The I-8 sank the SS Jean Nicolet, a liberty ship, and then engaged in what can only be the torture and murder of its survivors. The atrocities were interrupted by Allied aircraft, allowing some men to survive as the I 8 dived away.
The I-8 had been involved in a prior atrocity. It would be sunk near the end of the war.
Not too surprisingly, Gerd von Rundstedt was relieved of command and replaced by Günther von Kluge as Oberbefehlshaber West . The day prior, von Rundstedt had expressed the situation in the war as hopeless. Additionally, on this day, he sought permission from Hitler to withdraw from the present German lines.
It wasn't the first time he'd been relieved, and he would be brought back.
The replacement would be a bit ironic in that von Kluge participated in the July 20 plot.
Concerning that, the prior day, July 1, Claus von Stauffenberg was appointed Chief of Staff to General Fromm at the Reserve Army headquarters. The appointment meant that he would be in close proximity to Hitler frequently.
The British 8th Army captured Foiano, Italy.
U.S. and Australian troops landed on Numfoor Island, New Guinea.
The U-543 was sunk off of Tenerife by aircraft.
An interesting issue of Sarah Sundin's blog:
Today in World War II History—July 2, 1944
Fighting continued on Saipan, with the Japanese withdrawing to their last defensive line.
US ace and former member of the RCAF Ralph K. Hofer was killed in action over Budapest.
Last edition:
Saturday, July 1, 1944. Bretton Woods.
Labels: 1940s, 1944, Bretton Woods, Caen France, Eastern Front, Espionage, Estonian Forest Brothers, Gerd von Runstedt, Italy, J. C. Leyendecker, Lithuanian Partisans, Operation Overlord, Waffen SS, World War Two
