 German panzer troops advance to the attack in the Russian steppes |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
 Germans move into the ruins of Sevastopl |
German panzer troops advance to the attack in the Russian steppes |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
Germans move into the ruins of Sevastopl |
June 16,
1942 The cruiser HMS Hermione is sunk by torpedoes from German submarine U205, north of Sollum (87 sailors are lost). A convoy from Gibraltar to Malta made it to its destination but the convoy from Alexandria to Malta/Tobruk was forced back by air attacks. Working off information from a Czech traitor, the seven men who had executed the assassination of Heydrich were found in Prague. Refusing to surrender, they killed 14 Germans before being subdued. Jan Kubis, the man who threw the grenade that caused Heydrich's death was severely wounded and died later. June 17, 1942 At Sevastopol, Fort
Siberia falls to the Germans. After nearly two
weeks of extremely heavy fighting, the German infantry of the 54 Corp (11 Army)
breaks through to the shores of the North Bay during the drive on Sevastopol.
The massive Maxim Gorky Fort is taken after serious hand to hand fighting.
Casualties were very heavy on both sides. FDR and Churchill meet to discuss the opening of a second front in Europe and the development of the A-bomb. June 20, 1942 Rommel launches an
attack on the Tobruk defenses. His attack concentrates on the southeast corner
of the perimeter at first light. By 1600 the airfield was overrun and by
nightfall, 21 Panzer had entered the port. Fort Lenin falls as
the Germans continue to make slow but steady advances into the Sevastopol
fortifications. June 21, 1942 The Tobruk garrison
spent the day destroying supplies and making plans for a breakout. Despite
extraordinary efforts, 33,000 prisoners were taken, 2000 tons of fuel and 5000
tons of food along with 2000 trucks and other transports were captured. This
singular victory for Rommel won him promotion to Field Marshal, but more
importantly allowed him to push his forces on in pursuit of the British 8th
Army without pause to resupply. With Sevastopol not
yet subdued, Hitler is compelled to postpone the start of the German summer
offensive until the fortress falls and the 11th Army, and more
importantly, the Luftwaffe aircraft, can be repositioned. The Luftwarre raids Southampton, England. June 22, 1942 Adolf Eichmann,
informs his staff that "Operation Heydrich", the deportation of Western
European Jews would commence and the target goal was 1000 "deportations" per
day to Auschwitz. A Japanese submarine
shells Fort Stevens, Oregon, the first time the continental United States has
been attacked since the War of 1812. The few remaining
Soviet forces on the North Bay at Sevastopol withdraw into the city. German forces reach
the Libyan-Egyptian border as they pursue the fleeing British. The British launch
their third "1000 Bomber" raid. Bremen is target of this raid. Meanwhile,
the Germans begin a series of night raids against Birmingham. The first groups of
Polish mental patients were "deported" to Auschwitz as the Germans
accelerated their euthanasia program. German, Italian and
Croatian forces launch another offensive against Tito's partisans in
Yugoslavia. Sollum and Sidi Barrani are evacuated as the British 8th Army continues its retreat into Egypt. The United States
announces the establishment of a European Theater of Operations and assigns the
command to Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The bulk of the
British 8th Army retreats past Mersa Matruh as Rommel's DAK
occupies Sollum, Haifaya Pass and Sidi Barrani. Ritchie, coming off his drubbing
at Gazala, loss of Tobruk and headlong retreat into Egypt is sacked as commander
of the British 8th Army and Gerneral Auchinleck takes his place. The last of the
surviving aircraft at Sevastopol are evacuated to the Caucasus, giving the
Luftwaffe free reign over the city. Artillery ammunition is running short. Time
is running out for the Russians. The 142nd Infantry Brigade arrives in Sevastopol. This would be the last reinforcement that would be sent into the city as the German noose around the fortress tightens. The FBI announces the arrest of eight alleged German spies. The German summer
offensive, "Case Blau" begins. Army Group South (von Bock) is split into two
Army Groups for the summer campaign - Army Group "A" and "B". Army
Group B (von Bock) consists of three
armies, 6th (Paulus), 4 th Panzer (Hoth) and 2nd (Weichs). The force
of 33 divisions (11 of them Panzer divisions) attacks along the front between
Kharkov and Kursk in a massive assault whose objective is nothing short of the
Stalingrad. To the South, Army Group A (List) with 1st Panzer Army (Kleist) and
17th Army attacked along the Donets River, aiming initially for Rostov, but
ultimately the Caucuses oilfields 400 miles to the south. By the end of the day,
penetrations had been made in the lines of the Soviet 13th and 40th
Armies and the tanks of the 48th Panzer Korp (4th Panzer Army) were
advancing deep into Russian territory. The
Russians, unlike the previous summer, were giving ground quickly, and although
casualties were high, the large pockets of Soviet prisoners were not to be. At Sevastopol, the
German 11th Army launches an amphibious attack across the North Bay,
establishing a beachhead behind the Soviet defenses, capturing Inkerman in the
process. Heavy German attacks
at Fedyukhin and Novyye Shula achieve major breakthroughs in the assaults on
fortress Sevastopol. 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 |