http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/jul40/f21jul40.htm
USSR annexes Baltic states
Sunday, July 21, 1940 www.onwar.com
From Moscow... The Soviet Union formally annexes Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and they become constituent republics of the USSR.
In Berlin... In an OKH conference Hitler again says that Germany must prepare to attack the USSR. Although the generals would prefer to deal with Britain first, they raise no objections. Later in the month Jodl tells an OKW planning section that Germany will attack in the east in the spring of 1941 and that planning for the movement of the armed forces to eastern Europe should be begun.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/21.htm
July 21st, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - marshalling yards at Hamm and Soest and aircraft factory at Kassel.
51 Sqn. Three aircraft to Hamm. One bombed - direct hits. Opposition heavy.
77 Sqn. Ten aircraft to Kassel. Nine bombed. Eight fighters sighted but none attacked.
78 Sqn. Five aircraft to Hamm and Soest. Four bombed, one FTR
102 Sqn. Ten a/ to Kassel. One returned early, nine bombed. Two fighters seen but none attacked.
2 Group ( Blenheim). 107 Sqn. Bombing - Caen, Morlaix and Querqueville.
GERMANY: Hitler again brings up the attack in the East in an OKH conference. Planning for troop movements east will begin later this month.
BALTIC STATES: The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania today succumbed to Russian pressure and “unanimously” decided to become Soviet Republics and join the Soviet Union.
The newly-elected parliaments of the three countries met to announce their decision, but the Soviet influence was easy to see under the facade of democracy. Estonia’s parliamentary session was attended by Stalin’s representative, Mr Zhdanov, and the hall was decorated with Soviet flags. The Baltic peoples are bitter at losing their hard-won freedom from Russia, but there is nothing they can do in the face of Soviet might.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 2239, the unescorted Ellaroy was torpedoed and sunk by gunfire by U-30 about 180 miles west of Cape Finisterre. The master and 15 crewmembers landed at Vigo, Spain. (Dave Shirlaw)