated, but the following day the Soviet NKVD entered the city and proceeded to intern the Polish fighters and arrest their officers.


The Eastern Front: Soviet forces capture Pinsk

Saturday 15th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
USA St Louis Light CruiserDamaged Damaged her starboard propeller shaft, and lost the propeller & 40' of shaft limiting her speed to 20 knots, she remained operational on 15/07/1944. Withdrawn from Marinas for repair 29/07/1944
Germany U-319 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British B-24 Liberator aircraft in the North Sea, WSW of the Lindesnes, Norway, 51 dead, 0 survivors 57.40N 05.00E 15/07/1944
 
Politics

Operation Valkyrie: Both Heinrich Himmler and Hermann Göring were present at the Wolfsschanze (Wolf's Lair) but Hitler was called out of the room at the last moment. Stauffenberg was able to intercept the bomb and prevent its discovery.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 600+ aircraft bomb 4 oil refineries in Ploesti area and Teleajenul pumping station, Romania
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 110+ aircraft attack on flying-bomb site at Bois-des-Jardins & V-1 dump at Nucourt
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 220+ aircraft attack on railway targets at Chalons-sur-Marne & Nevers
The Western Front: The Second Battle of the Odon began as part of the Battle of Normandy.
The Eastern Front: The Battle of Nietjärvi between Finnish & Soviet forces begins.

Sunday 16th July 1944
Daily Report
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 380+ aircraft attacked oil and aircraft targets in the Vienna area, bombing Munchendorf aircraft factory, Winterhafen oil depot, Vienna and Wiener Neudorf engine factory.
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces capture Grodno
The Italian Campaign: British forces capture Arezzo.

Monday 17th July 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The British executed Operation Mascot, a British carrier air raid against the German battleship Tirpitz anchored in northern Norway. But the attempt was unsuccessful.

Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-968 SubmarineDamaged Damaged by depth charges from British Liberator aircraft in the Norwegian Sea, the boat shot down attacking aircraft on 17/07/1944
Germany U-361 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British Catalina aircraft W of the Lofoten Islands, 52 dead, 0 survivors 68.35N 06.00E 17/07/1944
Germany U-347 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British Liberator aircraft W of Narvik, Norway 49 dead 0 survivors 68.36N 08.33E 17/07/1944
I-166 SubmarineLost Torpedoed by British submarine Telemachus, 7 miles off One Fathom Bank, Straits of Malacca. The boat was detected on the surface & hit by 1 torpedo in the stern. The boat sinks quickly whilst her crew on deck are blown into the water, 88 dead, 10 survivors 10.00N 103.45E 17/07/1944
 
Politics

The British government announced plans to build between 3 and 4 million houses in the decade following the end of the war.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 160+ aircraft attack railroad bridges at Avignon and railroad bridges at Aries and Tarascon.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 590+ aircraft attack 12 railroad bridges, 3 rail junctions, a railway chokepoint, a V-weapon supply site, an aircraft factory, and an oil storage dump in France.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 130+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb targets in Northern France
The Western Front: The Second Battle of the Odon ends in operational Allied success.
The Eastern Front: The Battle of Vuosalmi and the Battle of Nietjärvi both ended in Finnish victory.
The Port Chicago disaster occurred when a munitions explosion on a cargo vessel in Port Chicago, California killed 320 people.


The Western Front: German field marshal Erwin Rommel was seriously wounded when a Spitfire strafed his staff car near Livarot.

