1 Jun 1895
- Tadeusz Komorowski was born.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1906
- Lieutenant General Takashi Muta was named the chief of staff of the Japanese Chosen Army in occupied Korea.
1 Jun 1915
- Provence was commissioned into service.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1916
- Quintin Brand was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1919
- Delhi was commissioned into service.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1920
- Tennessee was commissioned into service.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1923
- Wilhelm Keitel was promoted to the rank of Major.
» In-depth article - Vice Admiral Shiro Yamauchi was named the commanding officer of the Mako naval port at Pescadores islands, Taiwan.
1 Jun 1926
- Holland was commissioned into service.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1931
- During this month cruiser Köln traveled to Norway and conducted operations in the North Sea, Jutland, and the Baltic Sea.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1932
- Chokai was commissioned into service.
» In-depth article
» Tabular Record of Movement - Photos dated 1 Jun 1932
1 Jun 1933
- Werner Mölders was promoted to the rank of Fähnrich as he graduated from the Dresden military academy.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1934
- Bernhard Rust officially assumed his position as the Minister of Science, Education and National Culture (Reichserziehungsminister) of Germany.
» In-depth article - Mutsu was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District, Japan.
» In-depth article
» Tabular Record of Movement
1 Jun 1935
- First World War fighter ace Ernst Udet joined the Luftwaffe with the rank of colonel (Oberst). Official funds were made available to purchase two American Helldiver aircraft for Udet's personal use as a bribe to entice him back into the military fold.
1 Jun 1937
- Lieutenant Commander Isamu Fujita was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yuzuki.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1938
- British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain told journalists that Sudeten Germans should be given more independence.
» In-depth article - Dong Zhao was named the deputy commander of anti-air defenses of Shaanxi Province.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1939
- The Japanese Navy deployed a new code, later to be named JN-25 by Allied code breakers.
- The Focke-Wulf Fw-190 fighter made its maiden flight at Bremen, Germany. The aircraft displayed excellent handling characteristics and was highly maneuverable but suffered from engine overheating problems which required the fitting on a redesigned engine cowling to overcome.
» In-depth article - Photos dated 1 Jun 1939
1 Jun 1940
- Overnight, British troops pulled out of the defensive line around Durkirk, France and headed for the ships, leaving French troops to hold a reduced perimeter. After day break, German bombing sank French destroyer Le Foudroyant (killing 19), British destroyers HMS Basilisk (killing 9; scuttled by destroyer HMS Whitehall), HMS Havant (killing 8, scuttled by minesweeper HMS Saltash), and HMS Keith (killing 36). British minesweeper HMS Skipjack was bombed after embarking 275 soldiers from the beach, taking down 19 crew and most of the boarded soldiers. British steamer Scotia was bombed and sunk, killing 32 crew and 200 to 300 soldiers. 47,081 Allied troops were evacuated from the harbor and 17,348 from the beaches.
» In-depth article - Signposts were taken down throughout Britain to prevent use by possible enemy parachutists.
- French industrial targets in the Rhone Valley were bombed by the Luftwaffe.
- British troops at Narvik, Norway began evacuating to reinforce Britain itself from a potential invasion. British ambassador to Norway Sir Cecil Dormer informed Norwegian King Haakon VII of the news and recommended the royal family and the government to evacuate as well.
» In-depth article - British unemployment figure decreased by 92,000 in May 1940 to 881,000.
- The wreck of British trawler HMS Warwickshire, sunk by aircraft on 30 Apr 1940 off Trondheim, Norway, was raised and put into service. She would remain in German service until sunk by Soviet submarine S-56 on 19 Jul 1943.
- German submarine U-37 sank Greek ship Ioanna 120 miles west of Cape Finisterre, Spain at 2300 hours. The entire crew survived.
- A unit of the newly formed US Marine Corps Defense Battalions completed the Minor Landing and Base Defense Exercise at San Clemente Island, California, United States.
- US freighter Charles R. McCormick departed Bergen, Norway for the United States.
- Lord Gort was made the aide-de-camp to King George VI.
» In-depth article - Heinz Guderian was named the commander of Panzer Group Guderian.
» In-depth article - Douglas Bader achieved his first kill, which was a German Bf 109 fighter.
» In-depth article - Slovakia established diplomatic relationship with the Japanese-sponsored puppet state of Manchukuo.
- Battleship Washington was launched at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, United States. She was the first American battleship to be launched since the 1921 launching of battleship West Virginia.
