Today in World War II History—June 22, 1940 & 1945
Wilhelm Keitel accepting the French surrender from Charles Huntzinger, Compiègne, France, 22 Jun 1940. (German Federal Archive: Bild 146-1982-089-18)
75 Years Ago—June 22, 1940: France signs armistice with Germany at Compiègne, splitting into a Nazi-occupied zone in the north and a Vichy French zone in the south. In Japan, Prince Konoye Fumimora forms a new cabinet with Hideki Tojo as Minister of War.
70 Years Ago—June 22, 1945: Battle for Okinawa officially ends at a high cost—13,000 Americans killed, 108,000 Japanese killed, including thousands of civilians who committed suicide. The US Navy took its heaviest losses of war with 36 vessels sunk. In addition, the US lost 763 planes and the Japanese lost 8000.
Raising the US flag on Okinawa, Japan, 22 Jun 1945. (US Army photo)
