Schulden und Clearingspitzen
…
Luftgangster über Amiens –
150 Bomben auf ein Hospital
Paris, 13. Juli –
Das neue Hospital der Stadt Amiens wurde von der anglo-amerikanischen Luftwaffe mit etwa 150 Bomben belegt, wie der Petit Parisien mitteilt, Bisher sind 20 Tote unter den Trümmern geborgen worden. Das neue Hospital liegt völlig abgesondert auf einer Höhe im Norden der Stadt. „Von sämtlichen verbrecherischen Bombardements,“ schreibt hierzu das Blatt, „die bisher von der Stadt Amiens erlitten wurden, ist dieses jüngste das schändlichste.“
Amerikanische Fliegerverbände bombardierten außerdem zahlreiche französische Ortschaften und griffen wieder im Tiefflug Eisenbahnzüge sowie Kraftfahrzeuge mit Bordwaffen an. Dabei sind zahlreiche Personen getötet oder verletzt worden.
Innsbrucker Nachrichten (July 14, 1944)
Weiter schwere Kämpfe in der Normandie
Der feindliche Durchbruch nicht gelungen – Hohe US-Verluste bei Saint-Lô – In Italien Feindangriffe nördlich Volterra – Die Besatzung von Wilna durchbrach in heldenmütigem Kampf den Einschließungsring – Neuer Terrorangriff auf München
dnb. Aus dem Führerhauptquartier, 14. Juli –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:
Im Westteil des normannischen Landekopfes warfen die Nordamerikaner neue Verbände in die Schlacht und setzten ihre Angriffe mit dem Schwerpunkt in Richtung auf Saint-Lô fort. Im Verlauf erbitterter Kämpfe drängte der Feind unter Inkaufnahme hoher Verluste unsere Truppen in einigen Abschnitten unwesentlich zurück. Es gelang ihm an keiner Stelle, den erstrebten Durchbruch zu erzwingen. Die schweren Kämpfe dauern mit unverminderter Heftigkeit an.
Sicherungsstreitkräfte der Kriegsmarine schossen vor der niederländischen Küste zwei britische Schnellboote in Brand. Ein eigenes Vorpostenboot ging verloren.
Schweres Vergeltungsfeuer liegt Weiterhin auf dem Großraum von London.
In Italien beschränkte sich der Feind gestern auf Angriffe im Raum nördlich Volterra und beiderseits des Tiber im Abschnitt Citta di Castello. Während des ganzen Tages wurde hier erbittert und mit wechselndem Erfolg um einige Höhenstellungen gekämpft. Trotz starken Menschen- und Materialeinsatzes blieb der Geländegewinn des Feindes unbedeutend.
Im rückwärtigen Frontgebiet und im oberitalienischen Raum wurden mehrere Bandengruppen und Sabotagetrupps vernichtet.
Im Süden der Ostfront wiesen deutsche und ungarische Verbände im Raum von Kolomea örtliche Vorstöße der Bolschewisten ab. Westlich Luck setzten sich unsere Divisionen befehlsgemäß aus einem vorspringenden Frontbogen ab und schlugen in den neuen Stellungen feindliche Angriffe zurück. Im Zusammenhang mit unseren Absetzbewegungen im Gebiet der Pripjetsümpfe, die vom Feinde ungestört verlaufen, wurde die Stadt Pinsk geräumt.
Im Mittelabschnitt vereitelten unsere Divisionen weitere Durchbruchsversuche der Sowjets. Der Schwerpunkt der Kämpfe lag hier östlich und nördlich Grodno, wo starke feindliche Panzer-, Infanterie- und Kavallerieverbände zum Stehen gebracht wurden.
Die tapfere Besatzung der alten litauischen Hauptstadt Wilna unter Führung ihres Kommandanten, Generalleutnant Stahel, durchbrach nach fünftägigem Widerstand gegen überlegene feindliche Kräfte befehlsgemäß den sowjetischen Einschließungsring und kämpfte sich zu den westlich unter Oberst Tolsdorf bereitstehenden deutschen Truppen durch. Pflichterfüllung und Standhaftigkeit dieser beiden Kampfgruppen verdienen höchste Anerkennung. Bei den Kämpfen um die Stadt hat sich auch eine Flakabteilung der Luftwaffe unter Hauptmann Müller hervorragend bewährt.
Südlich Dünaburg sowie zwischen Düna und Peipussee wurden zahlreiche Angriffe der Bolschewisten unter Abriegelung örtlicher Einbrüche zerschlagen.
