1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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SAIPAN—At commander’s conference on Saipan,
it is decided to land on Guam on 21 July and to
reinforce Southern Troops and Landing Force (III
Amphib Corps) for this purpose with 77th Div.
Postponement of Guam invasion allows time for
77th Div to arrive from Hawaii and permits
stronger and more prolonged preliminary bombardment.
2d Mar Div continues to advance its center and
right flank over difficult terrain above Tipo Pale
and Mt. Tapotchau. 27th Div finishes clearing Death
Valley and Purple Heart Ridge; makes contact with
Marines on either flank. This successfully concludes
battle for central Saipan. 4th Mar Div continues to
consolidate on Kagman Peninsula and patrols deeply
beyond 0–6 line.
1 July
FRANCE—21 Army Group: U.S. First Army’s
Field Order No. I, as amended, prescribes general
offensive to be opened on 3 July by VIII Corps on W
flank of army and extended progressively eastward
by other corps upon order. In VII Corps area, organized
resistance on Cherbourg Peninsula ceases
as 9th Div pushes to tip of Cap de la Hague. V Corps
improves positions slightly in limited attack by elements
of 38th Inf, 2d Div.
Br Second Army repels determined counterattacks
against its salient between Tilly-sur-Seulles and
Caen. 30 and 8 Corps, supported by massed arty
concentrations, throw enemy back and inflict heavy
tank losses.
USSR—Third White Russian troops take
Borisov by storm.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps
area, 34th Div’s 133d Inf gets forward elements to
Cecina R and clears Cecina town; 135th maintains
its small bridgehead E of Cecina despite enemy
efforts to destroy it; 168th crosses 3d Bn over the
Cecina on div right flank before dawn. 1st Armd Div
makes limited progress on right flank of corps: CCA,
on E, is near Casole d’Elsa, where enemy is disposed
for strong defense. FEC pushes forward toward
Siena.
In Br Eighth Army area, 10 Corps, which is virtually
out of contact with enemy, replaces 6th Armd
Div in line with Ind 10th Div. 9th Armd Brig is
arriving.
NEW GUINEA—As TF 77 (Adm Fechteler),
consisting of most of combat elements of VII Amphib
Force, U.S. Seventh Fleet, plus Aus units,
steams toward Noemfoor with TF CYCLONE, Allied
aircraft pound the island with over 200 tons of
bombs, continuing a program of aerial bombardment
of enemy bases there and on Vogelkop
[ 1–2 JULY 1944 ]
Peninsula. On Biak, TF HURRICANE begins aggressive
patrolling to prevent enemy remnants from organizing
for guerrilla warfare. In Wakde-Sarmi
area, to insure safety of Maffin Bay staging sector,
TF TORNADO begins clearing inland between the
Woske and Tor Rivers. 1st Inf pushes along coast
to the Woske.
SAIPAN—VAC drives toward next phase line,
0–7, which extends across northern neck of Saipan.
On W flank of corps, 2d Mar Div gains about 800
yards in center and on right. In center, 27th Div
gains about 600 yards on left and 400 on right
against moderate opposition. 4th Mar Div maintains
positions on right flank of corps and patrols uneventfully.
U.S.—Gen Marshall asks Gen Stilwell for his
reaction to a possible split of CBI into two theaters,
with Gen Sultan commanding in Burma and Gen
Stilwell leading Chinese forces in China proper.
2 July
FRANCE—21 Army Group: Regroups in preparation
for renewing offensive.
U.S. First Army commits VII Corps, with 4th,
9th, and 83d Divs under its command, between
VIII and XIX Corps. VIII Corps commands 8th,
79th, 82d A/B, and Both Divs. XIX Corps retains
29th and 30th Divs. V Corps has command of 1st
and 2d Inf and 2d Armd Divs. 3d Armd and 101st
A/B Divs are held in First Army reserve.
USSR—Third and First White Russian forces are
enveloping Minsk; latter cuts Minsk–Baranovichi
RR.
ITALY—AAI: Chief of Staff, AAI, issues “Appreciation”
concerning course of action after the
necessary forces for ANVIL have withdrawn from
Italy; concludes that offensive in Italy can be continued
on a limited scale but recommends that AAI
be reinf if possible in order to secure Ljubljana Gap
and invade S Germany.
In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, 133d Inf of
34th Div closes along the Cecina and takes Cecina
Marine at its mouth, concluding bloody action on
left flank of corps. 135th consolidates and strengthens
bridgehead across the Cecina then moves W,
pinching out 133d. CCA, 1st Armd Div, suffers
heavy losses in tanks and personnel during futile
attempts to enter Casole d’Elsa. FEC takes Simignano,
SW of Siena, and pushes on toward Siena.
In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, patrols reach
junction of Highways 71 and 75 without opposition.
S African 6th Armd Div advances through Sinalunga,
from which enemy has withdrawn. 4th Div
takes Fojano without opposition. 10 Corps is unopposed
throughout day but regains contact with enemy
after nightfall.