America at war! (1941–) – Part 4

8566

Agreement Relating to Prisoners of War and Civilians Liberated by Forces Operating Under Soviet Command and Forces Operating Under U.S. Command

February 11, 1945

The Government of the United States of America on the one hand and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the other hand, wishing to make arrangements for the care and repatriation of United States citizens freed by forces operating under Soviet command and for Soviet citizens freed by forces operating under United States command, have agreed as follows:

Article 1

All Soviet citizens liberated by the forces operating under United States command and all United States citizens liberated by the forces operating under Soviet command will, without delay after their liberation, be separated from enemy prisoners of war and will be maintained separately from them in camps or points of concentration until they have been handed over to the Soviet or United States authorities, as the case may be, at places agreed upon between those authorities.

United States and Soviet military authorities will respectively take the necessary measures for protection of camps, and points of concentration from enemy bombing, artillery fire, etc.

Article 2

The contracting parties shall ensure that their military authorities shall without delay inform the competent authorities of the other party regarding citizens of the other contracting party found by them, and will at the same time take the necessary steps to implement the provisions of this agreement. Soviet and United States repatriation representatives will have the right of immediate access into the camps and points of concentration where their citizens are located and they will have the right to appoint the internal administration and set up the internal discipline and management in accordance with the military procedure and laws of their country.

Facilities will be given for the despatch or transfer of officers of their own nationality to camps or points of concentration where liberated members of the respective forces are located and there are insufficient officers. The outside protection of and access to and from the camps or points of concentration will be established in accordance with the instructions of the military commander in whose zone they are located, and the military commander shall also appoint a commandant, who shall have the final responsibility for the overall administration and discipline of the camp or point concerned.

The removal of camps as well as the transfer from one camp to another of liberated citizens will be effected by agreement with the competent Soviet or United States authorities. The removal of camps and transfer of liberated citizens may, in exceptional circumstances, also be effected without preliminary agreement provided the competent authorities are immediately notified of such removal or transfer with a statement of the reasons. Hostile propaganda directed against the contracting parties or against any of the United Nations will not be permitted.

Article 3

The competent United States and Soviet authorities will supply liberated citizens with adequate food, clothing, housing and medical attention both in camps or at points of concentration and en route, and with transport until they are handed over to the Soviet or United States authorities at places agreed upon between those authorities. The standards of such food, clothing, housing and medical attention shall, subject to the provisions of Article 8, be fixed on a basis for privates, non-commissioned officers and officers. The basis fixed for civilians shall as far as possible be the same as that fixed for privates.

The contracting parties will not demand compensation for these or other similar services which their authorities may supply respectively to liberated citizens of the other contracting party.

Article 4

Each of the contracting parties shall be at liberty to use in agreement with the other party such of its own means of transport as may be available for the repatriation of its citizens held by the other contracting party. Similarly each of the contracting parties shall be at liberty to use in agreement with the other party its own facilities for the delivery of supplies to its citizens held by the other contracting party.

Article 5

Soviet and United States military authorities shall make such advances on behalf of their respective governments to liberated citizens of the other contracting party as the competent Soviet and United States authorities shall agree upon beforehand.

Advances made in currency of any enemy territory or in currency of their occupation authorities shall not be liable to compensation.

In the case of advances made in currency of liberated non-enemy territory, the Soviet and United States Governments will effect, each for advances made to their citizens necessary settlements with the Governments of the territory concerned, who will be informed of the amount of their currency paid out for this purpose.

Article 6

Ex-prisoners of war and civilians of each of the contracting parties may, until their repatriation, be employed in the management, maintenance and administration of the camps or billets in which they are situated. They may also be employed on a voluntary basis on other work in the vicinity of their camps in furtherance of the common war effort in accordance with agreements to be reached between the competent Soviet and United States authorities. The question of payment and conditions of labour shall be determined by agreement between these authorities. It is understood that liberated members of the respective forces will be employed in accordance with military standards and procedure and under the supervision of their own officers.

Article 7

The contracting parties shall, wherever necessary, use all practicable means to ensure the evacuation to the rear of these liberated citizens. They also undertake to use all practicable means to transport liberated citizens to places to be agreed upon where they can be handed over to the Soviet or United States authorities respectively. The handing over of these liberated citizens shall in no way be delayed or impeded by the requirements of their temporary employment.