Schlachtfliegerverbände griffen auch gestern wirksam in die Erdkämpfe ein und vernichteten im Tiefangriff zahlreiche Panzer, Geschütze und Fahrzeuge des Feindes.
Nordamerikanische Bomber richteten gestern wiederum einen Terrorangriff gegen München. Durch Luftverteidigungskräfte wurden 29 feindliche Flugzeuge zum Absturz gebracht.
Einzelne britische Flugzeuge warfen in der Nacht Bomben auf rheinisch-westfälisches Gebiet.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 14, 1944)
Communiqué No. 77
On a ten-mile front south of LA HAYE-DU-PUITS, Allied forces have made good progress in an attack which brought our troops astride the main road to within two miles of LESSAY. Units on the right advanced about 2,000 yards near BRETTEVILLE and, on the left, the attack has overrun the village of VESLY.
In the CARENTAN sector the earlier advance has continued up both banks of the river TAUTE. Our troops have reached the outskirts of the village of TRIBEHOU and have pushed on two miles to the south and east through the BOIS DU HOMMET reaching the road near LE HOMMET-D’ARTHENAY.
Air operations were limited by weather from noon to midnight yesterday but Allied fighters and fighter-bombers continued their widespread attacks on enemy communications and flew many missions in direct support of our ground forces.
Gun positions and enemy headquarters near LESSAY, machinery loaded on trains near NOYANT and a train loaded with armored vehicles in the LAVAL–ANGERS area were bombed and strafed with good results. Railway tracks were cut west and southeast of CHARTRES, and elsewhere deep behind the enemy lines. Successful attacks were made on locomotives, tanks, armored vehicles and loaded fuel and freight cars near TOURS and MANTES-GASSICOURT. Bridges at CHÂTEAUNEUF and SAINT-FLORENTIN and a bridge and dam southwest of MAYENNE were hit. Near MONTARGIS and MEAUX, a number of freight cars were destroyed. A rail center at NANTES was bombed.
Six enemy aircraft were destroyed during the day. Seven of our aircraft are missing.
Communiqué No. 78
The Allied advance towards the LESSAY–SAINT-LÔ road continued, and several small salients have been driven into the enemy’s defenses.
LAULINE, northeast of LESSAY, has been taken.
Between LA MARTINIÈRE and AUXAIS, we have made additional gains on both sides of the TAUTE River.
We are across the TRIBEHOU–LES CHAMPS-DE-LOSQUE road, southwest of BOIS DU HOMME.
On the west bank of the VIRE river, north of SAINT-LÔ, another thrust has taken us to the outskirts of the village of LE MESNIL-DURAND.
There is no change on the remainder of the front.
Our fighter bombers operated in small force in difficult weather this morning against transportation targets at MONTDIDIER and BEAUVAIS and in the LISIEUX–BERNAY area.
Supporting the land forces, NORMANDY-based aircraft dive-bombed and strafed defended localities near SAINT-LÔ.
The Pittsburgh Press (July 14, 1944)
Germans retreat in Normandy
U.S. 1st Army drives ahead along whole 42-mile front
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer
Nazis move back in Normandy before U.S. forces on the left side of the Allied line, with U.S. troops closing on Périers and Lessay (1), and driving to within less than a mile and a half of Saint-Lô (2). On the eastern side of the front, the British fell back slightly east of Caen (3).
Planes serviced fast by beachhead crews
Washington (UP) –
U.S. fighter planes are being serviced in 20 minutes on temporary runways in France, enabling them to complete four or five “spot missions” daily, the War Department said today.Ninth Air Service Command soldiers clamber over fighter planes as they roll in along 1,000-foot runways. They pump in several hundred gallons of gasoline and replace expended ammunition. This prompt and nearby service enables the fighters to operate over the battle zone without auxiliary gas tanks, the War Department said.
The air above the landing strips is often filled with 9th Air Force fighters “queueing up” to land.
SHAEF, England –
The U.S. 1st Army drove forward along its entire 42-mile Normandy front today in the wake of what was described officially as a general German retreat, capturing four villages and pushing within a little more than a mile of Lessay, the Nazi western defense anchor.
The grim and bloody battle for Saint-Lô, central base of the German line, raged unabated for Supreme Headquarters had no information later than front reports which said the American onslaught was resumed after a setback at the outskirts of the wrecked town.
Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley’s whole line hinged on Saint-Lô was swinging southward, shoving the stubborn Germans back through hedgerows, groves and marshes in slow but steady retreat.
U.S. control of the Atlantic coast was advanced as far south as the mouth og the river Ay, west of Lessay. U.S. forces won the area slightly southeast of Saint-Germaine-sur-Ay, two and a half miles northwest of Lessay, posing a new threat to that key town against which other forces were pushing down the road from La Haye-du-Puits.
Line straightened out
In the area above Périers, where the Americans were less than three miles from this stronghold. Gen. Bradley’s troops straightened out their line for a frontal assault on the town by capturing a number of strongpoints.
The hamlets of Es Aubris and La Vincenterie, about four miles south of Sainteny and flanging Périers to the northeast, fell to the advancing doughboys, along with Auxais, three miles southeast of Sainteny.
The Americans pushed forward 500 yards along the road from Sainteny to the village of Raids, four miles above Périers.
Late yesterday, the Germans tried to mount a counterattack toward Auxais, but were turned back handily without slowing down the American advance.
Road center taken
The road center of Les Champs-de-Losque, seven and a half miles northwest of Saint-Lô, fell to U.S. troops who probed further southward beyond it. From Les Champs, a valuable lateral road runs northward through Saint-André-de-Bohon to Carentan. Its entire length was now open to the Americans.
The only activity reported on the British section of the Normandy front was an attempt by the Germans to mass tanks west of Caen.
Highest ridge seized
A U.S. outflanking column seized the highest ridge overlooking Saint-Lô, hinge of the enemy line guarding the invasion roads to central Normandy, from the east, but a front dispatch from James McGlincy, United Press staff writer, said the frontal assault on the fortress town from the northeast had rolled to a temporary halt a little more than a mile away.
The Americans reached a village a mile from the edge of Saint-Lô in bloody fighting late yesterday afternoon, but later withdrew 200 yards to less exposed positions and dug in, apparently to await the arrival of other forces storming down from the north and northwest against lighter resistance for a general assault on the hilltop citadel.
The attack from the northwest was resumed this morning along both banks of the Vire River after a number of German rearguard counterattacks were beaten off during the night, Mr. McGlincy said. The northwestern column was about six miles from Saint-Lô, but steadily closing in, while another force was three miles away to the north.
Nazis gain near Caen
At the eastern end of the front, the Germans recaptured Colombelles and Sainte-Honorine, just east of Caen, in a counterattack while Lt. Gen. Sir Miles C. Dempsey’s British 2nd Army continued to regroup for the next stage of the Allied advance toward Paris, 120 miles east of Caen.
Front dispatches said the latest U.S. advances around Saint-Lô raised a treat of encirclement and made that stronghold, already pounded into rubble by artillery and bombs, untenable. Nevertheless, the garrison was not expected to capitulate or abandon the town until the Americans capture high ground to the south.
Gain highest ridge
The Americans gained the highest ridge overlooking Saint-Lô from the east with the capture of the village of La Barre-de-Semilly while other forces cleaned out all enemy snipers and strongpoints north of the Bayeux–Saint-Lô highway and advanced down the road to within a mile of the town. Already in American hands was similar high ground to the northeast.
Northwest of Saint-Lô, the Americans made faster progress. Crossing the Taute River, they pushed completely through the woodlands Bois de Hommet and captured the villages of Saint-Martin, Les Champs-de-Losque and Le Hommet-d’Arthenay, the latter six miles northwest of Saint-Lô.
On the north bank of the Taute, another column reached the outskirts of Auxais, a village three miles southeast of Sainteny.
Marines capture island two miles west of Saipan
Two Jap admirals killed in Marianas; new strikes against enemy in the making
By William F. Tyree, United Press staff writer
…
Allies blast refineries, railyards
Budapest area bombed by planes from Italy
By Walter Cronkite, United Press staff writer
Bulletin
London, England (UP) –
British Lancaster heavy bombers attacked German flying bomb bases in northern France without loss today.
London, England –
Five hundred U.S. bombers from Italy smashed at four oil refineries in Hungary and railway yards in Budapest today while another big bomber formation crossed the English Channel in clearing weather to strike at targets on the continent that were not immediately identified.
Three of the oil refineries were in the Budapest area, and the attacking force, which included Liberators and Flying Fortresses, reported good results. The fleet was accompanied by a strong force of fighter planes.
