http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/jul41/f08jul41.htm
Axis to dismember Yugoslavia
Tuesday, July 8, 1941 www.onwar.com
In Occupied Yugoslavia... The Germans and Italians formally announce their plans for the dismemberment of Yugoslavia. Croatia is to be independent. The province of Ljubljana, part of Dalmatia and some of the Adriatic islands are to be annexed by Italy. Bosnia is to be under Italian protection. Germany takes Montenegro, Carinthia and Cariola. Hungary also takes some territory.
On the Eastern Front... In the advance on Leningrad, Hoeppner’s Fourth Panzer Group takes Pskov.
In Syria... A series of battles just inland from Sidon at Jezzine and Mazzrat-ech-Chouf take place (July 8-10th).
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/08.htm
July 8th, 1941
UNITED KINGDOM: The Albert Medal was gazetted for Cadet David George Montagu Hay (1921-79), RNR, who left a liferaft of the sinking SS Euryiochus to rescue another officer, as sharks swam all around.
London:
P G Wodehouse could be prosecuted after the war for making his broadcasts from Berlin, which are being recorded as evidence. Mr Eden told the Commons yesterday that “the government has seen with regret the report that he has lent his services to the German propaganda machine.”
The RAF Bomber Command’s No. 90 Squadron based at Polebrook, Northamptonshire, dispatches three Fortress Mk. Is (B-17Cs) to bomb the German Naval base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany; this is the RAF’s first B-17 mission. The three aircraft fly individual sorties and the results are far from successful. The USAAF criticizes the individual sorties stressing that attacks by large formations are more effective. The RAF flies a total of 51 individual sorties in 26 raids by September and abandons operations over Europe with the Fortress identifying difficulties with the Norden bombsight, numerous mechanical failures and a tendency for the guns to freeze up at altitudes up to 30,000 feet (9,144 m). The most serious defect was the inadequate defensive armament. In October 1941, four of the Fortress Mk. Is are sent to Egypt to serve with Coastal Command’s No. 220 Squadron where they served until May 1942 bombing Benghazi at night and attacking shipping in the Mediterranean. In October 1942, the surviving aircraft were all transferred to Coastal Command and they served in Scotland until replaced by the Fortress Mk. II (B-17F) and IIA (B-17E). (Jack McKillop)
YUGOSLAVIA: Belgrade: Germany and Italy announce plans to dismember Yugoslavia. Croatia is to independent. Ljubljana, part of Dalmatia and some of the Adriatic islands are annexed by Italy. Bosnia will be an Italian Protectorate. Germany takes Montenegro, Carinthia and Cariola. Hungary also takes some territory.
BALTIC STATES: Jews are ordered to wear a yellow badge of identification.
U.S.A.: Baseball!
CANADA: HM S/M Patrol departed Halifax for Mediterranean.
AMC HMCS Prince Henry commenced refit at Victoria Machinery Depot.
Corvette HMCS Shediac commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)