Tuesday 18th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Great Britain Frobisher Heavy CruiserDamaged Damaged by a bomb from German aircraft, off Arromanches, Normandy during Operation Overlord. Bomb hit blast shield to B turret, 6 dead, 12 injured 18/07/1944. Ship remained operational
Germany U-672 SubmarineLost Damaged by depth charges from British warship Balfour in the English Channel, NW of Alderney, the boat was forced to the surface, scuttled & abandoned by the crew, 0 dead, 52 survivors captured 50.03N 02.30W 18/07/1944
Germany U-742 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British Catalina aircraft in the Arctic Ocean, NW of Lofoten Island, 52 dead, 0 survivors 68.24N 09.51E 18/07/1944
Great Britain Cam FrigateDamaged Damaged by the explosion of her own depth charges, 22 miles off St. Catherine's Point, in the English Channel. Her stern was badly damaged on 18/07/1944. Constructive total loss
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 200+ aircraft attack Memmingen aircraft factory Dornier aircraft works at Manzell, and Casarsa della Delizia railroad bridge
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 400+ aircraft hit various military targets in support of British & Canadian ground forces in the Caen area, and later in the day bomb rail and highway bridges beyond the front lines.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 430+ aircraft attack targets in Germany, including Hemmingstedt oil refinery, Kiel port area, Peenemunde experimental establishment, scientific HQ at Zinnowitz, Cuxhaven, and Stralsund. 454 fighters fly supporting sorties. 3 HBs and 3 FTRs are lost. 571 B-24s (in conjunction with Ninth AF and RAF BC) bomb enemy equipment and troop concentrations in spt of assault by the British Second Army in the Caen area. 90 RAF Spitfires fly uneventful spt for the HBs.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 450+ aircraft attack enemy equipment and troop concentrations in support of assault by the British Second Army in the Caen area.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 940+ aircraft attack on Normandy battlefront in support of British & Canadian forces during Operation Goodwood at Caen. Two German divisions were badly affected.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 150+ aircraft attack on synthetic-oil plant at Scholven-Buer, Germany
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 190+ aircraft attack on synthetic-oil plant at Wesseling, Germany
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 250+ aircraft attack on Railway lines at Aulnoye & Revigny
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces began the Lublin–Brest Offensive as part of Operation Bagration.

Wednesday 19th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Oi Light CruiserLost Torpedoed by American submarine Flasher, 570 miles S of Hong Kong, in the South China Sea. The ship was hit in the aft engine room which flooded, she eventually sank stern first, with 153 dead, 368 survivors 13.12N 114.52E 19/07/1944
Germany U-968 SubmarineDamaged Damaged by depth charges from British Liberator aircraft in the Norwegian Sea, 1 dead, 6 injured, 19/07/1944
I-5 SubmarineLost Depth charged & hedgehog bombs from American warship Wyman, 360 miles E of Guam, in the Pacific Ocean. The boat had been detected on the surface & crash-dived as Wyman approached. The loss was not confirmed until later, 130 dead, 0 survivors 13.01N 151.58E 19/07/1944
Ro-48 SubmarineLost Lost cause unknown E of Saipan, in the Pacific Ocean. 76 dead, 0 survivors 13.01N 151.58E 19/07/1944
 
Politics

The 1944 Democratic National Convention opened in Chicago, Illinois.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 1,100+ aircraft attack targets in Germany, including 2 plants producing hydrogen peroxide (an ingredient in V-weapon fuels), a chemical plant, 2 aircraft factories, 4 ball bearing plants, 4 aircraft factories, and a river dam.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 400+ aircraft bomb an ordnance depot, an aircraft factory, a motor works, and an aircraft factory in the Munich area.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid,260+ aircraft bomb bridges on the Loire and Seine and a fuel dump at Bruz.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 130+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb targets in Northern France
The Western Front: The Battle of Verrières Ridge begins as part of the Battle of Normandy.
The Italian Campaign: American forces capture the port city of Livorno.

Thursday 20th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Great Britain Isis DestroyerLost Mined by German mine whilst on patrol off Seine Bay, Normandy, during Operation Overlord. Ship sank quickly 15 dead 20/07/1944
 
Politics

Operation Valkyrie: An assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler, perpetrated by Claus von Stauffenberg and other conspirators within the German military. At 12:42 p.m. during a conference at the Wolf's Lair, a bomb that Stauffenberg had concealed inside a briefcase went off, killing a stenographer and leaving three officers near death. The others in the room, including Hitler himself, were wounded but survived.

Position of the attendees

The building following the explosion

Hitler's trousers following the explosion

Communication declaring Hitlers death

Operation Valkyrie: Stauffenberg flew to Berlin to carry out the next step of the military coup, but the plan stalled when he was unable to get confirmation that Hitler was dead. A radio broadcast at 6:30 p.m. reported that Hitler had survived and the situation became increasingly confused. By the end of the day, the coup had failed and Hitler loyalists began arresting the conspirators.

