Chronology of World War II
Germans 15 miles from Kiev
Friday, July 11, 1941 www.onwar.com

On the Eastern Front... Panzer Group 1 renews its advance toward Kiev and reaches to within 15 miles of the city. The Soviet State Defense Committee establishes three new command areas for the Red Army. Marshal Voroshilov is to command in the North (Northwest Front), Marshal Timoshenko the central West Front, and Marshal Budenny the Southwest Front.

In Washington... Roosevelt asks Congress for $3,323,000,000 for the navy and the Maritime Commission. He also appoints William Donovan to head a new civilian intelligence agency with the title "coordinator of defense information." This appointment will lead to the creation of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) which in turn will develop into the modern CIA.

In Syria... Despite instructions from Vichy France forbidding him to do so, General Dentz accepts the Allied armistice terms. The cease-fire begins at 2100 hours. The casualties in the campaign have been about 2500 on the Allied side and 3500 among the Vichy French forces. In addition the Vichy authorities have had a number of prisoners flown out to Europe including a few after the armistice terms forbidding this have been agreed.


This chronological study of the Second World War provides a comprehensive day-by-day account of WWII. While focused on the military history of the war, with an emphasis on the battles and campaigns fought, the timeline includes social and political history as well. Some Holocaust related events are already recorded and additional updates are pending. In so far as possible, the images included in this presentation are pictures from the given days. Additional information and images are welcome through the feedback form found on the index.