Air War: Elite German fighter wing JG 51 shoots down 100 Russian bombers attacking Guderian's Panzers east of Minsk. The CO, Molders, personally destroys 5 bombers.
First air raid alert in Moscow (false alarm). RAF daylight raids on Bremen and Kiel; Halifax bombers participate in the Kiel raid.

Russian Front: Germans complete encirclement of large Russian forces in Bialystok 'pocket'.

Sea War Mediterranean: Submarine Torbay sinks 2 merchant ships, 6 sailing vessels and Italian submarine Jantina (June 30 - July 5).

Diplomacy: Vichy France breaks off diplomatic relations with USSR.

Battle of the Atlantic, Shipping Losses in June 1941: 61 Allied merchant ships (310,800 BRT), 4 German U-boats (32 serviceable).

TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1941

Russian Front: Guderian's Panzers cross river Berezina. Panzers of Army Group North cross the Dvina and advance towards Pskov; Riga occupied.

Picture: In the Baltic, German troops are greeted as liberators.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1941

Air War over Europe: Blenheims, with strong escort (includng American-volunteer 'Eagle Squadron'), bomb airfield and rail junction near Lille.

THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1941

Middle East: Allied forces capture Palmyra (Syria).

East Africa: Commonwealth forces capture Debra Tabor (Ethiopia).

Home Front USSR: (MAIN EVENT) STALIN BROADCASTS 'SCORCHED EARTH' POLICY. 'We must not leave ... a single kilogram of grain or a single litre of petrol to the enemy.' Guerrilla tactics are to be employed: 'It is necessary to create in invaded areas conditions unbearable to the enemy.' All workers must defend Russia 'in our patriotic war against German Fascism.'

Picture: Russian evacuation of cattles from the advancing Germans.

FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1941

Russian Front: Germans capture Ostrov, south of Pskov.

Air War over Europe: 11 Blenheims carry out daylight raid on Bremen factory targets at roof-top height.

SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1941

Air War over Europe: RAF night raids on Munster (railway targets) and Bielefeld (power station); heavy civilian casualties.

Daily Mail cartoon from this day: Stalin's USSR is a tough nut for the German 'Panzer pincers'.

SUNDAY, JULY 6, 1941

Neutrals, Ecuador/Peru: Border War. Peru ousts Ecuadorian forces from two disputed areas and recaptures Matapalo Island (occupied by Ecuador in 1938); Peruvian aircraft and paratroops in action. US, Argentinian and Brazilian mediators arrange cease-fire, July 26.