The three oil refineries have a combined capacity of 358,000 tons of crude oil annually. The fourth refinery was located five miles southwest of Budapest. The raiders encountered a considerable number of enemy fighters and shot down several, it was announced.
Railyards raided
Another formation of Liberator bombers attacked the Mantua railway yards in northern Italy today encountering neither flak nor fighters, it was announced.
Thunderbolt fighter-bombers carried out damaging attacks on railway yards crowded with freight trains, at Beauvais and Montdidier in central France, the U.S. Tactical Air Force announced. En route home they strafed 10 freight cars on tracks between Chantilly and Creil, damaging all of them.
Ninth Air Force units in Normandy, it was disclosed today, made a series of attacks yesterday against enemy bridges, an airfield, motorized columns, gun positions, troops, barracks and entrenchments, mostly in the battle area west of Lessay.
Seven planes missing
During the afternoon and evening, Thunderbolts knocked out more than 50 freight cars and left others buried in debris. From these and other operations, seven aircraft were missing.
Eighth Fighter Command Mustangs and Thunderbolts made offensive sweeps over France today, knocking down five German planes and strafing trucks and flak towers, all without loss of a single plane.
Weather improved
The daylight raids followed a new strike into Germany last night by RAF Mosquito bombers which scattered two-ton blockbusters over industrial objectives in the Ruhr and mined enemy waters without loss.
With the weather somewhat improved both over the Channel and Normandy, British and U.S. Air Forces were expected to provide stronger support to the ground forces battling in France. Tactical operations were reduced to 500 sorties yesterday because of a low ceiling and occasional rain.
Hit many targets
The force which crossed the straits in early daylight included considerable bombers, but not in the strength of the previous three days during which the Americans hurled about 3,300 planes in obliteration raids on Munich, the Nazi shrine of Germany.
Although the operations over France yesterday were carried out by comparatively small forces, the U.S. 9th Air Force and the British 2nd Tactical fighter-bombers and rocket-fighters hit numerous targets by Army request with good results.
Down 16 Nazi planes
The Germans sent about 50 planes into the air behind the battle area, and 16 of them were shot down. Seven Allied planes were lost.
One Canadian Spitfire squadron based in Normandy claimed the biggest victory for French-based units. It sighted 12 Fw 190s south of Caen and in a brief dogfight destroyed 10 without loss.
The U.S. 9th Air Force lost six of the seven Allied aerial casualties and claimed four of the 16 victories.
‘Pathfinder’ planes guide U.S. bombers
London, England (UP) –
Eighth Air Force heavy bombers have located their targets through clouds by following directions of highly-trained crews in “Pathfinder planes” using special instruments, the U.S. Tactical Air force revealed to the first time today.
Bombardiers in Flying Fortresses and Liberators release their loads at the time indicated by the “Pathfinders.” The effectiveness of U.S. daylight bombing has been increased tremendously by introduction of this overcast technique, it was revealed.
The Tactical Air Force officially credits much of the increased pressure on the Luftwaffe and German war industry by U.S. day bombing to the new technique.
Fifth Army takes key to Florence
Road junction falls to French troops
By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer
…
Reconversion plans pushed amid warnings
Protection demanded for ‘little man’
…
124 scarce items to be produced
Vacuum cleaners, mowers on list
…
Roberts: A day with Ike Eisenhower starts early and ends late
Supreme Commander reads reports, dictates orders and holds many conferences
By Edward V. Roberts, representing combined U.S. press
Allied advanced command post, France (UP) –
There’s no such thing as a “typical” day in the life of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied forces. He is apt to be in any one of a dozen different places – talking to G.I. Joe one day, Prime Minister Winston Churchill the next.
He probably spends as much time as this post as anywhere. Let’s follow Gen. Eisenhower through a day spent here recently – July 10, to be exact.
The previous night, the general remained in his office until just before midnight, reading a steady stream of reports concerning the Allied progress toward Caen. Finally, when word of the capture of the city came, he nodded his satisfaction and went to bed.
Regular American breakfast
At 8:00 a.m. July 10, he was back at his desk reading an important message from Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery. Then he went to his personal caravan for a regular American breakfast of orange juice, bacon, eggs, toast, and coffee.
Dictating for an hour and a half following breakfast, he sent a reply to Gen. Montgomery and various memoranda to Allied officers. Then he sent for his personal aide to obtain information on the Normandy action.
