After the Allied landing in Normandy (June 6) and the successful capture of Saipan (9 July), the government of Hideki Tojo lost its credibility and a new cabinet was formed. In selecting a new Prime Minister, the elder statesmen narrowed the candidates down to three: Hisaichi Terauchi (commander of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group), Shunroku Hata (commander of the China Expeditionary Army), and Koiso.