July 10th: A Day of Battles, Discoveries, and Global Firsts

July 10th holds a fascinating place in world history, offering stories of exploration, conflict, cultural milestones, and innovation. From the skies above Britain to the depths of scientific discovery, this date showcases the breadth of human achievement and struggle.

🗓 Calendar Facts:

July 10th is the 191st day of the Gregorian calendar (192nd in leap years).
There are 174 days remaining until the end of the year.
Zodiac sign: Cancer — symbolizing intuition, loyalty, and creativity.

The Battle of Britain Begins (1940)

One of the most defining moments of World War II began on July 10, 1940: the start of the Battle of Britain.

What Happened?

Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe launched a massive air campaign against Britain, aiming to achieve air superiority in preparation for a possible invasion.
British Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots, known as “The Few,” heroically defended the skies in what would become one of the most famous air battles in history.

Why It Matters:

The battle marked the first major defeat of Hitler’s military forces.
It was a turning point in WWII and is remembered as a triumph of courage and resilience.
Today, Battle of Britain Day is officially commemorated on September 15th, but the campaign began on this date.

🌊 The Sinking of the Kronan (1676)

On July 10, 1676, during the Battle of Öland, the Swedish warship Kronan, one of the largest warships of its time, exploded and sank.

Over 800 sailors and officers perished, making it one of Sweden’s worst naval disasters.
The shipwreck was rediscovered in 1980, revealing well-preserved artifacts that offer a glimpse into 17th-century naval warfare and life at sea.

🔍 Science & Discovery: The Scopes Trial (1925)

The Scopes “Monkey” Trial began on July 10, 1925, in Dayton, Tennessee:

John T. Scopes, a high school teacher, was tried for violating a state law that prohibited the teaching of evolution in schools.
The trial sparked a national debate over science vs. religion, academic freedom, and the role of education.

Legacy:

The Scopes Trial became a symbolic battle for intellectual freedom.
Though Scopes was found guilty, the case ignited discussions that continue today over science in education.

🎤 Music Milestone: The Beatles Release “Help!” (1965)

On July 10, 1965, The Beatles released their iconic single “Help!”
The song became one of their most beloved hits and also served as the title track for their second feature film.
The single captured the band’s evolving sound as they transitioned from pop idols to more complex songwriters.

🇺🇸 Wyoming Becomes a State (1890)

On July 10, 1890, Wyoming became the 44th state of the United States.
Wyoming holds the distinction of being the first U.S. state to grant women the right to vote, earning its nickname: “The Equality State.”
The decision in 1869 made Wyoming a pioneer in women’s suffrage, decades before the 19th Amendment.

🎉 Notable Birthdays:

Nikola Tesla (1856) — Serbian-American inventor and engineer, famous for the Tesla Coil and AC electricity.
Marcel Proust (1871) — French novelist, known for In Search of Lost Time.
Arthur Ashe (1943) — American tennis champion and civil rights advocate.

📅 Notable Deaths:

Mel Blanc (1989) — Legendary voice actor behind characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
Sholem Aleichem (1916) — Yiddish author, whose stories inspired Fiddler on the Roof.

🌟 Traditions and Celebrations:

In Argentina, festivities for Independence Day often extend through July 10th.
Various air force ceremonies worldwide commemorate historic aviation milestones around this date.

🔄 Final Thought:

July 10th reveals how one day can hold stories of fierce battles, groundbreaking trials, statehood, music, and science. From the skies of WWII to the musical genius of The Beatles, every July 10th teaches us that change, courage, and creativity shape our shared human story.

📢 Stay curious and keep exploring with Earth Site’s On This Day series. Check back daily for more journeys into history!

: 1940
In 1940 the Battle of Britain began.

On the 18^th of June 1940 newly appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill gave a speech stating that "... the Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin". On the 22^nd of June, France signed an Armistice with Germany leaving Britain as the only remaining Allied threat in Europe. Hitler was planning an invasion of Britain, but the invasion would not come from the sea due to Britain's superior Royal Navy. But Hitler did have the Luftwaffe, the most powerful Air Force in the world.

On the 28^th of June 1919 the “Treaty of Versailles”, signed at the end of World War I, ordered Germany to disarm and forbade them from having military forces including an air force. However, Germany continued training its pilots using civilian training schools as a cover. Later in 1924, Germany became more daring and aided by Russia they began training in a secret airfield in Lipetsk using larger military aircraft. Shortly after Adolf Hitler came to power as chancellor on the 30^th January 1933 he ordered the large-scale production of military aircraft and training of pilots under the command of Herman Goering. The Luftwaffe was created on the 15^th of May 1933 and thanks to huge financial support within three years the secret air force soon became the largest and most powerful air force in the world.

The Royal Air Force was the first independent air force in the world, formed on the 1^st of April 1918. After World War I the Royal Air Force also became the largest air force in the world but this title would not remain for long. When the strength of the Luftwaffe was demonstrated in 1939 and war was imminent the United Kingdom began large-scale production of its air force. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan started on the 17^th of December 1939, training pilots in Canada, Australia New Zealand, South Africa and the UK for aerial warfare and strategic bombing. Pilots from all these countries and more would soon be available to fight within their air force or part of the RAF.

Despite the increased preparations the RAF were numerically inferior to the Luftwaffe and previous fighting in the Battle for France signalled the Luftwaffe’s superiority of the skies. On the 10^th of July 1940, the Luftwaffe began an aerial bombardment of British ships in the Channel marking the start of the Battle of Britain. Shortly after the Luftwaffe began to attack coastal shorelines until the 12^th of August 1940 when their focus was turned to the RAF, airfields and radar bases. The Luftwaffe’s pilots favoured their Messerschmitt BF 109E (Me 109) for aerial combat believing them to have superior manoeuvrability, while RAF pilots preferred the Spitfire which could out manoeuvre the Me 109 with a smaller turning circular and superior weaponry (the Spitfire had 8 machine guns compared to the Me 109’s 2 machine guns and two cannons).

Goering was concerned and surprised with the losses to the Luftwaffe during these raids and on the 4^th of September he changed tactics once more with bombing raids of the major cities. These raids continued with the hope of destroying British infrastructure and morale. On the 15^th of September, the Luftwaffe sent out its largest fleet of 1,120 aircraft with the hope of initiating a large-scale attack on the RAF and hopefully annihilating them once and for all. As the 500 bombers approached their target London with their 620 fighter escort, the 620 RAF fighters engaged the invaders and the largest aerial battle in history ensued over the city of London. The RAF proved to be the superior force inflicting far more damage on the enemy despite fewer numbers. Hitler realised that aerial superiority over Britain would not be possible and therefore “Operation Sea Lion”, the invasion of Britain, never came to pass.

In the battle of Britain the RAF had 1,960 aircraft with 2,936 pilots and of these 595 were non-British pilots. The foreign Allied pilots that aided in the battle of Britain included 145 Polish, 127 New Zealanders, 112 Canadians, 88 Czechoslovakians, 32 Australians, 28 Belgians, 25 South Africans, 13 French, 10 Irish, 7 from the US, 3 Rhodesians, 1 Jamaican and 1 Palestinian. Thanks to the efforts made by these allies and the 2,341 British pilots Hitler lost the Battle of Britain which ended on the 31^st of October 1940.

During the Battle on the 20^th of August 1940, Churchill gave a speech to the House of Commons, declaring that “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed to so many by so few”.