WWII History for July 25

WWII Events Today, July 25 Audio: Mussolini Resigns (1943-07-25) Jul 25, 1934 – Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was shot and killed by Nazis. Jul 25, 1937 – Japanese 20th Division clashed with Chinese troops at the city of Langfang, China, major rail junction between Beijing and Tianjin. This was the first major battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Jul 25, 1940 – US embargos scrap metal and petroleum to Japan. Jul 25, 1940 – The German Reich Economic Minister outlined the New Order for Europe, citing use of forced labor from occupied nations. Jul 25, 1941 – US and UK freeze Japanese assets. Jul 25, 1943 – The Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, steps down as head of the armed forces and the government following a coup. Jul 25, 1943 – USS Harmon (DE-678) was launched at Bethlehem Steel's Fore River shipyard, Quincy, MA. She was the first U.S. Navy ship to be named for an African-American. The ship's namesake, Mess Attendant First Class Leonard Roy Harmon, also posthumously received the Navy Cross for heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Jul 25, 1944 – Allied forces begin the breakthrough of German lines in Normandy.