Four reporters stationed here as representatives of the combined British and American press were received by Gen. Eisenhower at 11:00 a.m. He saw us approaching, came out hatless to meet us and led us into the tent that serves as his office here. He told us to grab chairs and the session was on.
Sweats fluently, frequently
The general talked with us for an hour and a half, leisurely and quietly discussing the war situation, the outlook for the future and flying bombs. He talks easily in a conversational vein, smoking most of the time and hitching himself about comfortably in his chair. His language is a mixture of Kansas and the Army. He says “ennaway” for anyway and his “B’Gods” and “damns” are frequent, fluent and casual.
He asked us how we were getting along and if we had enough to do. he listened with apparent interest to a long recitation of our problems and offered some suggestions, volunteering to help out with the tough ones. As is his custom, he emphasized the importance of our “covering” his commanders, both British and American.
Gen. Eisenhower’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. W. B. Smith, arrived at 1:00 p.m., with the Earl of Halifax, British Ambassador in Washington, who was a luncheon guest. It was the first time Lord Halifax and Gen. Eisenhower had met since before the invasion of North Africa and they had much to talk about.
Reads courts-martial
After luncheon, the Supreme Commander held a telephone conference with Air Chf. Mshl. Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Allied air commander.
Next the general read the briefs on several courts-martial cases, referred to him for final action, and made an appointment for his weekly conference with the Judge Advocate General. On these cases, Gen. Eisenhower functions as a court of last resort, his powers being similar to those of executive clemency vested in a state governor or the President.
During the afternoon, more dispatches and some personal mail arrived for his attention. There was a letter from his brother, Milton Eisenhower (president of Kansas State College), and a note from the Earl of Halifax – mailed days ago but missent – thanking him for the aid American soldiers have rendered London victims of the flying bombs.
Stewed chicken for supper
Another long dictation session began at 5:00 p.m. That finished, the general jumped into his long tan Cadillac and drove to naval headquarters for a talk with Adm. Sir Bertram Ramsay, Allied naval commander.
Returning, he went into a huddle with Lt. Gen. Smith and other high general whose name cannot yet be released. Sometime after 8:00 p.m., he went to his mess for a supper of stewed chicken, fried corn and French-fried potatoes. Sgt. Leroy Ross of Morgan City, Louisiana, who served him, said Gen. Eisenhower is pretty good-natured and “joshed” him a little.
A few late dispatches occupied the general after supper. Then he went to bed with the observation that he was tired.
Chinese troops trap 2,000 Japs
Chennault’s fliers support new drive
…
As Nazi bullets fly –
Wolfert: Hedge across field seems lifetime away – and is for some
‘They ain’t gonna shoot at you,’ 2nd Looie tells his men, but he was wrong
By Ira Wolfert, North American Newspaper Alliance
With U.S. infantry outside Saint-Lô, France – (July 12, delayed)
American troops find the Normandy farmer frugal around here. His fields are mostly less than an acre and boxed in by high hedges as if they were treasures he wanted to lock up.
He’s got them locked up tight for the hedges are thick and green and all brambly. You can’t see through them if you stick your face into them to look through. It’s like trying to look through a mask.
Under every hedge is a German slit trench – one, three or five of them, dug right into the roots of the hedges. Men who know a great deal about war built them.
A battalion today was driving due south on Saint-Lô and there were German ahead of them and on two sides of them, waiting behind hedges in every field with mortars, machine guns, rifles and machine pistols. A lieutenant would say a four-letter word. He chose the same one every time not because he liked it but because his mind was too numbed to think up a new one.
‘Ain’t gonna shoot’
“There ain’t nobody gonna shoot at you,” he said. He lifted himself out of the slit earth where he had been hiding and hauled himself through a hedge, putting his arms in front of his face to keep the thorns out. His platoon would lift and haul with him and they’d be out in an open field.
It felt terrible there. Everybody would feel all naked with the timothy and American style clover and grass reaching no higher than the leggings. The fellows would think. “Shavetail, you’ve gonna be a dead little boy if you ain’t right about nobody shooting at us.”
Platoons in the fields to the right and left would be coming through hedges and advancing at the same time, no doubt thinking the same thing about their second looies. It felt good in the thick hedges at the edge of the open field. When you are in a battle, it is hard to think that anything exists anywhere except the battle.
Best place in world
About two hours ago there as I wrote, it seemed to me there was no better place in the world to be than in those hedges. Cannon and mortar shells would pass over your head. The trajectory was in your favor. You knew that they couldn’t hit you unless you had bad luck and one fell right on your head.
