June 26, 1941: Japanese War Minister Tojo Hideki urges munitions industry to redouble efforts amid tense international situation and prospect of a global war

June 27, 1941: As German leaders headed by Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop urge Japan to enter into war against the Soviet Union, Japanese Foreign Minister Matsuoka Yosuke stalls for time, saying he had not been under the impression that Germany was interested in Japanese assistance

June 28, 1941: Owen Lattimore, author of several books on East Asian affairs, is appointed political advisor to China’s leader Chiang Kai-shek (photo above)

June 29, 1941: Japan announces a loan of 300 million yen to Chinese puppet regime headed by Wang Jingwei

June 30, 1941: US Navy awards aircraft consortium Vought a contract for 584 F4U-1 fighters

July 1, 1941: United States Army Air Force carries out first jet-assisted take-off form airfield in California

July 2, 1941: Germany, Italy and five other European countries recognize Japanese-backed puppet regime headed by Wang Jingwei in east China