15 Jun 1941 | World War II Database

15 Jun 1941

German units moved into their start positions for the invasion of the Soviet Union. Likewise, the Soviet Union moved the new conscript units into forward positions. ww2dbase [Operation Barbarossa | TH]
The British launched the Operation Battleaxe offensive toward in Libya at 0200 hours, engaging Axis defenses by 0600 hours. On the first day of the offensive, British troops were able to besiege Halfaya Pass and capture Fort Capuzzo, but at the high price of about half of their tank strength. ww2dbase [Operation Battleaxe | CPC]
Galeazzo Ciano sent a message to his Hungarian counterpart, advising that Hungary should prepare to deal with a potential Soviet attack, which might be forthcoming due to suspected German aggression against the Soviet Union. ww2dbase [Galeazzo Ciano | CPC]
Light cruiser Voroshilov began participation in a week-long exercise. ww2dbase [Voroshilov | CPC]
Aircraft from HMS Eagle damaged German tanker Lothringen in the South Atlantic, allowing the ship to later become captured by the crew of HMS Dunedin. ww2dbase [Eagle | CPC]

China

US government criticized the Japanese raids on civilian sections of Chongqing, China. Meanwhile, unrelated to the US complaint, the Japanese air raid on Chongqing damaged the US embassy. ww2dbase [Bombing of Shanghai, Chongqing, and other Cities | Chongqing | CPC]

French Syria and Lebanon

Indian and Free French troops attacked Kissoué in the French Mandate of Syria and the Lebanon at 0400 hours, capturing it by 0900 hours. 5 miles to the west, Vichy French troops threatened to capture Quneitra. At sea, British destroyers bombarded Sidon in the French Mandate of Syria and the Lebanon and was retaliated against by German Ju 88 aircraft; HMS Jackal, HMS Ilex, and HMS Isis were damaged and were ordered out of the area for repairs. In the evening, aircraft of French 4th Naval Air Group bombed British naval units off the Syrian coast. ww2dbase [Campaigns in the Middle East | CPC]

United States

Japanese spies Itaru Tachibana and Toraichi Kono were arrested in the United States. ww2dbase [CPC]

Photo(s) dated 15 Jun 1941

Carrier Graf Zeppelin in Stettin, Germany, 15 Jun 1941

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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