Article 8

The contracting parties will give the fullest possible effect to the foregoing provisions of this Agreement, subject only to the limitations in detail and from time to time of operational, supply and transport conditions in the several theatres.

Article 9

This Agreement shall come into force on signature.

Done at the Crimea in duplicate and in the English and Russian languages, both being equally authentic, this eleventh day of February, 1945.

For the Government of the United States of America
JOHN R DEANE, Major General, USA

For the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Генерал-Лейтенант ГРЫЗЛОВ

8567

Log of the Trip

Sunday, February 11, 1945

1130: The President, accompanied by Mrs. Boettiger, took a jeep ride through the grounds and gardens of Livadia. Before he returned to his quarters he also inspected the U.S. Naval seaman guard which was drawn up outside the palace at the time.

1200: The Eighth Formal Meeting of the Crimea Conference was convened in the grand ballroom of Livadia. Present:

For the U.S. For Great Britain For the USSR
The President. The Prime Minister. Marshal Stalin.
Mr. Stettinius. Mr. Eden. Mr. Molotov.
Admiral Leahy. Mr. Cadogan. Mr. Vyshinski.
Mr. Hopkins. Mr. Clark Kerr. Mr. Maisky.
Mr. Harriman. Mr. Jebb. Mr. Gousev.
Mr. Matthews. Mr. Bridges. Mr. Gromyko.
Mr. Bohlen. Mr. Wilson. Mr. Pavlov.
Mr. Hiss. Major Birse.
Mr. Foote. Mr. Dixon.

The conference recessed at 1250.

1300: The President was host at luncheon at Livadia to the Prime Minister, Marshal Stalin, Mr. Stettinius, Mr. Eden, Mr. Molotov, Mr. Harriman, Mr. Clark Kerr, Mr. Cadogan, Major Birse, Mr. Bohlen and Mr. Pavlov.

Conference discussions continued at the lunch table under 1545, at which time the Crimea Conference formally adjourned.

1555: Marshal Stalin, after having bade the President and members of his party goodbye, left Livadia by motor for Koreiz Villa. Before the Marshal left Livadia the President presented to him for further delivery the following decorations that had been awarded by the United States to officers of the Soviet Forces:

  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Chief Commander) for Marshal Vasilevsky, Chief of Staff of the Red Army;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Chief Commander) for Marshal Novikov, Commanding General of the Red Air Force;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Colonel General Repin;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Lieutenant General Grendall;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Lieutenant General Krolenko;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Major General Levandovich;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Major General Slavin; and
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Colonel Byaz.

As we were leaving Livadia the President was presented numerous gift packages by the Soviet Authorities at the palace, as also were various other members of the party. These packages contained vodka, several kinds of wine, champagne, caviar, butter, oranges and tangerines.

General Comment
The weather at Livadia was most pleasant during our visit. The average temperature was 40. The Russians accredited the good weather to the President and called it “Roosevelt weather.” For several days preceding our arrival the weather had been anything but favorable. At exactly the “right time,” however, it cleared and remained so generally throughout our stay at Yalta.

During the period 4-11 February, daily meetings of the three Foreign Secretaries were held in addition to their attendance at the major conferences. Livadia, Vorontsov and Koreiz shared these Foreign Secretary meetings.

Our mail was brought to Yalta by Joint Chief of Staff couriers who used the regular Air Transport Command facilities from Washington to Cairo and the shuttle service from Cairo to Saki. The average time employed for the journey from Washington to Conference Headquarters was four days.

The British party had daily mail service. Their mail was flown directly from London to Saki in “Mosquito” type aircraft, the flights following a direct course between the two points involved.

Our radio communications were handled by a two-way high-speed circuit set up between Radio Washington and the Catoctin (at Sevastopol), using Navy Radio Oran as an intermediate relay station. The messages were broadcast over the Washington “FOX” schedules and when necessary rebroadcast by Radio Oran. Communication between the Catoctin and Livadia was by a land line or by telephone.

