 American built M-3 Grant tank arrives to bolster British 8th Army's tanks forces |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
 German infantry advance through the rubble strewn streets of Rostov |
July 14, 1942 British forces follow-up attacks on
"Kidney Ridge" at El Alamein. Minor advances are made against heavy
opposition.. 4th Panzer Army is redirected south to assist in taking the Caucuses with Army Group A. July 15, 1942 Soviet forces abandon Millerovo, half
way between Kharkov and Stalingrad. Also, Kamensk on the Donetz river was
abandoned. German commanders begin to express concern in that they have captured
less than 80,000 Soviet forces since the start of the offensive, much less than
what had been planned and expected. New Zealand forces begin attacks on
Rommel's forces at "Kidney Ridge". The attacks are met by tenacious
German resistance, but at the end of the day, the key ridge is cleared.
Meanwhile, the Italian Brescia and Pavia divisions are routed, forcing Rommel to
send German troops north to stablize the situation, ending his hopes at a
meaningful attack in the south. British cryptographers broke the German
anti-aircraft unit ciphers. The "Weasel" cipher was particularly important
because it allowed the Allies to track the important 88mm AT/AA units. The first 2000 Dutch Jews were deported to Auschwitz. New Zealand forces
succeed in routing the Germans from the "Kidney" Ridge positions. The
British take 2,600 prisoners and capture 115 guns. El Alamein, and eastern
Egypt, has been saved. July 18, 1942 Soviet forces are in full retreat on the southern front as German forces capture Voroshilovgrad in the Donets Basin. July 19, 1942 The French Gestapo initiated the "Family Hostage Law" whereby if any French "terrorist' identified by the German occupation forces did not surrender within 10 days of their "crime", all adult male relatives would be executed, adult females would be sent to concentration camps and children would become charges of the Germans state. July 20, 1942 Operation Eagle commences as the
Germans attack Russian partisan positions in the Chechivichi area of
Byelorussia. Soviet counterattacks succeeded in eliminating the German bridgehead on the east bank of the Don at Vorohezh. 16,000 Japanese troops land at Buna,
new Guinea. The US military reports that since the
beginning of the war, 44,143 soldiers have been killed, wounded or are missing. Commonwealth infantry attack at El Alamein attempting to breach the Axis fixed positions. The British 8th Army, with a
new complement of 323 tanks (against Rommel's 92) attacks. Auchinleck's
forces manage to loose 131 tanks and 2,600 prisoners were taken by the Germans. Lt. Kurt Waldheim (who would become
Austrian PM) is awarded the Silver Medal by the Croats for his outstanding work
in determining the number of trucks needed to deport innocent civilians out of
partisan controlled areas. German forces enter Rostov. Heavy
house-to-house fighting erupts in the city. The Treblinka death camp is opened. The Germans begin moving the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto to the new camp, the vast majority would be murdered upon arrival. Japanese forces begin
landing the 18th Army at Buna and Gona on the northern coast of
Papua. The operation is intended to take Port Morseby. 1st Panzer Army captures Rostov-on-Don, unhinging the Soviet defensive positions in the far south. The armies are now free to move to the Caucasus. German forces capture Novocherkassk, northeast of Rostov. Auchinleck suspends offensive operations at El Alamein after three days of heavy fighting which bags 7,000 Axis prisoners. Exhausted by the efforts, the British 8th Army begins to dig in. The German 6th Army launches
attacks against the Soviet bridgeheads west of the Don at Kalach. The Soviets
hang on with grim determination and the attacks fail. The Germans cross the Don
River at Rostov and occupy Bataysk. British Bomber Command launches an "all out effort" sending 403 bombers against Hamburg. Heavy damage was reported as 337 civilians were killed, and 14,000 were homeless after the bombs and fires destroyed 823 homes. British losses in the raid were heavy - 29 planes (7.2%). 1941 Archive: 1942 Archive: Special Editions: Editor's Corner Archive: The Past Through Tomorrow "It is quite frightening to realize just how similar our nation's actions have been and appear to be heading when compared this way..." Afghanistan and Vietnam: When the "war against terrorism" began, many knowledgeable people warned that our operations in Afghanistan would turn into another Vietnam. Want to Win - Think Before You Lash Out - "If we are serious about taking the war to the enemy, it is time to look ..." The First Fight Against Fascism - We must remember the Spanish Civil War also. Arguing Victory - "... Each nation who fought against fascist tyranny in WWII brought with it part of whole needed to defeat that evil..." War, Glory, Honor and Remembrance - "War is a brutal and savage insult on human society..." The
First Casualty... in time of war, those in power are even more inclined to hide the truth,
since that truth is often manifest in the most gruesome and terrible
acts. Those wishing to contribute items. stories or comments should contact D.A. Friedrichs |