Operation Valkyrie: Italian leader Benito Mussolini arrives at the train station of the Wolf's Lair as scheduled at 4.00 pm and was surprised to see Hitler with his right arm in a sling. After learning of what had happened Mussolini was unsure of what he should do and considered leaving immediately, but he went ahead with his requests that included two Italian divisions to be sent from Germany and a pardon for four Italian naval officers who had just been condemned to death. Hitler convinced that his remarkable escape was a sure sign of victory, was in a gracious mood and agreed to grant Mussolini almost everything he'd asked for. It would be the final meeting between the two dictators.


American President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the Democratic National Convention after being nominated for an unprecedented fourth presidential term. 

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 450+ aircraft bomb aircraft factory at Memmingen, and aircraft factory, Zeppelin works, and aircraft factory at Friedrichshafen.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 370+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb targets in Northern France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 150+ aircraft attack on synthetic-oil plant at Homberg, Germany
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 160+ aircraft attack on synthetic-oil plant at Bottrop, Germany
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 300+ aircraft attack on railway 'triangle' at Courtrai, Belgium
V-Weapons Campaign: General Pile of the British Anti-Aircraft Command sets up a new defence system against V-1 attacks

Other

An annular solar eclipse was visible in Asia and was the 35th solar eclipse of Solar Saros 135.

Friday 21st July 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Guam began.

Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-212 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British warships Curzon & Ekins, in the English Channel, S of Brighton, 49 dead, 0 survivors 50.27.6N 00.13W 21/07/1944
 
Politics

Operation Valkyrie: At 1 a.m., Hitler gave a speech over the radio to prove to the German people that he was still alive. He declared that the conspirators would be "exterminated quite mercilessly."

Operation Valkyrie: At 1 a.m., Claus von Stauffenberg, his aide 1st Lieutenant Werner von Haeften, General Friedrich Olbricht and Colonel Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim were executed in the courtyard of the The Bendlerblock Headquarters of the German Army
Operation Valkyrie: German troops poured into Berlin the day after the attempt on Hitler's life.
Democratic vice presidential nomination of 1944: On the final day of the Democratic National Convention, Harry S. Truman won the vice presidential nomination due to dissatisfaction among party leaders with the incumbent Vice President Henry A. Wallace.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 360+ aircraft bomb Brux synthetic oil refinery and at Mestre.

Saturday 22nd July 1944
Daily Report
Politics

Kuniaki Koiso replaced Hideki Tojo as Prime Minister of Japan.


The Soviet-controlled Polish Committee of National Liberation was officially proclaimed in Chelm.
The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference concluded in New Hampshire.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 240+ aircraft attack aircraft factories at Juvincourt-et-Damary, Laon/Athies, and Creil.

Other

Majdanek concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army, the first concentration camp to be liberated by Allied forces. The Soviet advance was so rapid that the SS fled before evidence of what went on in the camp could be destroyed. When Soviet officials invited journalists to the site, the full extent of Nazi atrocities began to be known to the world.

Sunday 23rd July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Norway Glaisdale Destroyer EscortDamaged Damaged by the German acoustic mine of Juno Beach, Normandy in the English Channel. Her starboard engine was seriously damaged on 23/07/1944. Arrived Portsmouth 24/07/1944. Her damage was surveyed at Portsmouth on 25/07/1944. Withdrawn from operational service 02/08/1944. Laid up at Hartlepool 09/1944
 
Politics

Operation Valkyrie: SS leader Heinrich Himmler launched a manhunt to catch the conspirators in the 20 July Bomb Plot.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 330+ aircraft bomb rail bridges along Argentan-Paris and Lisieux-Bernay-Evreux railroads, and hit fuel dumps at Foret de Conches.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 110+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb sites at Les Hauts Buissins, France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 120+ aircraft attack on oil refinery & storage at Donges, France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 630+ aircraft attack on Kiel, Germany. U-boat yards & naval facilities hit
The Eastern Front: The Lwów Uprising, an armed insurrection of the Home Army in Poland against the Nazi German occupiers, began in the city of Lwów.
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces captured Pskov and drove Germans completely from the Soviet Union.

