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• Battleship Bismarck underwent an inclining test. ww2dbase [Bismarck | CPC]
• British Hampden bombers from No. 61 and No. 144 Squadrons attacked German cruiser Admiral Scheer at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, causing no damage. ww2dbase [Admiral Scheer | CPC]
• British Hampden bombers from No. 61 and No. 144 Squadrons attacked German battleship Tirpitz at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, causing no damage. ww2dbase [Tirpitz | CPC]
• German submarine U-30 sank British ship Ellaroy 180 miles west of Cape Finisterre, Spain. The entire crew of 16 took to lifeboats and were later rescued by Spanish trawler Felix Montenegro. ww2dbase [First Happy Time | CPC]
• Mikio Furusho passed away. ww2dbase [Mikio Furusho | CPC]

• German aircraft attacked convoys in the English Channel. 1 British Hurricane fighter and 1 British Spitfire fighter were shot down, while the Germans lost 3 fighters and 1 Do 17 bomber. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | English Channel | CPC]
• Nordmark was damaged by British aircraft near Jutland, Denmark. ww2dbase [Nordmark | CPC]

• British Blenheim bombers of No. 107 Squadron RAF attacked Caen, Morlaix, and Querqueville in France. ww2dbase [Bombing of Cities in France and Low Countries | CPC]
• U-56 arrived at Lorient, France and ended her tenth patrol. ww2dbase [U-56 | Lorient, Bretagne | CPC]

• The German Army High Command submitted a plan to Adolf Hitler for an operation in the Baltic States and the Ukraine. ww2dbase [Operation Barbarossa | AC]
• 3 bombers of No. 51 Squadron RAF attacked Hamm, Germany; the rail marshalling yard was the primary target. 10 bombers of No. 77 Squadron RAF and 10 bombers of No. 102 Squadron RAF attacked Kassel, Germany; the aircraft factory was the primary target. Finally, 5 bombers of No. 78 Squadron RAF attacked Soest, Germany; the rail marshalling yard was the primary target. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | CPC]

• HMS Cumberland reports HM Cruiser Kent joined Ocean Escort for Convoy WS1 in position 34.20S 33.00E. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]

• The Soviet Union revealed the result of plebiscites in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania held on 14 Jul 1940, claiming that the citizens of the three countries approved the Soviet annexation of their countries. The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was declared. ww2dbase [Annexation of the Baltic States | CPC]

• Edvard Beneš established the Czechoslovakian government-in-exile in London, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Edvard Beneš | London, England | TH]

• US President Franklin Roosevelt returned to Washington Navy Yard, Washington DC, United States after a cruise in the Chesapeake Bay aboard presidential yacht Potomac. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | Washington | CPC]

21 Jul 1940 Interactive Map