7th July 1944 – Operation Charnwood. 450 British heavy bombers drop 2,276 tons of munitions on Caen inflicting heavy losses on French civilians and only modest damage on the enemy while trying to avoid the Allies’ front line. This was followed by an artillery bombardment which continued until the British ground attack went forward in the early hours of 8th July capturing Lebisey on the north edge of Caen. (From 'The Drive on Caen, Northern France 7th June -9th July 1944’, a 60th Anniversary booklet.)
The US Army Airforce attacks Leipzig (in East Germany) again with more than 1,000 planes. (From WW2-net Timelines.)
Surviving Japanese forces on the Marianas Island of Saipan launch the largest banzai attack of the war - a suicidal mass charge of 3,000 men resulting in a two day battle. 30,000 Japanese soldiers died on Saipan as well as about 7,000 Japanese civilians who committed suicide rather than be captured. The Americans suffered 14,000 killed or wounded but were now in possession of the last line of defences for the Japanese homeland. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)
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