» In-depth article - Photos dated 1 Jun 1940
1 Jun 1941
- A pro-British government was established in Iraq under Amir Abdul Illah, restoring the monarchy.
» In-depth article - Before dawn, British cruiser HMS Phoebe, minelayer HMS Abdiel, and destroyers HMS Jackal, HMS Kimberley, and HMS Hotspur embarked 3,710 Allied troops at Sphakia, Crete, Greece and departed; the force would arrive safely at Alexandria, Egypt later on the same day. Anti-aircraft cruisers HMS Calcutta and HMS Coventry were dispatched from Alexandria to cover this force; HMS Calcutta was attacked by Axis aircraft, sinking at 0945 hours with 118 lost and 255 wounded. Although the Allied efforts had evacuated 16,511 men from Crete, 5,000 still remained; they would be surrendered by Australian Lieutenant Colonel Theo Walker by the end of the day, thus ending the German campaign on Crete.
» In-depth article - Clothing rationing was introduced in Britain. Everyone was allowed 66 clothing coupons a year; equivalent to about one complete outfit. A man's overcoat cost 16 coupons; a dress 11; a pair of pyjamas eight; a nightdress six; underpants four; a pair of stockings two; a handerchief could be had for half a coupon.
- Mildred Tuttle married David Axton and took her husband's last name.
» In-depth article - German submarine U-105 sank the ship Scottish Monarch southwest of the Cape Verde Islands at 0052 hours; 1 was killed, 44 survived.
- German submarine U-107 sank British ship Alfred Jones 140 miles off Freetown, Sierra Leone, British West Africa at 1409 hours; 14 were killed, 62 survived and rescued by British corvette HMS Marguerite.
- Before dawn, German bombers attacked Merseyside, England, United Kingdom in the early hours of the day.
» In-depth article - In the Soviet Union, 793,500 conscripts were called up.
- HMS Edinburgh was ordered to patrol the Denmark Strait.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1942
- French, Dutch, Belgian, Croatian, Slovakian, and Romanian Jews were ordered to wear yellow stars.
- Heinrich Himmler was placed in charge of Luftschutz, or Air Raid Protection, in Germany.
» In-depth article - Hitler traveled to Poltava to confer with Feldmarschall von Bock on the next offensive.
» In-depth article - The Treblinka Concentration Camp in Poland began operation.
» In-depth article - The Japanese Navy changed its operational code.
- German submarine U-404 sank US freighter West Notus 400 kilometers east of North Carolina, United States, killing 4 of 40 aboard.
» In-depth article - German submarine U-106 sank US freighter Hampton Roads 150 kilometers west of Havana, Cuba, killing 5 of 28.
» In-depth article - The second British 1,000-bomber raid was launched against Essen, Germany.
» In-depth article - Mexico declared war on Germany.
- The United States Marine Corps began recruiting African-Americans.
- USS Saratoga departed San Diego, California for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
» In-depth article - USS S-28 suffered a fire in her port main motor, but it was extinguished with minor damage.
» In-depth article - Photos dated 1 Jun 1942
1 Jun 1943
- Air Vice Marshal Roderic M. Hill became the commanding officer of the No. 12 Group RAF.
- US submarines began active operations against Japanese shipping.
- The Allies formed the 2nd Tactical Air Force in England, United Kingdom.
- Bryansk, Orel, and Smolensk in Russia were attacked by Soviet aircraft.
- Anthony Eden announced that British casualties in first three years of war were 92,089 killed, 226,719 missing, 88,294 wounded, and 107,891 captured.
» In-depth article - Throughout this month, Shokaku was in and around the Kure-Tokuyama area, Japan.
» In-depth article
» Tabular Record of Movement - Photos dated 1 Jun 1943
1 Jun 1944
- British troops captured Frosinone, Italy.
» In-depth article - In his diary, William Slim privately complained of Louis Mountbatten's lack of vision and Henry Pownall's laziness.
» In-depth article - US Brigadier General Haydon L. Boatner was appointed to command the Myitkyina Task Force in Burma.
- USS Franklin departed San Diego, California, United States.
» In-depth article - USS Cod arrived at Fremantle, Australia, ending her third war patrol.
» In-depth article - The US submarine Herring was reported lost in the Kurile Islands, presumed sunk by Japanese shore batteries on Matua Island, whilst on patrol near Matsuwa Island.
