21 Jul 1940
  • 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]
Atlantic Ocean
  • 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]
France Germany
  • 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]
Indian Ocean
  • HMS Cumberland reports HM Cruiser Kent joined Ocean Escort for Convoy WS1 in position 34.20S 33.00E. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
Lithuania
  • 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]
United Kingdom United States
  • 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

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
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James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, 23 Feb 1945


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