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Major Events of July 1944: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from July 1944 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of July 1944: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Jul 1944 First Atomic Bomb Test at Trinity Site: The first nuclear weapon was successfully tested at the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range in New Mexico, marking a pivotal moment in scientific and military history. This test was a critical milestone of the Manhattan Project, demonstrating the immense destructive potential of atomic technology.
  • 02 Jul 1944 German Military Leadership Change on Eastern Front: Marshal Günther von Kluge replaced General Gerd von Rundstedt in a significant leadership transition during World War II, potentially indicating strategic recalibration of German military command.
  • 03 Jul 1944 Jackie Robinson's Army Bus Incident: First Lieutenant Jackie Robinson, future baseball legend, was arrested at Camp Hood, Texas, for refusing to move to the back of a segregated U.S. Army bus. He was later court-martialed but ultimately acquitted, highlighting racial tensions in the military during World War II.
  • 04 Jul 1944 First Japanese Kamikaze Attack near Iwo Jima: The first documented kamikaze attack occurred near Iwo Jima, marking a significant and desperate tactical shift in Japanese naval warfare strategy during World War II.
  • 05 Jul 1944 Soviet Offensives in Eastern Europe during Operation Bagration: The Soviet military launched a coordinated series of strategic offensives in Eastern Europe, including the Belostock, Šiauliai, and Vilnius operations. These offensives were part of the larger Operation Bagration, a massive Soviet military campaign aimed at driving German forces out of Soviet and Eastern European territories.
  • 06 Jul 1944 Patton Lands in France: US General George S. Patton landed in France on July 6, 1944, a pivotal moment in the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. As a legendary and controversial military commander, Patton's arrival signaled the continued momentum of the Allied forces during the Normandy Campaign, bringing his renowned tactical expertise to the European Theater of World War II.
  • 07 Jul 1944 Massive Banzai Attack at Saipan: On July 7, 1944, the US Army 27th Infantry Division experienced the largest Banzai attack of World War II. The assault, described as resembling a cattle stampede, saw thousands of Japanese troops breaking through American lines. By day's end, the Japanese had suffered 4,311 troop casualties, while the American 105th Infantry Regiment's first and second battalions endured nearly 900 casualties.
  • 08 Jul 1944 Massive Aerial Bombardment of Caen: A devastating aerial assault was conducted by Allied forces, involving 450 bombers including Halifax and Lancaster aircraft. These planes dropped nearly 6,000 tons of bombs on the northern sector of Caen, effectively reducing large portions of the city to rubble in preparation for ground assault.
  • 09 Jul 1944 U.S. Captures Saipan, Triggering Political Shift in Japan: American forces captured Saipan in the Mariana Islands, bringing the Japanese homeland within range of B-29 bomber raids and precipitating the political downfall of Prime Minister Hideki Tojo's government.
  • 10 Jul 1944 Liberation of Northern Caen: On July 10th, 1944, the northern part of Caen was finally liberated by the 8th British Corps, more than a month after D-Day. The British military forces launched an offensive focusing on the strategic Hill 112, located 3 kilometers southwest of Calvados' capital. This operation, known as Operation Jupiter, aimed to pierce the front in the Odon valley and cross the Orne River, marking a significant advancement in the Allied campaign to liberate France.
  • 11 Jul 1944 Franklin D. Roosevelt Announces Fourth Presidential Campaign: President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared his intention to run for an unprecedented fourth term as President of the United States, continuing his leadership during World War II and the ongoing economic recovery.
  • 12 Jul 1944 Theresienstadt Family Camp Atrocity: The Theresienstadt Family camp was systematically disbanded, resulting in the tragic murder of 4,000 Jewish prisoners through gas chambers.
  • 13 Jul 1944 Liberation of Vilnius: Soviet forces liberated Vilnius, Lithuania, during World War II. This marked a significant moment in the Soviet advance against Nazi-occupied territories in Eastern Europe.
  • 14 Jul 1944 Operation Ostra Brama in Wilno: The Polish Home Army successfully defeated German occupiers in Wilno (Vilnius), but were subsequently betrayed when Soviet NKVD forces entered the city the next day, interning Polish fighters and arresting their officers.
  • 15 Jul 1944 British Offensive in Normandy: Operation Greenline: British forces, including the Scottish 15th Infantry Division, launched Operation Greenline in the Odon Valley, attempting to break through German defenses near Caen. The S.S. troops of the Hitlerjugend division fiercely defended Hill 113, creating significant resistance and making progress difficult for Commonwealth troops.
  • 16 Jul 1944 Japanese Launch Operation Ichi-Go in China: The Japanese military launched Operation Ichi-Go, a massive military campaign involving over 600,000 troops in central China. The strategic objective was to capture areas hosting American bomber bases, representing a significant offensive in the Pacific Theater of World War II. The operation began with the Battle of Central Henan, aiming to disrupt Allied air capabilities.
  • 17 Jul 1944 Port Chicago Disaster: A catastrophic ammunition ship explosion at Port Chicago, California, resulted in the tragic loss of 322 lives, primarily African American sailors. This devastating incident highlighted significant racial disparities within the US military during World War II.
  • 18 Jul 1944 Tōjō Resigns as Japanese Prime Minister: Hideki Tōjō, a key architect of Japan's war strategy, resigned as Prime Minister due to mounting military setbacks, signaling a critical turning point in Japan's World War II trajectory.
  • 19 Jul 1944 Wallenberg Meets Eichmann: Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, known for saving thousands of Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust, first met Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of the Nazi genocide.
  • 20 Jul 1944 Hitler Assassination Attempt - 20 July Plot: A dramatic assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler was conducted by German Army officers, led by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. A bomb was planted in a briefcase during a military conference at the Wolf's Lair headquarters, resulting in minor injuries to Hitler but killing four people and wounding 20 others. The failed coup attempt, known as Operation Valkyrie, aimed to overthrow the Nazi regime.
  • 21 Jul 1944 Execution of Stauffenberg and Conspirators: At 0030 hours in Berlin, on orders from General Erich Fromm, a firing squad executes four key members of the July 20 plot: Colonel of the General Staff Mertz von Quirnheim, General Friedrich Olbricht, Colonel Klaus von Stauffenberg, and Lieutenant Werner von Haeften.
  • 22 Jul 1944 Bretton Woods Conference: International Monetary Fund Established: On July 22, 1944, delegates from 44 Allied nations convened at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, to establish the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This landmark economic conference aimed to create a new international monetary system to promote global financial stability and facilitate post-World War II economic reconstruction.
  • 23 Jul 1944 Bretton Woods Conference Establishes International Monetary System: The historic Bretton Woods Conference concludes, signing agreements that establish the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and create a new international monetary system based on fixed exchange rates linked to the US dollar.
  • 24 Jul 1944 Liberation of Majdanek Concentration Camp: Soviet forces liberated the Majdanek concentration camp, revealing the first major concentration camp to be discovered largely intact. This event provided crucial early evidence of Nazi atrocities during the Holocaust.
  • 25 Jul 1944 Operation Cobra Begins: Massive Allied Air Assault: At 0938 hours, Operation Cobra commenced with an immense aerial bombardment south of the St. Lô-Périers highway. The US 8th Air Force deployed 1,500 heavy bombers, 380 medium bombers, and 550 fighter-bombers, dropping 4,000 tons of bombs and napalm. Despite tragic friendly fire incidents causing 111 American deaths and 490 injuries, the operation was strategically highly effective in preparing for the US 1st Army's breakout.
  • 26 Jul 1944 First Jet Fighter Combat Victory: A Messerschmitt Me 262, the world's first operational jet fighter, achieves its first combat victory, signaling a revolutionary moment in aerial warfare technology.
  • 27 Jul 1944 Operation Cobra: Critical Allied Breakthrough in Normandy: A pivotal moment in the Normandy Campaign where American forces successfully pierce the German defensive line southwest of Saint-Lô. The 1st Infantry Division and 3rd Armored Division overcome SS Panzer divisions, advancing six kilometers and liberating towns like Périers and Lessay.
  • 28 Jul 1944 US 8th Army Corps Captures Coutances: The United States 8th Army Corps successfully occupied the strategic town of Coutances in Normandy, France. This capture was a significant milestone in the Allied advance following the D-Day invasion, helping to expand the beachhead and push German forces further inland.
  • 29 Jul 1944 Allied Air Forces Launch Extensive Bombing Campaign Against Germany: Allied air forces conducted a massive 6-hour bombing raid over German territory, demonstrating the Allies' growing air superiority and strategic bombing capabilities during World War II. This sustained aerial assault targeted key German military and industrial infrastructure.
  • 30 Jul 1944 Battle of Normandy: Intense Combat at Tessy-sur-Vire and Villebaudon: During the critical stages of the Normandy Campaign, heavy fighting erupted at Tessy-sur-Vire and Villebaudon, marking significant engagements between Allied and German forces as the Allies sought to break out from the beachhead and advance inland.
  • 31 Jul 1944 Warsaw Uprising Begins: In Warsaw, Poland, approximately 2,500 members of the Polish Home Army launch a bold uprising against 15,000 German occupying forces, marking a critical moment of resistance during World War II. This operation represents a significant act of Polish defiance against Nazi occupation.