» In-depth article - USS Pintado fired six torpedoes at a Japanese convoy in the Philippine Sea, scoring several hits, sinking Toho Maru and damaging another.
» In-depth article - USS Hawkbill departed Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States.
» In-depth article - Photos dated 1 Jun 1944
1 Jun 1945
- 458 American B-29 bombers attacked Osaka harbor, Japan in poor weather. 148 P-51 Mustang fighters flew in escort, and 27 were lost, many due to collisions due to poor visibility. 6 ships were sunk by the attack while another 6 were damaged; many naval mines were also laid in the harbor.
» In-depth article - Knowing the fate that would await them at the hands of the Soviets, a pitched battle broke out between British troops and the 28,000 strong Cossack Corps (White Russians who had always opposed the Communists and had been fighting for the Germans), when it was announced that they were to be repatriated to the Russian zone of Austria. Some 700 Cossacks and their families were killed by the British, trampled to death or commit suicide. Almost all the Cossacks who were sent back disappeared without trace.
» In-depth article - The Japanese Navy 10th Air Fleet attached to the Combined Fleet was reorganized to contain eight air groups. The 13th Air Fleet attached to the 10th Area Fleet was reorganized to contain one air flotilla and two air groups.
- The United States Marine Corps' Supply Service FMFPac, whose responsibilities included ensuring beach logistic supply to hostile shores, was redesignated as Service Command FMFPac to control the scattered island bases and service and supply battalions spread across the Pacific Ocean.
- The United States Marine Corps 7th and 8th Field Depots were redesignated as service regiments and reorganized to include headquarters and service, motor transport, and supply and maintenance battalions.
- USS Makin Island departed Okinawa, Japan area for Guam, Mariana Islands.
» In-depth article - USS Sea Robin departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for her third war patrol.
» In-depth article - USS Pintado departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for her fifth war patrol on lifeguard station off Japan.
» In-depth article - Light carrier Hosho was assigned to the habor defense force at Kure, Japan as a reserve ship, which meant her crew was reduced to half the standard complement size.
» In-depth article
» Tabular Record of Movement - USS Skipjack departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
» In-depth article - USS Chub gave chase to a Japanese convoy in the Java Sea, firing two spreads of three torpedoes on separate occasions; all torpedoes missed.
» In-depth article - Photos dated 1 Jun 1945
1 Jun 1946
- Ion Antonescu passed away.
» In-depth article - Cumberland was decommissioned from service.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1947
- The United States ended the rationing of sugar.
1 Jun 1948
- Littorio was decommissioned from service.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1954
- Legionaro was decommissioned from service.
» In-depth article - Mitragliero was decommissioned from service.
» In-depth article - Velite was decommissioned from service.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1955
- USS Iowa departed on a midshipman training cruise.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1959
- Submarine Gabilan was struck from the US Naval Register.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1960
- United States agreed to loan submarines USS Macabi and USS Lamprey to Argentina.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1961
- Submarine Dragonet was struck from the US Naval Register.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1962
- Adolf Eichmann passed away.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1966
- Captain Martin G. "Butch" O'Neill was named the commanding officer of USS Ticonderoga.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1971
- Submarine Bugara, while under tow, flooded and sank off Cape Flattery, Washington, United States.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1972
- Chen Daqing became the 11th Minister of Defense of the Republic of China.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 1997
- Diver Richard Kohler cleared the obstructions which blocked the way into the electric motor room of the wreck of German submarine U-869.
» In-depth article
1 Jun 2004
- William Manchester passed away.
» In-depth article
Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis
Search WW2DB & Partner Sites
News
- » The Pritzker Military Library Presents (2012.04.06)
- » Current and Upcoming WW2 Movies (2012.02.01)
- » Wreck of HMS Olympus Discovered off Malta (2012.01.10)
- » WW2DB's Seventh Anniversary (2011.12.29)
- » See all news
Random Photograph
Site Sponsors
Advertise on ww2db.com
Current Site Statistics
- » 661 biographies
- » 280 events
- » 21561 timeline entries
- » 611 ships
- » 269 aircraft models
- » 147 vehicle models
- » 246 weapon models
- » 55 historical documents
- » 239 book reviews
- » 192 maps
- » 13290 photos, 1298 in color
Famous WW2 Quote
"All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us... they can't get away this time."Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, at Guadalcanal
Share this article with your friends:
Stay updated with WW2DB: