America at war! (1941--) -- Part 2

Völkischer Beobachter (July 29, 1943)

Verstärkte beiderseitige Artillerietätigkeit in Sizilien –
Alle Angriffe im Raum von Orel zusammengebrochen

dnb. Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 28. Juli –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

Die schweren Abwehrkämpfe im Abschnitt Orel dauern an. An der übrigen Ostfront ließen die Angriffe der Sowjets an Stärke und Ausdehnung nach. Von den einzelnen Kampfabschnitten wird gemeldet: Am Kubanbrückenkopf, am Mius und am Donez scheiterten feindliche Angriffe. Im Raum von Orel griff der Feind auch gestern mit unverminderter Stärke an. Alle Angriffe brachen unter hohen Verlusten für die Sowjets zusammen. An dieser Front hat sich in den letzten Wochen die rheinisch-westfälische 86. Infanteriedivision besonders ausgezeichnet. Auch südlich des Ladogasees blieben feindliche Angriffe, die jedoch mit schwächeren Kräften als an den Vortagen geführt wurden, erfolglos.

Auf Sizilien nahm die beiderseitige Artillerietätigkeit erheblich zu. Im mittleren Frontabschnitt blieben Angriffe britischer und nordamerikanischer Verbände im Abwehrfeuer vor den deutsch-italienischen Stellungen liegen oder wurden durch sofort einsetzende Gegenstöße zerschlagen.

In den Gewässern der Insel vernichtete die Luftwaffe bei Tages- und Nachtangriffen einen Tanker von 7000 BRT. und eine Korvette, sechs große Transportschiffe wurden beschädigt.

Starke feindliche Bomberverbände setzten ihre Terrorangriffe in der vergangenen Nacht gegen die Stadt Hamburg fort. Es entstanden weitere Verwüstungen und zum Teil ausgebreitete Brände in mehreren Stadtteilen. Die Bevölkerung erlitt wieder Verluste. Von Nachtjägern und Flakartillerie wurden nach bisherigen Feststellungen 47 der angreifenden Bomber abgeschossen. Am gestrigen Tage brachten Luftverteidigungskräfte über den besetzten Westgebieten weitere 9 feindliche Flugzeuge zum Absturz.

Im Kampf mit einem britischen Schnellbootverband versenkten deutsche Sicherungsstreitkräfte vor der niederländischen Küste ein Artillerieschnellboot und beschädigten ein zweites so schwer, daß es als vernichtet angesehen werden kann. Unsere Fahrzeuge kehrten vollzählig in ihre Stützpunkte zurück.

Fernkampfflugzeuge griffen erneut den im Atlantik gesichteten feindlichen Geleitzug an und versenkten zwei Handelsschiffe mit 12.000 BRT. Ein Schiff von 5.000 BRT. erhielt so schwere Bombentreffer, daß es Schlagseite zeigte. Zwei weitere große Frachter wurden beschädigt.

Deutsche Unterseeboote versenkten im Atlantik und im Mittelmeer acht Schiffe mit zusammen 44.241 BRT., beschädigten einen leichten Kreuzer sowie sechs Frachter und schossen in der Abwehr drei feindliche Flugzeuge ab.

Hemmungsloser Imperialismus gegen den Kriegsgenossen –
England als ‚Gibraltar der USA.‘

tc. Ankara, 28. Juli –
Das Ansinnen des nordamerikanischen Gesandten Alexander Kirk an die ägyptische Regierung, der USA.-Luftverkehrsgesellschaft „Panamerica Airways“ Flugplatzkonzessionen abzutreten, hat die öffentliche Meinung in Kairo stark erregt. Die Nordamerikaner planen für die Zeit nach dem Kriege die Einrichtung eines Weltluftverkehrs und fordern dafür schon heute auch auf ägyptischem Boden Flugplätze in eigener Regie und Verwaltung. Die ägyptische Regierung wie vor allem breite Schichten des Volkes stehen diesen nordamerikanischen Wünschen mehr als zurückhaltend gegenüber, denn sie wissen, daß hier auch auf ihre Kosten der Machtkampf zwischen Großbritannien und den USA. ausgetragen werden soll.

Aufschlußreich ist auch, daß Ward Price, wie er kürzlich in der Daily Mail schrieb, im Flugzeug 100.000 Meilen über Afrika zurücklegte und dabei nicht ein einziges Transport- oder Bombenflugzeug englischer Herkunft ausmachen konnte. Diese und ähnliche Äußerungen, dazu eine mehr oder weniger heftige Kritik an den verantwortlichen britischen Regierungsmitgliedern reißen nicht mehr ab. Kritischen Beobachtern entgeht eben nicht, daß das Empire immer mehr reduziert wird, daß es zum „Gibraltar der USA.“ geworden ist, wie es der nordamerikanische General Devers kürzlich formulierte. England betrachtet man bereits als nordamerikanischen Stützpunkt am Rande Europas. Das ist das Ergebnis der vielgepriesenen Waffenbrüderschaft.

Die USA. betreiben einen schrankenlosen Imperialismus. Sie verlangen eine Brücke von See- und Luftbasen über den Pazifik bis zur sibirischen Küste Sowjetrußlands und über den Atlantik bis nach Ostasien. Die Briten sind nicht in der Lage, diesem Machtstreben Einhalt zu tun, obwohl es in der Hauptsache auf ihre Kosten geht. Die USA. haben sich kurzerhand zu Partnern im Empire gemacht, und zwar jedesmal mit mindestens 51 Prozent Geschäftsanteil.

Voreilige Pläne um Sizilien

Interessant ist in diesem Zusammenhang auch der Kampf, der um die künftige Verwaltung Siziliens ausgetragen wird. Obwohl man vorerst nur schwere Opfer an Menschen und Material darbringen muß, ohne zu wissen, wie dieser Raubzug einmal ausgehen wird, haben die USA. bereits unmißverständlich erklärt, daß für die künftige Sizilienverwaltung, wie für die Verwaltung aller anderen noch zu besetzenden Länder nur Nordamerikaner in Frage kämen, da in den USA. Abkömmlinge aller Länder lebten, die heute für solche Posten prädestiniert seien. Und die Briten müssen dazu gute Miene machen, wozu Churchill erklärt:

Zwischen den beiden Regierungen ist vollkommene Übereinstimmung erreicht worden über das, was künftig zu tun ist. Es gibt nicht den mindesten Gegensatz.

Andere englische Sorgen

Die britischen Handelsinteressen in Südamerika wurden von dem britischen Handelsminister Hugh Dalton in einer Erklärung vor dem Unterhaus betont. Hugh Dalton erklärte, keine Regierung auf dem gesamten amerikanischen Kontinent könne England das Recht absprechen, nach dem Krieg mit den südamerikanischen Staaten Handel zu treiben. Wenn irgendwo in Amerika Zweifel an diesem Recht bestünden, dann hoffe er sie mit dieser Erklärung zerstreut zu haben. Der Krieg verbiete zwar vorläufig eine umfassende britische Handelsexpansion in Südamerika, er hoffe aber, die Regierung der USA. teile mit ihm die Ansicht, daß nach dem Krieg England an den enormen Handelsmöglichkeiten in den südamerikanischen Staaten teilhaben müsse.

Feindschiffe im Hafen von Augusta versenkt –
Italienisches U-Boot torpediert Flugzeugträger

dnb. Rom, 28. Juli –
Das Hauptquartier der italienischen Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

An der sizilianischen Front heftiges Artilleriefeuer. Feindliche Angriffe im Zentralabschnitt mißglückten. Deutsche Flugzeuge griffen vor Anker liegende feindliche Schiffe im Hafen Augusta an, versenkten eine Korvette und einen Tanker von 7.000 BRT. und warfen sechs Transporter von über 40.000 BRT. In Brand. Angriffe der englisch-amerikanischen Luftwaffe auf kleinere Orte Kalabriens verursachten geringe Schäden und einige Opfer unter der Zivilbevölkerung. Zwei Flugzeuge wurden abgeschossen, eines davon durch die Flak in Messina und eines von Jägern bei Capua.

Bei einem mißglückten Angriff gegen einen unserer Geleitzüge im Tyrrhenischen Meer wurden vier feindliche Flugzeuge von Begleiteinheiten zerstört. Im Atlantik erzielte unser U-Boot unter dem Kommando von Korvettenkapitän Giuseppe Roselli Lorenzini aus Rom zwei Torpedotreffer auf einen feindlichen Flugzeugträger.

U.S. Navy Department (July 29, 1943)

Communiqué No. 453

Pacific and Far East.
U.S. submarines have reported the following results of operations against the enemy in the waters of these areas:

  1. 2 large transports sunk.
  2. 2 large cargo vessels sunk.
  3. 3 medium‑sized cargo vessels sunk.
  4. 2 medium‑sized tankers sunk.
  5. 1 small cargo vessel sunk.
  6. 1 large cargo vessel damaged.
  7. 3 medium‑sized cargo vessels damaged.

These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Depart­ment Communiqués.

The Pittsburgh Press (July 29, 1943)

Italy gets surrender terms

Immediate peace offered by Eisenhower; hints negotiations begun
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer

Allied HQ, North Africa –
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean, formally offered today to make an immediate and honorable peace with Italy and implied that negotiations may already be in progress.

“Cease at once all assistance to German Armed Forces in Italy,” he said in a special message to the Italian people, and the Allies will “rid you of the Germans and deliver you from the horrors of war.”

The only remaining obstacle to peace is the “German aggressor who is still on Italian soil,” he said in hinting that the Allies were willing to recognize Marshal Pietro Badoglio, the new Italian chief of government, and King Victor Emmanuel III as responsible parties with whom to deal.

London sources said that the next 100 hours may bring a showdown in the Italian crisis.

Condition already given

“Honorable conditions” for peace have already been given the Italian government by the United States and Britain, Gen. Eisenhower said. This and the fact that Gen. Eisenhower’s message was far more conciliatory than either President Roosevelt or Prime Minister Churchill’s speech during the past two days strengthened a belief that preliminary peace negotiations may already be underway.

The “honorable conditions” were believed to follow the pattern of unconditional surrender laid down by President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill at their Casablanca Conference and the Four Freedoms outlined in the Atlantic Charter.

Secretary of State Cordell Hull, expressing confidence in Gen. Eisenhower, indicated today that the U.S. expects Italy’s surrender to be through military rather than diplomatic channels. Repeating that the policy of the United Nations is the unconditional surrender of Axis forces, Mr. Hull told a press conference that the War Department rather than the State Department would be the first to receive news of any Italian capitulation.

Offers prisoner return

Gen. Eisenhower also held out to the Italian people the promise of a “mild and beneficent” occupation and the return of all Italian prisoners captured in Sicily and Tunisia provided Allied prisoners are restored intact.

The British alone hold at least 410,000 Italian prisoners and tens of thousands of others are in American hands, while only 70,000 British and a comparatively small number of Americans have fallen into Italian hands.

The offer to return Italian prisoners was believed an especially powerful one, since many Italian soldiers have been away from home five to six years. Furthermore, Germany’s refusal to release French prisoners has long been a major factor in compelling the Vichy government to do Nazi bidding in vain attempts to gain freedom for their imprisoned soldiers.

The Allied commander told the Italians that his armies were coming to Italy as “liberators.”

The message was broadcast to the Italian people in Italian and also relayed to Europe in French, German and English.

Heavy jamming marred the initial broadcast to Italy, London reported.

Gen. Eisenhower congratulated the House of Savoy on overthrowing Premier Benito Mussolini, “the man who involved them in war as the tool of Hitler and brought them to the verge of disaster.”

He continued:

The greatest obstacle which divided the Italian people from the United Nations has been removed by the Italians themselves. The remaining obstacle on the road to peace is the German aggressor who is still on Italian soil.

Can have it immediately

You want peace. You can have peace immediately and peace under the honorable conditions which our governments have already offered you.

Gen. Eisenhower said that the Allies have already demonstrated in Sicily that any occupation of the Italian mainland would be “mild and beneficent.”

He said:

Your men will return to their normal life and to their productive avocations.

If the Italians prevent the Germans from taking captured Britons and Americans from Italy, Gen. Eisenhower said, hundreds of thousands of Italian prisoners captured in Tunisia “will return to the countless Italian homes who long for them.”

He said:

The ancient liberties and traditions of your country will be restored.

Surrender expected –
Il Duce and gang must face trial, Roosevelt warns

‘Humanity on the march’ has seized initiative, President asserts, but victory road is still long, he says
By Lyle C. Wilson, United Press staff writer

Washington –
The new Italian government was on notice today to hold Benito Mussolini “and his gang” for trial and punishment by the United Nations as a part of unconditional surrender.

In a broadcast beamed throughout the world, President Roosevelt last night reiterated the Casablanca unconditional surrender terms that are offered to all Axis members and said the United Nations were now substantially agreed on general post-war plans.

It appeared that Italians acceptance of those terms was of almost hourly expectation since ecclesiastical sources in Madrid reported – after Mr. Roosevelt’s speech was written – that the first Italian peace feelers of Marshal Pietro Badoglio’s government were en route to Washington and London.

Mr. Roosevelt spoke from the White House last night. He combined a vigorously hopeful review of the war fronts with announcement that coffee rationing had been abandoned, that more generous sugar rations could be expected soon, and revelation that the 1944 Democratic Party platform plank on war veterans’ benefits has already been written. Mr. Roosevelt proposed a broad program of aid for demobilized American servicemen that would provide substantial financial, educational and job-seeking help.

His broadcast, which bristled with warning to the Axis nations that “the massed, angered forces of common humanity are on the march,” also cautioned Americans that:

The length of the war will depend upon the uninterrupted continuance of all-out effort both on the fighting fronts and here at home.

Allied leaders praised

The President spoke warmly of his major associates – Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and Premier Joseph Stalin. And for Russia, especially, he bespoke the constant friendship of the United States in the world of the future.

The United Nations are substantially agreed on general post-war objectives, he said, but it is too early to attempt to discuss all peace terms and all future details.

He continued:

We must not relax our pressure on the enemy by taking time out to define every boundary and settle every political controversy in every part of the world. The all-important thing now is to get on with the war.

Mr. Roosevelt promised early “serious and constructive plans” on the home front dealing with food, manpower and other domestic problems, but he did not go into detail.

Aid for war veterans

But for war veterans he proposed a detailed program of benefits which will undoubtedly figure in the 1944 presidential campaign unless enacted by Congress prior to the next election. The program, other than as it related to disabled veterans, would facilitate and in large measure underwrite the costs of reentry of servicemen and women in to civil life either as workers or as students at government expense.

Mr. Roosevelt rebuked those Americans who, “playing party politics at home,” ridicule post-war foreign policy planning as “crazy altruism” and “starry-eyed dreaming.” That reference was regarded as a kind but not-too-vigorous gesture toward Vice President Henry A. Wallace.

Mr. Roosevelt had his eye on Italy as he talked. And he promised that Tōjō and Hitler would follow Mussolini into ignominious retirement.

‘First crack in Axis’

The President said:

The first crack in the Axis has come. The criminal, corrupt Fascist regime in Italy is going to pieces. Mussolini came to the reluctant conclusion that the “jig was up.”

But he and his Fascists gang will be brought to book, and punished for their crimes against humanity.

Our terms to Italy are still the same as our terms to Germany and Japan – unconditional surrender. We will permit no vestige of Fascism to remain.

That language was deemed here to be a warning to Badoglio, the new Italian Prime Minister, to be ready to deliver Mussolini and his top associates to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower when the surrender comes.

To the Italian people – and Axis populations in general – Mr. Roosevelt promised immediate food, security and order as the United Nations take over and for the future, he reiterated the four freedoms guarantee.

Mr. Roosevelt found much that was encouraging on the war fronts. He considers the German summer offensive against the Russians a failure. He reported continued success against U-boats, but warned that we never know when the rate of sinkings may rise again.

War with Japan

The President said:

We are still far from our main objectives in the war against Japan.

…and stated those objectives to be attacked on the Japanese islands themselves from the north, east, south and west. But we are growing stronger in the Pacific, we have seized the initiative and we mean to keep it, he added.

He continued:

And if the Japanese are basing their future plans for the Pacific on a long period in which they will be permitted to consolidate and exploit their conquered resources, they had better start revising their plans now.

In the Pacific, we are pushing the Japs around from the Aleutians to New Guinea. There too we have taken the initiative – and we are not going to let go of it.

Mr. Roosevelt could say only that we are delivering planes and vital war supplies for the fighting Chinese and that we must do more at all costs. The manner of his reference underscored the obvious fact that the China front still lags behind all others in obtaining fighting tools because of tremendous supply difficulties. It was with obvious satisfaction that Mr. Roosevelt reviewed the situation on the Russian front.

Allies flank Sicilian line

Seize highway network in advance on Messina
By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer

Screenshot 2022-07-29 062439
Hints of German-Italian clashes came from Madrid today in reports that Italian soldiers were being sent north to stop the influx of Nazi troops into northern Italy. Developments in Italy shown by the map include:
1. The Po River line reportedly being manned by the Germans.
2. Italian soldiers sent from this area to the Brenner Pass.
3. Sicily, where Allied forces closed in on the Messina corner, capturing three more towns, including Gangi.