That was why there were still Germans in the hedges. Our artillery couldn’t drive them the conventional six feet under, unless it hit each one separately on the head.
A couple of pigs were grunting and gobbling as they grubbed in the fields and the fellow next to me, finding his brains breathing again, said, “Look, pork chops.” Funny looking French birds were fluttering away from every shell whistle, giving off soft, wet warbles as if they were clearing their throats. Only it sounded beautiful.
Afraid fall silent
There wasn’t much talking in the hedges. Most of the fellows when afraid fall silent. Only one in about every ten becomes talkative. Words come out of him in a steady, high, irritating babble. He tries to talk out the fears silently inside and edge away from the talkative one.
Mostly what you heard in the hedges was the flat and wiry-seeming sound of shallow breathing. Lungs don’t work very well when a man is afraid and breath becomes very short. Then the lieutenant said his four-letter word and fellow lifted up and scraped and tore their awkward way through hedges.
After that they stood on the soft grass and there was nothing between them and the enemy’s bullets except the warm, summer air. So thin that air was. It seemed that the fellows looked across maybe a hundred feet of grass to another hedge just like the one they had left. Only there were Germans in that hedge.
Like a sore thumb
Everybody felt naked standing there. You felt you were sticking up like a sore thumb, waiting to be banged again by a hammer. The hedge across the field seemed a lifetime away for some of the fellows. That’s just what it was – their lives ended before they made the once-mighty German Reichswehr a broken thing.
It’s not putting up what you might call, if you weren’t in it, a really serious fight. It’s more than a rearguard action in this sector. Some of the Huns seem to want to surrender, but in every hedge, there is some tough, wise, old cookie. A horny-hearted veteran of long years of war, who fires his weapon until you come right up to him and tap him on the shoulder. He is likely to have his toilet kit all neatly wrapped up in a handkerchief, sitting beside him in a slit trench, waiting for a trip to prison camp. Then when you come right up to his hedge, he steps away from the Huns and says: “Kamerad”. If the marksmanship has been bad across that field, he’s got a chance of being taken prisoner.
Always some leftovers
All the same, there continues to be, day after day, one or five or eight of those guys, leftovers of our artillery and mortar fire, still in there trying. They sit directly in front of us or they sit in hedges to the right and left and when the guys in our faces are shooting good at us, the guys to the right and left hold still and wait until we have passed and then try to get us in the back.
The race across the open field goes fast for a platoon that’s not being shot at. In other places, platoons drop and belly their way forward trying to grenade the Nazis out. Everybody shoots everything he has and there is a fearful racket.
The first platoon to gain the German hedge runs enfilading fire on the hedges in the fields on both sides of it and other platoons come up under their protection, crouching and running fast and throwing themselves into their hedges with the thud and thump of a football team smashing a line.
That way the battalion advances and that way the whole of civilization advances on Saint-Lô, a French town that nobody I know of ever heard of until a few weeks ago.
Liberated French celebrate holiday
Ceremonies solemn in Normandy area
Cherbourg, France (UP) –
With American guns firing a salute and the U.S. flag draped over the city’s war memorial, Cherbourg led the liberated portion of France today in the first free celebration of Bastille Day in five years.
A battery of twelve 105mm guns, similar to those which helped drive the Germans from the peninsula, roared out over the city at 8:00 a.m. (2:00 a.m. ET) to open the day’s ceremonies.
On Cherbourg’s memorial to the men she lost in World War I, a flag, sent by John L. Donovan of Brooklyn to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower with the request it be flown in Cherbourg to mark the U.S. Fourth of July, was hung.
High mass held
At midday, solemn high mass was held at Notre-Dame du Vœu, attended by ranking Allied officers and local leaders.
The day’s ceremonies were marked by a parade of Allied forces, including 72 French sailors from ships which aided in the beachhead landings. The parade wound along the waterfront to the public gardens where the memorial stands under a peak, atop which rests Fort de Roule, one of the bastions taken by U.S. troops less than three weeks ago.
Underground parades
Proudly marching in the parade and no longer fearful of showing themselves, was a group of French Resistance workers who fought the Nazis through the long years of occupation.
Lt. Col. Frank Howley of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, civil affairs officer, and the mayor of Cherbourg made brief speeches before the memorial.
In front of the municipal theater, official ceremonies were held to change the name of Place Marechal Pétain to Place General de Gaulle.
In the rest of liberated Normandy, smaller celebrations were held.