July 22
Eastern Front, Baltic
Germany's Army Group North halts west of Lake Ilmen, south of the city of Leningrad. Troops and equipment along the entire Front are suffering from the rigors of the advance and stronger Soviet resistance. During such rest periods the Soviets reinforce their lines, especially those in Front of Moscow and Leningrad. The resources needed to take these two cities will be immense.

July 24
Eastern Front, Ukraine
Hitler orders Army Group South in the Ukraine to close the pocket around the concentration of Soviet forces based on Uman. They seal it 15 days later, isolating three Soviet armies from Red Army forces around Kiev. This leaves the Soviet South and South-west Fronts seriously weakened, and Odessa is now only accessible by sea. The Germans trap some 100,000 men and 317 tanks in the pocket.

July 26-29
Politics, Britain/United States
Britain and the United States freeze Japanese assets in their countries. Japan retaliates likewise against both. Holland freezes Japanese assets in the Dutch East Indies on the 29th. As a consequence, much of Japan's foreign trade is lost.

July 31
Politics, Germany
Reinhard Heydrich, Germany's security chief and head of the SS secret police, receives orders to begin creating a draft plan for the complete destruction of the Jews, which becomes known as the 'Final Solution.' Heydrich will become the infamous administrator of the state apparatus that persecutes and murders millions of people.

Africa, Libya
General Ludwig Cruewell takes command of the Afrika Korps and General Erwin Rommel takes charge of Panzer Group Africa (one infantry and two panzer divisions).

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