A number of U.S. Naval personnel who speak Russian were assembled by Admiral Hewitt and sent to Yalta in the Catoctin. This team proved most helpful in working with the Soviets to complete the preparations for our visit and they were also very helpful to us as interpreters during our eight days at Livadia. They were:

  • Lieut. George Scherbatoff, USNR
  • Lieut. Dimitri P. Keusseff, USNR
  • Lieut. C. Norris Houghton, USNR
  • Lieut. Michael Kimack, USNR
  • Lt (jg) John Cheplick, USNR
  • Lt (jg) John P. Romanov, USN
  • Andrew M. Bacha, Chief Yeoman, USNR
  • Andrew Sawchuck, Yeoman 2/c, USNR
  • Harry Sklenar, Yeoman 2/c, USNR
  • Alexis Nestoruk, Yeoman 2/c, USNR
  • Nickolas Korniloff, Yeoman 3/c, USNR
  • Russel Koval, Yeoman 3/c, USNR

1600: The President and members of his party left Livadia by motor for Sevastopol. Mr. Harriman and Miss Harriman accompanied the President. Mr. Early remained behind at Livadia to iron out several details concerning the joint communiqué that had been agreed to by the President, the Prime Minister and Marshal Stalin at the final meeting of the Crimea Conference. Mr. Hopkins, Sergeant Hopkins, Mr. Bohlen, Colonel Park, Major Putnam, Lieutenant Kloock, Chief Warrant Officer Stoner, Agents Deckard, Hastings and Wood left Livadia by motor for Simferopol where they spent the night on a special sleeper-train that had been parked there by the Soviets for our convenience.

The drive to Sevastopol was over high and winding mountain roads along the Black Sea coast. It took us over the battlefield, nearly a century old, where the historic Light Brigade made its famous charge in the Crimean War of 1854-1856, and for many miles led through territory bitterly contested by the Russians and Germans in the recent Crimean campaign.

1840: The President and his party arrived in Sevastopol and proceeded to the USS Catoctin, a naval auxiliary moored at the Soviet naval base.

It was dusk when we arrived in Sevastopol but the President saw scenes of stark destruction there wrought by the Germans. The city was virtually leveled to the ground except for the walls of homes and other buildings which the mines, bombs and shells in recent battles left standing like billboards – mute testimony of the horrorful wanton Nazi vengeance. Of thousands of buildings in the city, the President was told that only six were left in useful condition when the Germans fled.

Distance traveled, Livadia to Sevastopol, 80 miles.

1855: The President and his party went on board the Catoctin where they spent the night. The Catoctin manned the rail and accorded the President full honors as he went on board.

The Catoctin served a delicious steak dinner to us, which was a real treat for us after eight days of Russian fare.

After dinner Admiral McIntire, Admiral Brown, Mrs. Boettiger and Miss Harriman attended a concert given in Sevastopol by the members of the band of the Black Sea Naval Base.

2130: Mr. Early arrived on board the Catoctin from Livadia and the encoding and radio transmission of the Conference communiqué was started. The communiqué was to be released simultaneously in Washington, London, and Moscow at 1630 tomorrow, February 12. Lieutenant Bogue and Mr. Cornelius and the communication force of the Catoctin are to be commended for the expeditious manner in which this communiqué was encoded and transmitted to Washington. See Annex A for complete text of the communiqué.

Captain C. O. Comp, USN, commanded the Catoctin. Her Executive Officer was Lieutenant Commander W. S. Dufton, USN, and her Supply Officer Lieutenant Commander E. C. Laflen, (SC), USN.

8568

U.S. State Department (February 12, 1945)

890F.51/2-1245: Telegram

The Minister in Saudi Arabia to the Secretary of State

Jidda, February 12, 1945 – 8 a.m.
[Received 8:29 a.m.]
61

Reference Department’s 27, February 3, 3 p.m. British Minister waiting instructions before joining me in discussion of Saudi finance and currency requirements. He insists privately that there is no currency problem, we should lend lease no more riyals and he resents our sale of bullion gold to Saudi. Obviously he will press for substantial cut in total subsidy without regard to Saudi budget and needs. I agreed to defer discussion of budget and currency for a few days.

