Chronology of World War II

Thursday, July 1, 1943

In Rome... Marshal Antonescu, the Romanian leader, visits Mussolini to suggest that Italy, Romania and Hungary should leave the war together. Mussolini is unwilling to commit to such a move.

In the Solomon Islands... The marines from Segi Point capture Viru Harbor.

Friday, July 2, 1943

In the Solomon Islands... The American buildup on Rendova Island continues but the Japanese garrison continues to resist. During the night a Japanese naval force bombards the American positions with little effect.

Saturday, July 3, 1943

In New Guinea... Australian forces, advancing from Wau, are heavily engaged by Japanese forces around Mubo. During the day, the Australians link up with the Americans from the Nassau Bay landing force in the Bitoi River region.

In the Solomon Islands... On New Georgia, American forces land at Zanana, about 8 miles east of Munda. There is no Japanese resistance and the beachhead is quickly consolidated.

Sunday, July 4, 1943

From London... After General Sikorski is killed in an airplane accident, Mikolajczyk becomes the prime minister of the Polish exile government based in London. General Kukiel is appointed Commander in Chief in place of Sikorski. The new commander of the Polish Home Army is Bor-Komorowski.

In the Solomon Islands... On New Georgia, US forces advancing from Zanana to Munda encounter heavy Japanese resistance. The Japanese land 1200 troops from 3 destroyers at Vila on Kolombangara.

Monday, July 5, 1943

On the Eastern Front... The battle of Kursk begins. After several delays, the German summer offensive is launched against the Soviet held salient centered on Kursk. To the north of the salient, the German 9th Army (General Model) attacks southward against the Soviet Central Front (General Rokossovsky). To the south, 4th Panzer Army (General Hoth) and Army Detachment Kempf (General Kempf) strike northward against the Soviet Voronezh Front (General Vatutin). The Soviet Steppe Front (General Konev) is held in reserve. Marshal Zhukov and Mashal Vasilievsky are STAVKA representatives for the battles in the north and south, respectively. The Germans hope to eliminate the Kursk salient and, with it, a Soviet capability to launch an offensive in 1943. The Soviets have prepared extensive defenses and anticipate the German offensive. A disruptive bombardment is carried out shortly before the German forces are scheduled to begin attacking. When the offensive does get under way, progress is relatively slow and casualties are relatively high on both sides.

In the Solomon Islands... On New Georgia, American force of regimental strength lands in the north at Rice Anchorage. Fighting on the Zanana-Munda track continues. During the night (July 5-6) Japanese destroyers bring nearly 3000 more troops to Vila. Admiral Ainsworth, with 3 cruisers and 4 destroyers, engages elements of the Japanese force and sinks one destroyer while losing the cruiser Helena.

Tuesday, July 6, 1943

On the Eastern Front... The battle of Kursk continues. In the north the German 9th Army has advanced about 6 miles into the first Soviet defensive line. In the south, the forces of Army Group South have penetrated 10 miles into the Soviet defenses. There is heavy rainfall on the southern battlefield.

In the Solomon Islands... A second Japanese destroyer, from the force that delivered troops to New Georgia, is sunk by air attack. The fighting on New Georgia continues along the Barike River.

In the Aleutian Islands... An American force (4 cruisers and 4 destroyers) led by Admiral Giffen bombards Japanese positions on Kiska Island.

Wednesday, July 7, 1943

On the Eastern Front... The battle of Kursk continues. Model's 9th Army forces make only a small advance in the Central Front defenses. In the southern battlefield, the forces of Hoth's 4th Panzer Army nearly breaks through Voronezh Front defenses around Syrtzevo but Soviet armored counterattacks prevent it.

In New Guinea... Japanese positions at Mubo are bombed. Australian forces capture Observation Hill about one mile from Mubo.

Thursday, July 8, 1943

On the Eastern Front... The battle of Kursk continues. The German advance in the north is less than one mile. To the south the German commanders remain hopeful of a breakthrough but the rate of attrition remains high. Soviet strong points prove difficult to overcome. Meanwhile, Red Army counterattacks, with armor, prevent substantial gains.