Circled cities on the map are the scenes of outbreaks in the wake of the Mussolini resignation. At Bologna, however, quiet was being maintained by the presence of a strong Fascist Blackshirt force.

Allied HQ, North Africa –
Americans and Canadians smashed forward through strongly-defended German positions and over heavily-mined roads toward the Messina corner of Sicily today, capturing an important highway network and flanking the enemy’s defense line along the Dittaino River.

Acting Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson asserted in Washington that the Sicilian campaign had reached its final stage and the island should be completely in Allied hands in a matter of days.

The Americans, making advances of 7-9 miles, raced southward from the coastal road along an important highway leading to central Sicily, occupying Pollina, Castelbuono and Gangi and heading for Nicosia, key point of the last Axis defense line in the central part of the island.

The official German news agency DNB reported that Axis troops had already evacuated Nicosia, which is only 70 airline miles from Messina.

Skirt headwaters

Tough Canadian forces fought their way into Leonforte, eight miles south of Nicosia. The Canadians were the first Allied troops to reach the northern side of Dittaino, having gone around this natural barrier at its headwaters.

The Canadians inflicted heavy casualties as they advanced. They found large numbers of German dead when they reached the outskirts of Leonforte. Fighting had been particularly bitter in this area and one German officer taken prisoner admitted that the Germans had shot Italians who refused to fight.

Nazis reinforced

The Germans had strong reinforcements, including paratroopers. In one case, they lost 225 out of a unit of 250 men before yielding their position.

Stiff fighting was reported in progress in the Catania sector at the eastern end of the Sicilian front where German resistance was compared to Vimy Ridge in World War I.

The Germans were said to have used the white flag truck, displaying the sign of surrender and then firing upon the Allies.

Near main defenses

Capture of Gangi moved the Americans to within 75 miles of Messina, and only five miles from the main defenses. U.S. troops were known to be edging far in advance of their main lines and may already be slamming into German and Italian forces.

The Exchange Telegraph in London heard a Swiss radio report that the Germans were destroying military installations at Catania possibly preparatory to withdrawing.

Wreck 30 vehicles

A-36 Invaders and P-40 Warhawks destroyed at least 30 enemy vehicles in attacks on communications while medium bombers yesterday raided the Regalbuto communications center in the center and hit at shipping off the Sicilian coast. Other planes carried out sweeps over Sardinia. Three enemy planes were shot down for a loss of one Allied aircraft.

The capture of Pollina by Lt. Gen. George S. Patton’s swift-moving Americans represented a push of 8.5 miles from Cefalù, reported taken only yesterday, while the capture of Gangi carried the troops five miles east of Petralia, their last previous strongpoint in the sector San Stefano is only 11 miles from Pollina.

Hit road junction

South African and RAF Bostons and Baltimores hit at a road junction at the town of Regalbuto, on the German defense lines, and laid a carpet of bombs over the targets. One large explosion occurred.

Besides scoring hits on motor transport on roads in the northeastern Sicilian corner, RAF fighter-bombers scored hits on a merchantman at Riposte Harbor where other vessels were bombed. Enemy landing craft at Reggio Calabria on the mainland were attacked.

Allied troops now hold the seven airfields around Gerbini, west of Catania, field reports said, but Axis guns emplaced in the foothills of Mt. Etna prevent their use.

Down 60 Nazi planes –
Americans raid 2 plane plants

Fortresses attack city 95 miles from Berlin
By Walter Logan, United Press staff writer

20 die in fall of airliner in Kentucky

Former Pittsburgh pilot among wreck victims; debris burns

Coffee leaves the ration list

But bad news comes for butter eaters

Ickes asks rule on mine return

Biddle to give opinions on points of law

Raid on Rome tops 1,100 tons

U.S. assault called best daylight bombing yet

Fans yell ‘play ball’ –
Roosevelt hits into a double play at game

Rain, poor amplification system mar broadcast at Forbes Field
By Kermit McFarland

Bombers fire Jap warship, cargo vessel

Enemy barges, launches destroyed by Allies in New Britain area
By Brydon Taves, United Press staff writer

Yanks destroy 57 Jap planes

Americans in China score 42 other probables

Zanuck to produce Wilson’s biography

By Erskine Johnson

Editorial: This is our policy

Edson: All is not gold that glitters – in Washington

By Peter Edson

Simms: Reform likely will follow OWI spanking

Public rebuke on blunder delights foreign envoys
By William Philip Simms, Scripps-Howard foreign editor

1,500 U.S. ships carry invasion army