Monday 24th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
USA Colorado BattleshipDamaged Damaged by gunfire from Japanese shore batteries, at Tinian Island, in the Pacific Ocean, during the Battle of Tinian. The ship was providing gunfire support to landing forces when she was hit by 22 shells, the ship remained operational on 24/07/1944. Withdrawn for repair 03/08/1944
USA Norman Scott DestroyerDamaged Damaged by gunfire from Japanese shore batteries, at Tinian Island, in the Pacific Ocean, during the Battle of Tinian. The ship was drawing gunfire from the American warship Colorado when she was hit 6 times, 23 dead, and 57 injured on 24/07/1944. Departed Saipan after temporary repair on 28/07/1944. Arrived for repair at Mare Island Navy Yard 10/10/1944. Appeared in RKO-Pathe film during repair
Germany U-1164 SubmarineLost Bombed by British forces Kiel 24/07/1944. Constructive total loss
Great Britain Goathland Destroyer EscortDamaged Damaged by a German mine, 17 miles NNE of Courseuiles, in the Seine Bay, Normandy, during Operation Overlord. Mine caused serious flooding & structural damage. Her turbines & generators are damaged and her propeller shafts are bent 24/07/1944. Towed to the UK 25/07/1944. Constructive total loss.
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 200+ aircraft attack tank repair and ball bearing works in Turin, the harbour at Genoa, aircraft factories at Valence/La Tresorerie and Les Chanoines, and troop concentrations at Sjenica, Prijepolje, Pljevlja, and Andrijevica.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 100+ aircraft attack on oil refinery & storage at Donges, France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 110+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb sites in Ferfay. France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 460+ aircraft attack on Stuttgart, Germany. The Centre of the city destroyed
The Western Front: The Battle of Saint-Lô ended in Allied victory.
The Eastern Front: The Battle of Tinian began in the Mariana Islands.
The Eastern Front: The Soviets began another Narva Offensive.

Tuesday 25th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-244 SubmarineDamaged Damaged by depth charge attack & strafing from Norwegian Mosquito aircraft, off the Norwegian coast 1 dead, 8 injured 25/07/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 420+ aircraft bomb Hermann Goring tank works in Linz.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 130+ aircraft attack on Krupp oil refinery & storage at Wanne-Eickel, Germany
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 410+ aircraft attack on Stuttgart, Germany.
The Eastern Front: The Battle of Auvere in Estonia ends in a German defensive victory.
The Eastern Front: The Battle of Tannenberg Line begins
The Western Front: The Battle of Verrières Ridge in France ended in German defensive success.
The Western Front: American forces began Operation Cobra in Normandy.

Wednesday 26th July 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: President Roosevelt gathered his Pacific commanders at Pearl Harbor for a two-day conference on strategy in the Pacific. Douglas MacArthur supported an advance on the Philippines while Chester Nimitz argued for making Formosa the first priority. Roosevelt listened impartially and made no decision at the time.

Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-214 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British warship Cooke in the English Channel NW of Guernsey, 48 dead, 0 survivors 49.58N 03.30W 26/07/1944
Germany U-2323 SubmarineLost Mined by British mine, W of Moltenort, 2 dead, 12 survivors 26/07/1944
I-29 SubmarineLost Torpedoed by American submarine Sawfish, the western entrance to the Balintang Channel, Luzon Strait. The boat was torpedoed on the surface. She was hit by 3 torpedoes & sank quickly. 3 lookouts were blown overboard but only one survived 105 dead, and 1 survivor 20.10N 121.55E 26/07/1944. Lost with the boat that had travelled from German-occupied France were 20 enigma machines, the engine parts for the German V-1 doodlebug flying bomb, torpedo boats, the Me-163 Komet rocket interceptor & Me-262 jet fighter, plus plans for acoustic mines, the Henschel Hs 293A radio-controlled rocket powered glide bomb, German radar equipment & bauxite. Blueprints also carried by the boat were flown ahead from Singapore to Tokyo & were used by the Japanese to build the Nakajima Kikka & Mitsubishi J8MI Shusui aircraft.
USA Robalo Submarine Lost Mined by a Japanese mine, off Palawan Island, Philippines. Mine exploded near her aft battery room, 56 dead, 4 survivors captured 08.25N 117.53E 26/07/1944. The 4 survivors managed to make it ashore & they made their way through the jungle before being captured by Japanese Military Police & accused of guerrilla activities. They were then taken on board Japanese warships Akakaze or Yunagi, which both sank on 15/08/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 170+ aircraft attack on railway yards at Givors, France
The Eastern Front: The Battle for Narva Bridgehead ended after almost six months when German forces withdrew.
The Eastern Front: Finnish forces begin the Battle of Ilomantsi.