In the Solomon Islands... On New Georgia, US forces make some gains near the Barike River.

In the Atlantic... The British Home Fleet cruises off Norway but the Germans fail to notice them. The British intention is to draw attention away from the Mediterranean operations.

Friday, July 9, 1943

In Sicily... Operation Husky. The invasion of Sicily begins. The landing force is concentrated around Malta. There are 1200 transports and 2000 landing craft which will land elements of 8 divisions. In the evening, there are airborne landings by the US 82nd Airborne Division and British units which cause disruption in the Axis defenses, although they do not manage to seize their objectives. The Italian 6th Army (General Guzzoni) is responsible for the defense of Sicily. There are a total of about 240,000 troops (a quarter of which are Germans).

On the Eastern Front... The battle of Kursk continues. The German advance is bogged down. Active Soviet defenses are wearing down the attacking German forces.

In the Solomon Islands... On New Georgia American forces attack toward Munda. Heavy Japanese resistance limits the advance. Meanwhile, Americans send reinforcements to Rendova and the Japanese send reinforcements to Kolombangara.

Saturday, July 10, 1943

On the Eastern Front... The battle of Kursk continues. The northern attack, by Model's 9th Army, is stalled. The southern attack by 4th Panzer Army and Army Detachment Kempf has sufficiently reduced the forces of Vatutin's Voronezh Front to cause the release of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army from the Steppe Front.

In Sicily... Operation Husky. The Allied landings begin. Patton's 7th Army lands in the Gulf of Gela between Licata and Scoglitti. The US 7th Army captures Gela, Licata and Vittoria during the day, against slight opposition. The British land between Syracuse and the southwest tip of the island. They capture Syracuse by the end of the day. The Italian defenders have been caught off guard.

In the Solomon Islands... The American attack on New Georgia is held by the Japanese. American troops are having difficulty receiving supplies.

In New Guinea... A further linking up of Australian and American forces cuts off the Japanese forces in Mubo from Salamaua.

Sunday, July 11, 1943

In Sicily... The British advance almost unopposed. Palazzolo is taken. On the coast, there is a halt late in the day at Priolo. The American forces encounter resistance in their advance. The German Panzer Division "Hermann Goring" strikes toward American held Gela from its positions around Caltagirone. Allied naval bombardment forces the German forces to retire.

On the Eastern Front... The battle of Kursk continues. The southern battlefield continues to be active.

Monday, July 12, 1943

On the Eastern Front... The battle of Kursk continues. Elements of the 4th Panzer Army, on the southern battlefield, make a final attack in the direction of Prokhorovka but Soviet forces blunt the attack. Soviet offensive further south, near Taganrog and Stalino, threaten the position German Army Group South. To the north of the Kursk salient, the Soviet counteroffensive toward Orel begins by forces of the West Front (westward from Novosil) and Bryansk Front (southward from between Kozelsk and Sukhinichi). At the end of the day Hitler orders an end to the German offensive.

In Sicily... The Panzer Division "Hermann Goring" resumes attacks on American positions in the morning but withdraws to face the more threatening British advance in the afternoon. The German 15th Panzergrenadier Division proceeds to pressure the Americans after arriving from the west of the island. The British continue to advance toward Augusta, in spite of Italian and German resistance, and capture Lentini.

In the Solomon Islands... Off Kolombangara, Admiral Ainsworth's Task Force (3 cruisers and 10 destroyers) encounter a Japanese squadron (1 cruiser and 9 destroyers) under the command of Admiral Izaki. The Japanese cruiser obliterated by the radar-directed gunfire of the American cruisers but the Japanese sink one destroyer and damage two cruisers with torpedo attacks.

Over Germany... The Battle of the Ruhr. The final bombing raids in the British Bomber Command (commanded by Air Marshal Harris) effort against the Ruhr industrial area of Germany is conducted. A total of 43 raids have been conducted. About 1000 British aircraft have been lost in the effort.

