July 15th, 1941 (TUESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Destroyer HMCS Huron laid down Vickers-Armstrong Ltd Newcastle-on-Tyne
GERMANY:
U-223, U-224, U-623, U-624 laid down.
U-507 launched.
U.S.S.R.: The Red Army launches a counter-offensive near Leningrad. A Soviet counterattack begins today in the Lake Ilmen area. This will last for 3 days to gain time to build fortifications.XXXXVII Pz.K's 29 Inf. Div.
(mot.) (GM Walter von Bolternstern) reach the southwestern suburbs of Smolensk.
They attack at 4 AM this morning and control the city by night. (Jeff Chrisman)
FINLAND:
Soviet commandos attack the Finnish island of Morgonland, capturing the
Finnish observation party of five men. The prisoners are taken to camps in Kazakstan; only
one survives the War. (Cris Wetton)
LEBANON: Beirut: The Allies have entered Beirut in triumph, and will hand over Syria and Lebanon to their inhabitants. When they invaded a month ago General de Gaulle said in a broadcast: "I come to end the mandatory regime and to proclaim you free and independent." Thus Syria and Lebanon - to strong Vichy protests - join Eritrea in being offered self-determination.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES:
All
3rd and 20th Pursuit Squadron pilots are certified on
the P-35A.
CANADA: Port operations craft ordered for RCN: HDPC 1, HDPC 2, HDPC 3, HDPC 4, HDPC 5, HDPC 6, HDPC 7, HDPC 8, HDPC 9, HDPC 10.
NEWFOUNDLAND: The US sets up an air base at Argentia Bay. The two facilities established on this date were the U.S. Naval Air Station and the U.S. Naval Operating Base.
U.S.A.: Baseball, the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox play the final game of a three-game series at Comisky Park in Chicago, Illinois. Yankee center fielder Joe DiMaggio goes 2-for-4 against White Sox pitcher Eddie Smith and extends his hitting streak to 55 consecutive games.
Aircraft carrier USS Lexington laid down.
Anti-Aircraft cruiser USS Oakland laid down.