Thursday 27th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-865 Submarine Damaged Damaged by depth charges from British Liberator aircraft near Trondheim 27/07/1944
Soviet Union V 01 SubmarineLost Bombed in error by British Liberator aircraft on route to Russia, all crew & British Liaison officers were lost  on 27/07/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 360+ aircraft bomb armament works at Budapest.
The Eastern Front: The Lwów Uprising ends in Polish victory and the liberation of the city from the Nazis, although the Polish fighters would shortly afterwards be arrested by the invading Soviets.
The Eastern Front: The Belostock Offensive ended in Soviet victory.
The Western Front: Operation Spring ends in German tactical success but Allied strategic victory.

Friday 28th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-1166 SubmarineDamaged Damaged by a torpedo explosion at Eckernforde, 28/07/1944. Not repaired
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 340+  attack 2 oil refineries at Ploesti and Fiorina.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 650+ aircraft attacked a synthetic oil plant at Merseburg, Wiesbaden and an aircraft engine factory at Taucha.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 370+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb targets & storage at Pas de Calais, France
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 300+ aircraft attack on Hamburg, Germany.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 490+ aircraft attack on Stuttgart, Germany.
The Western Front: The first objective of Operation Cobra was met when American forces took Coutances.
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces began the Kaunas Offensive as part of Operation Bagration.

Saturday 29th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany T 02 DestroyerDamaged Bombed by American aircraft at Deschimag Shipyard, Bremen 29/07/1944. Raised 27/09/1944 Not repaired
Germany T 07 DestroyerDamaged Bombed by American aircraft at Deschimag Shipyard, Bremen 29/07/1944. Raised 25/10/1944. Not repaired
Germany U-872 SubmarineLost Bombed by American aircraft at Bremen, 1 dead, 3 injured 29/07/1944
 
Military

The Eastern Front: Radio Moscow broadcast appeals from Polish communists for Warsaw to rise up against the German occupiers.

Sunday 30th July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-250 SubmarineLost Depth charged by the Soviet submarine chaser MO-103, in the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Finland, 46 dead, 6 survived captured, 60.28N 28.25E 30/07/1944. Soviets raised a U-boat recovering an Enigma machine & German acoustic torpedo on 25/09/1944. British technical team wanted to examine the boat, torpedo & Enigma machine but were refused by the Soviets.
 
Politics

The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Sansapor begins with American forces making amphibious landings around Sansapor, Dutch New Guinea.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 300+ aircraft attack Duna aircraft factory and aircraft factory at Budapest.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 450+ aircraft bomb defences in the Chaumont area in support of American forces.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time British air raid, 690+ aircraft attack on Normandy battlefront in support of American forces in the Villers Bocage-Caumont area.
The Eastern Front: The Narva July Offensive ends in Soviet victory.
The Western Front: During the Battle of Normandy the British Army began Operation Bluecoat with the goal of capturing Vire and Mont Pinçon.

Monday 31st July 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-333 SubmarineLost Depth charged & Squid bomb attack from British warship Loch Killin & Starling in the North Atlantic, W of the Scilly Isles, 45 dead, 0 survivors 49.39N 07.28W 31/07/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 360+ aircraft bomb 2 oil refineries at Bucharest, 1 each at Ploesti and Doicesti, and oil storage at Targoviste.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 500+ aircraft attack bridges on the Seine, Loire, Mayenne, and Ruisseau la Forge Rivers and a fuel dump at Foret de la Guerche.
Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 200+ aircraft attack on V-1 Flying-bomb sites at Foret de Nieppe, France
The Western Front: Operation Cobra ends in an Allied victory.
The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Noemfoor ended in an Allied victory.
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces reach Praga, a district of Warsaw on the east bank of the Vistula.
The Eastern Front: Soviet forces in the north reached the Gulf of Riga, cutting off German Army Group North, which could now only be resupplied by sea.