Sea War
Mediterranean – ALLIES INVADE SICILY (Operation Husky): Armada of 3,000 ships lands 12 divisions of British 8th Army (Montgomery) and US 7th Army (Patton). Naval forces – 6 battleships, 2 carriers, 18 cruisers, 7 submarines and 210 other warships – escort invasion fleet and bombard coastal defences and communications.
Air War
Mediterranean: 3,680 Allied planes participate in Operation Husky; prolonged series of raids on Sicilian airfields reaches devastating climax.
Germany: 373 RAF bombers attacking Gelsenkirchen and dropping 1,304t of bombs.
Eastern Front
Southern Sector: Hitler rejects his generals advice and decides to persevere with Kursk offensive.
