London:

Churchill to Minister of Supply:

In the recent session on Sir Andrew Duncan's vote, questions were asked by Mr. Shinwell and others about how we stood in "heavy tanks." We have hitherto regarded A.ss as the heaviest we should make, though a great deal of work has been done, I think by Stern, on a still larger type. I believe that there is even a pilot model. Of course our problem is different from the Russian or great Continental Powers because of shipment, although that is no final bar.

However, it now appears, on the highest authority, that the Russians have produced a very large tank, said to be over 70 tons, against which the German A/T 6-pounder [Panzer IV] has proved useless. It seems to me that the question of a much heavier tank has now come sharply to the front. The whole position must be reviewed, and we must know where we are - and that soon.

Anti-Aircraft cruiser HMS Euryalus commissioned.

FRANCE: Vichy severs diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.

U.S.S.R.: The German Second Panzer Group captures Bobryusk, Russia. Army Group South captures Luvov. In the north the Germans advance toward Kiev.

The fast moving German columns have pierced the Soviet defences wherever they attacked, leaving behind thousands of Russian soldiers to be dealt with by the infantry. General "Fast Heinz" Guderian is covering 25 miles a day with his panzer group, crossing rivers with tanks fitted with Schnorkel air tubes and extended exhausts. The German's estimate that they have taken 150,000 prisoners and destroyed 1,200 tanks and 600 guns.

The German plan is based on three army groups:

1. Field Marshal Wilhelm von Leeb, commanding Army Group North, is driving through the Baltic states towards Leningrad, which is also being threatened by the Finns.

2. Field Marshal Fedor von Bock's Army Group Centre has the strongest tank forces and has been ordered to encircle and destroy the Soviet forces in Byelorussia, thus opening the road to Moscow.

3. Army Group South, under Field Marshal Gerd von Runstedt, is preparing for a holding attack from Romaniainto Bessarabia, while a tank force thrusts deep into the Ukraine towards Kiev to cut off the defenders.

The Soviets are launching counter attacks against all three groups, but they have not succeeded in holding the Germans yet.

The western front commander, General Dmitri Pavlov, and his leading officers are executed for incompetence on Stalin's orders.

Hitler's hangmen are pouring into the USSR behind his tanks. As the Germans advance they festoon the landscape with multiple gallows, each with its full quota of Soviet officials and political commissars. The policy of terror is being carried out by front-line troops as well as by the special task forces of the Gestapo. Hitler has ordered that every officer has the right to shoot any person suspected of "criminal action".

Russians, like all Slavs, are regarded as Untermenschen, sub-humans, by the Germans and killed with casual brutality. No preparations have been made to deal with the thousands of prisoners that the Germans are taking, and they are being left to rot without food or medical attention. There is no doubt that the Nazis intend to follow the extermination policy which they inflicted on the Poles and wipe out all Russians capable of mounting any form of resistance. Rule by terror.

Himmler">Himmler has been designated to act independently of the army to carry out "special tasks". His SS "Einsatzgruppen", have moved into the war zone and begun to massacre the Jews.

Luftwaffe: JG 51 claims its 1,000th victim of the campaign.

Moscow:

The Soviet Information Bureau announced:

Fighting is continuing against strong enemy motorised forces in the Lutsk area. Despite his fresh armoured reinforcements, all the enemy's attempt to break through our lines in the direction of Novograd Volynskiy [Ukraine] and Shepetovka have failed and been beaten back. Our armoured forces and the Soviet air force even succeeded in destroying a great part of the enemy armoured and motorised troops.

FINLAND: The first larger scale Finnish action in the Continuation War. Col. Blick's 2nd Division (II Corps) at central Karelia is given the task to capture the straits between lakes Pyhäjärvi and Tyrjänjärvi to get good starting positions for the coming large scale attack. After meeting surprisingly heavy opposition, the division finishes its task by 7 July.

SYRIA: After weeks of vigorous patrolling and incremental advances, 21 Aust Bde (Brig Stevens) has secured the whole of the ridge overlooking the Damour River, the main obstacle between 7 Aust Div and Beirut. Patrols begin to recce the approaches to the river and northern bank. At Nebek (north of Damascus), elements of French I/16 Tunisian Bn (supported by 14 R35 tanks and artillery) attack 2 Free French Bn (supported by British arty and A/T guns). The French are initially successful then driven off by Free French counter-attack. (Michael Alexander)

The Headquarters of General Wilson (Allied commander in Syria) announced:

The Allied offensive against Homs (Syria) is making substantial progress. An Australian squadron flying American-model aircraft, shot down a formation of 6 Vichy-French Glenn Martin bombers in aerial combat. The Australians came back without losses to themselves.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Insect class river gunboat HMS Cricket escorting a convoy from Mersa Matruh to Tobruk is damaged by a near miss bomb. She is taken in tow but found unfit for further sea duty. She is then employed as a floating AA platform until she is scuttled off the south coast of Cyprus where she lay undisturbed until her hull was discovered by RE divers during the 1980’s. (Alex Gordon)(108)

AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Launceston launched.

On this date, the USN has 1,899 ships and district craft and 338,786 personnel consisting of 284,427 sailors and 54,359 Marines. There are also 19,235 members of the USCG.

By this date the US Army has accepted 85 SCR-268 radar sets into service for AAA defence. (Will O'Neil) (157,158,159,160,161 and 162)

Heavy cruiser USS Boston laid down.

Destroyers USS Hobby and Kalk laid down.

Submarine USS Grayback commissioned.

BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC:

Shipping losses in the MEDITERRANEAN SEA:

3 ships of 9,000 tons.

Shippping of losses in home waters:

34 ships of 86,000 tons.

Losses in the ATLANTIC OCEAN:

70 ships of 329.000 tons.