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4 Jul 1940
  • Despite having his left leg shattered by a bomb blast, British Leading Seaman Jack Mantle continued to fire his anti-aircraft guns as the merchant cruiser HMS Foylebank sank beneath him during an air raid on Portland naval base in England, United Kingdom. Mantle was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross medal. ww2dbase [AC]
Algeria Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
  • Italians forces captured a number of British forts, including Kassala and Gallabat, in East Africa. The Italian forward units paused to establish anti-tank defenses. ww2dbase [CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
  • Kanalkampf: German Stuka dive bombers and motored torpedo boats attacked British Allied Convoy OA178 south of Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom, which was near Portland. Five merchant ships were sunk, which were British ships Elmcrest and Dallas City, Dutch ships Britsum and Decalion, and Estonian ship Kolga; several other ships were damaged. Meanwhile, German aircraft bombed the Royal Navy base in Portland, sinking British auxiliary anti-aircraft ship Foyle Bank, killing 176, as well as tug boat Silverdial. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | English Channel | TH]
China France French West Africa Gibraltar Guernsey
  • The Dame of Sark, ruler of the island of Sark in the English Channel, surrendered to the German forces. ww2dbase [Sark | CPC]
  • Sark in the Channel Islands, having been occupied by the Germans since two days prior, officially surrendered. ww2dbase [Sark | CPC]
Italy
  • Leonardo da Vinci set sail from Castellammare di Stabia, Italy at 0800 hours for exercises, returning at 1640 hours. ww2dbase [Leonardo da Vinci | Napoli, Campania | CPC]
  • Mario Leoni was made the commanding officer of Alessandro Malaspina, relieving Alfredo Musotto. ww2dbase [Alessandro Malaspina | CPC]
Malta
  • Italian bombers again raided Malta. ww2dbase [TH]
Romania
  • King Carol II swore in Iron Guard member Ion Gigurtu as the new Prime Minister of Romania. ww2dbase [Carol II | CPC]
United Kingdom
  • Winston Churchill received his first standing ovation in the House of Commons as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after delivering a speech justifying the attack on French warships. ww2dbase [Winston Churchill | London, England | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 4 Jul 1940
Tautog

4 Jul 1940 Interactive Map

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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Famous WW2 Quote
"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You win the war by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country!"

George Patton, 31 May 1944


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