Tuesday, July 13, 1943

In New Guinea... The Japanese positions at Mubo are overrun and their force is wiped out.

On the Eastern Front... Forces of German Army Group South continue to make local attacks on the southern neck of the Kursk salient. Meanwhile, to the north of the salient, both Soviet pincers make good progress toward Orel.

In the Solomon Islands... American reinforcements arrive on Rendova and New Georgia. The attack on New Georgia makes more progress against, continued, heavy Japanese resistance.

In Sicily... The British 5th Division captures Augusta. Other British units are engaged by the German Panzer Division "Hermann Goring" around Vizzini. During the night Dempsey's 8th Corps launches a drive toward Catania, attacking around Lentini.

Wednesday, July 14, 1943

On the Eastern Front... Forces of German Army Group South continue to make local attacks on the southern neck of the Kursk salient. Meanwhile, to the north of the salient, both Soviet pincers make good progress toward Orel.

In Sicily... The main British and American forces continue to advance evenly along the entire front. American units capture Biscani airfield and Niscemi. British units capture Vizzini.

Thursday, July 15, 1943

On the Eastern Front... The Soviet Central Front (Rokossovsky) joins the offensive drive toward Orel. In the south of the Kursk salient, German forces of Army Group South (Manstein) begin to pull back to their start lines. Soviet forces press forward against the retreating Germans.

In Sicily... General Patton forms a provisional corps to advance on the west of the island while US 2nd Corps (Bradley) drives northward. In Catania the Axis forces retreat behind the Simeto River.

In the Solomon Islands... General Griswold replaces General Hester in command of operation in New Georgia. There is an air battle over Rendova in which the Americans lose 3 aircraft and claim to shoot down more than 40 Japanese planes.

In Washington... President Roosevelt creates a new office of economic warfare, headed by Leo Crowley. It replaces the previous board.

Friday, July 16, 1943

In Sicily... The US 3rd Division attacks Agrigento and Porto Empedocle. The Canadian 1st Division captures Caltagirone advances toward Piazza Armerina. The British 50th Division crosses the Simeto River. Its bridgehead is later reinforced by armor.

From London and Washington... Roosevelt and Churchill issue a joint statement calling for an Italian surrender and the overthrow of Mussolini.

In Italy... Fascist politicians begin plotting the removal of Mussolini.

On the Eastern Front... The German withdrawal on the southern neck of the Kursk salient continues under Soviet pressure.

Saturday, July 17, 1943

On the Eastern Front... The Soviet offensive toward Orel is slowed by counterattacks by German armored units. To the south, the German fighting withdrawal from the Kursk salient continues. Farther south, the Soviet Southwest Front (Malinovsky) begins attacks around Voroshilovgrad.

In the Solomon Islands... Americans conduct a large air raid on Bougainville. Shipping offshore and airfields between Buin and Faisi are targeted. One Japanese destroyer is sunk.

In New Guinea... Elements of the Australian 3rd and American 41st Divisions move toward Salamaua in a holding action against the Japanese.

In Sicily... US forces capture Agrigento and Porto Empedocle.

Sunday, July 18, 1943

In Sicily... Americans take Caltanisetta and cut the Palermo-Enna road to the north. East of Enna, Canadian forces capture Valguarnera. On the east coast, Dempsey's forces are stalled north of the Simeto River.

Monday, July 19, 1943

In Italy... Hitler and Mussolini meet at Feltre in northern Italy. Hitler demands more effort from the Italians while Mussolini remains silent.

In Sicily... American forces advance quickly to the north and west. On the east coast, the British continue to be held. Montgomery alters the weight of his offensive further inland toward Gerbini, Agira and Leonforte.

On the Eastern Front... The Soviet offensives toward Orel and Kharkov continue. In the Orel salient, the Red Army now threatens Bolkhov.

Tuesday, July 20, 1943

In Sicily... Canadian troops capture Enna and advance to Leonforte. American troops reach Menfi in the south of the island.

In Washington... Roosevelt directs that information about atomic research is to be shared with the British.

