Saturday, July 31, 1943. The Battle of Tioina starts and the Battle of the Ruhr ends.

The U.S. II Corps, under George S. Patton, commenced offensive operations in what would become the Battle of Tioina on Sicily.

Tioina in 1943.

The Battle of the Ruhr, the extensive air campaign over the Ruhr, came to an end.  The last raid was on Remscheid. The bulk of the campaign had been at night, and by the RAF, and it did cause substantial industrial damage to Nazi Germany.

The USS Sheridan was launched.

Today In Wyoming's History: July 31: 1943  The USS Sheridan, APA-51, an attack transport, commissioned.

General Henri Giraud was appointed as commander of French Resistance forces at the first meeting of the National Committee of Liberation.  De Gaulle was named President of the Committee.