Get new blog posts sent directly to your email inbox!

Today in World War II History

Read Today's Article

Today in World War II History—June 22, 1940 & 1945

Sunday, June 22, 2025 by Sarah Sundin
Gen. Wilhelm Keitel accepting the French surrender from Gen. Charles Huntziger, Compiègne, France, 22 Jun 1940 (German Federal Archive: Bild 146-1982-089-18)

Gen. Wilhelm Keitel accepting the French surrender from Gen. Charles Huntziger, Compiègne, France, 22 Jun 1940 (German Federal Archive: Bild 146-1982-089-18)

85 Years Ago—June 22, 1940: France signs armistice with Germany at Compiègne, splitting into a Nazi-occupied zone in the north and a “free” zone in the south, based in Vichy.

In Japan, Prince Konoye Fumimora forms a new cabinet with Hideki Tojo as Minister of War.

Raising the US flag on Okinawa, Japan, 22 Jun 1945 (US Army photo)

Raising the US flag on Okinawa, Japan, 22 Jun 1945 (US Army photo)

80 Years Ago—June 22, 1945: Battle for Okinawa officially ends at a high cost—12,520 Americans and 110,000 Japanese were killed, plus 42,000 civilians who were killed or committed suicide. Off Okinawa, the US Navy took its heaviest losses of the war with 36 vessels sunk and 4,907 killed. In addition, the US lost 763 planes and the Japanese lost 7,800.

Share

Comments are closed.

“Another riveting World War II romance.”
—Publishers Weekly review for Mists over the Channel Islands
NOW AVAILABLE!

A Free Gift for You

Make It Do - The US Home Front in World War II

When you subscribe to my monthly enewsletter, you’ll also receive “Make It Do – The US Home Front in World War II,” a collection of my popular blog posts. As a subscriber, you’ll also be the first to learn about my upcoming novels.