http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/jul1943/f08jul43.htm
A German breakthrough at Kursk?
Thursday, July 8, 1943 www.onwar.com
German 6th Panzer Division column at Kursk [photo at link]
On the Eastern Front... The battle of Kursk continues. The German advance in the north is less than one mile. To the south the German commanders remain hopeful of a breakthrough but the rate of attrition remains high. Soviet strong points prove difficult to overcome. Meanwhile, Red Army counterattacks, with armor, prevent substantial gains.
In the Solomon Islands... On New Georgia, US forces make some gains near the Barike River.
In the Atlantic... The British Home Fleet cruises off Norway but the Germans fail to notice them. The British intention is to draw attention away from the Mediterranean operations.
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/thismonth/08.htm
July 8th, 1943 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: The USAAF 479th Antisubmarine Group is activated at RAF St. Eval, Cornwall. It will be equipped with two squadrons of B-24s.
NORTH SEA: The British Home Fleet sail strong units off Norway as a distraction for upcoming operations in the Mediterranean. The Germans do not notice them.
FRANCE: Resistance leader, Jean Moulin - known to many as “Max” - has died after being brutally tortured by the Gestapo. He betrayed no-one. Moulin was arrested in 21 June with resistance leaders from across the country who were attending a top-secret meeting. He was president of the National Resistance Council and was striving to unite the many Resistance groups fighting in France. His unconscious body was being taken to a concentration camp when he died.
GERMANY: At a meeting in the Supreme Headquarters, Hitler promises his support for continued production of the Me-264 to Messerschmitt, but only for maritime uses. At the same time he drops his plan to bomb the US east coast, because “the few aircraft that could get through would only provoke the populace to resistance.” (Neal D. O’Brien)
U.S.S.R.: The Battle of Kursk continues, while the German position on the south is quite good, continued German losses will change the outcome.
BURMA: Anglo-Indian troops have carried out a lightning raid against the Japanese-occupied port of Maungdaw, on the Bay of Bengal. A communiqué issued in Delhi today says that the Allied troops drove the Japanese out of Maungdaw and occupied the port for some hours. After a fierce exchange the village was surrendered, but Allied sources say that valuable information was gathered and equipment captured before the troops withdrew.
NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force B-25s continue to support Australian troops in the Nassau Bay area by pounding enemy positions around Mubo and along the coast of northeaster New Guinea, hitting Kela Point and village, Malolo, Buigap Creek, and trails from Salamaua Airfield and Kennedy’s Crossing to Logui.
The 319th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) USAAF (B-24) rejoins the 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy) USAAF at Port Moresby.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: In the Solomon Islands, Thirteenth Air Force B-24s attack Kahili Airfield on Bougainville, plus other targets, in support of the New Georgia operation. Navy and Marine SBD Dauntlesses and TBF Avengers, escorted by F4U Corsairs, bomb Vila on Kolombangara Island.
TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Nine Eleventh Air Force B-25s attack Kiska Island.
Eight IJN submarines are in position in the western Aleutians to support Phase II of the KE-GO Operation, the evacuation of Japanese forces from Kiska Island.
CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Canso and frigate HMCS Waskesiu departed Esquimalt for Halifax.
Minesweeper HMCS Melville completed refit in Halifax and joined EG W-5.
Corvette HMCS St Lambert laid down Quebec City, Province of Quebec.
Minesweeper HMCS New Liskeard laid down Port Arthur, Ontario.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: A B-24 Liberator of the 2d Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy), AAF Antisubmarine Command based at Port Lyautey, French Morocco, sinks German submarine, U-232 off Portugal at 40-37N 13-4lW. All 46 men on the U-boat are lost.
Goering really rubbed our noses in it when he switched from gothic type to latin type......................
Regardless, I have to say we could afford a war of attrition and Germany could not. By D-Day we will have air supremacy over France.