On the Eastern Front... Popov's Bryansk Front captures Mtsensk.

In the Solomon Islands... New American forces take over the front on New Georgia. New road construction alleviates the supply problem. Two Japanese destroyers are sunk during a supply mission.

Wednesday, July 21, 1943

On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Bolkhov in the Orel offensive.

In Sicily... The Allied advances continue. The British capture Gerbini, the Canadians take Leonforte and the Americans occupy Corleone and Castelvetrano.

In Italy... The Italian naval base at Crotone is bombarded.

In the Solomon Islands... A small American force lands on Vella Lavella to determine whether significant forces can be landed there, by-passing the Japanese stronghold of Kolombangara. On New Georgia, Griswald plans an new offensive.

Thursday, July 22, 1943

In Sicily... American forces enter Palermo and isolate 50,000 Italian troops in the west of the island. The Axis mobile forces, including most of the German forces, escape to the northeast corner of the island.

In the Aleutian Islands... US naval forces (2 battleships and 4 cruisers as well as lighter units) bombard Japanese held Kiska Island.

Friday, July 23, 1943

On the Eastern Front... The German forces engaged on the southern battlefield of the Kursk salient reach their original starting positions (for the battle of Kursk) under continued Soviet pressure.

In Sicily... Americans occupy Trapani and Marsala. On the north coast, US forces reach Termini Imerese.

Saturday, July 24, 1943

Over Germany... Hamburg is bombed by RAF Bomber Command during the night (July 24-25). About 780 bombers drop 2300 tons of bombs. This raid is the first time that "window" is used by the RAF. It consists of strips of metal foil dropped from supporting aircraft to confuse German radar by giving false echoes. It is very successful at this time.

In Rome... The Fascist Grand Council meets for the first time since December 1939. The debate and voting suggest the Mussolini is no longer in control.

In Sicily... The US 45th Division captures Cefalu, on the northern coast. Inland, American units advance on Nicosia.

Sunday, July 25, 1943

In Rome... Mussolini is summoned to meet with the King of Italy in the afternoon and relieved of his offices. He is arrest upon leaving the meeting. Marshal Badoglio is selected to form a new government.

In Sicily... American forces in north encounter heavy resistance to further advances. British and Canadian forces launch converging attacks on Agira, in the central region. Allied reinforcemtns, including the US 9th Division and Britsh 78th Divisions arrive from North Africa.

In the Solomon Islands... A new American offensive begins. The US 43rd and 37th Divisions are supplemented with the 25th Division. Some progress is made near Bartley Ridge.

Monday, July 26, 1943

In Rome... Marshal Badoglio forms a new government and declares martial law. He public claims loyalty to the Axis alliance with Germany.

In the Solomon Islands... US forces continue to make slow progress with heavy air and artillery support. Tanks and flame throwers are also used.

Tuesday, July 27, 1943

In Sicily... Heavy fighting takes place at Agira and Nicosia.

Wednesday, July 28, 1943

In the Solomon Islands... On New Georgia the American attack continues. The present objective is Horseshoe Hill. Two Japanese destroyers are sunk by aircraft near Rabaul.

In the Aleutian Islands...The Japanese evacuate most of their garrison on Kiska Island with being detected by American forces.

In Sicily... Nicosia is captured by American troops and Agira is taken by Canadians.

Thursday, July 29, 1943

On the Eastern Front... The 3rd Panzer Corps strikes Soviet positions on the Mius River, north of Taganrog, without success.

In London... The minister of labor, Ernie Bevin, announces that women up to age 50 must register for war work. It is an indication of the strain on labor resources in Britain resulting from mobilization for war.

In Sicily... The British 78th Division arrives at the front and attacks toward Paterno.

Friday, July 30, 1943

In Sicily... US forces are engaged on the outskirts of Santo Stefano and Troina. British forces capture Catenanouva. Off the west coast, the Egadi Islands surrender to the the Allies.

Saturday, July 31, 1943

In Sicily... The US 45th Division occupies Santo Stefano. British and Canadian units move toward Regalbuto and Centuripe.