He agreed to join me in recommendation “that the subsidy supply program of commodities be continued for 6 months January 1-June 30, 1945 at the same level of quantities and total cost as 1944 subsidy, with substitutions and improvements proposed through MESC, provided: that any joint subsidy for 1945 or fraction thereof be decreased in total cost to combined governments below 1944 figures by (1) increase in revenue from oil (2) increase in revenue from pilgrimage and (3) profit from sale of bullion gold.” To this I agreed as these increases, if any, will appear in Saudi budget.

Comment

  1. In view of expectations we have raised in Saudi minds (reference Department’s 283, December 24, 2 p.m.) urgent we balance their legitimate budget and not join British in imposing less help than in 1944. While joint subsidy should allow for increased Saudi income as above and though certain commodities such as textiles should be partially returned to commercial channels the USA should assure balanced budget by additional help outside of subsidy if necessary with or without Jordan’s concurrence in Saudi budget figures.

  2. If lend lease to Saudi Arabia will end in June, I recommend urgently that total lend lease riyals for entire year be authorized and minted before June. Ten million at least needed again. Consult Lebkicher Aramco who believes 15 million additional riyals for sale to Americans needed this spring. Riyals and gold bullion may be our only present means of supplementing Saudi income if British insist upon inadequate subsidy.

  3. Comment on Saudi budget will follow shortly.

EDDY

8569

Oberdonau-Zeitung (February 12, 1945)

Deutscher Widerstand erhält Wirkung

…

8570

Stalin hat volle Freiheit in ganz Europa

Hinter den Kulissen der Konferenz – Polen und Balten ans Messer geliefert

Lissabon, 11. Februar – „Sowjetrussland kann nach dem Kriege den Balkan, Ungarn, Österreich, die Tschechoslowakei, Polen und Deutschland beherrschen,“ so heißt es in dem Artikel einer Neuyorker Zeitung über die gegenwärtigen Verhandlungen der Dreimächtekonferenz. Stalin habe bereits Tausende von Kommissaren ausbilden lassen, die die Verwaltung in Deutschland übernehmen sollten. Der größte Teil Europas werde infolgedessen von ihm abhängen.

Die Selbstverständlichkeit, mit der hier der größte Teil Europas den Bolschewisten ohne weiteres zu Füssen gelegt wird, kommt in den übrigen Streitfragen zum Ausdruck, die in dem Artikel erwähnt werden. So wird zur Lösung der polnischen. Frage als einzige Bedingung vorgeschlagen, dass ein Londoner Pole, und zwar der nicht mehr der Londoner Schattenregierung angehörige Mikolajczyk, in den Lublin-Ausschuss polnischer Bolschewisten übernommen werde, worauf die angelsächsischen Mächte bereit sein würden, die übrigen Londoner Polen aufzugeben und den Lublin-Ausschuss als polnische Regierung anzuerkennen.

Noch einfacher gedenkt man es sich mit den baltischen Staaten zu machen, deren Vertreter in England und den Vereinigten Staaten noch einen gewissen diplomatischen Rang einnehmen. Der Artikel schlägt als einseitiges Zugeständnis der angelsächsischen Mächte vor, dass diese Estland, Lettland und Litauen als Teil der Sowjetunion anerkennen möchten.

8571

Die Kämpfe um Manila

Japan erobert Flugplätze in China

Tokio, 11. Februar – Frontberichten zufolge toben die erbitterten Straßenkämpfe in Manila mit unverminderter Heftigkeit weiter. Während der andauernden feindlichen Luftangriffe ist die gesamte Geschäfts- und Ladenstadt Manilas, die Rizal Avenue, völlig dem Erdboden gleichgemacht worden. Die wenigen Hochhäuser auf der Escolta, die noch nicht zerstört worden sind, befinden sich weiterhin fest in japanischer Hand. Erbitterte Kämpfe, die von beiden Seiten durch das Eingreifen der schweren Artillerie unterstützt werden, toben im Gebiet des Flugplatzes südlich von Manila.

Das kaiserliche Hauptquartier gab am Sonntag-Nachmittag nachstehenden Bericht heraus: Unsere Einheiten, die nach der Besetzung des Flugplatzes von Suichuan, von Hengyang und Shiuchow aus weiter vormarschierten, haben auch die Flugplätze von Hengyang und Manchow eingenommen und haben am 7. Februar den Flugplatz Sincheng besetzt, so dass sich also die Gruppe feindlicher Flugplätze im Gebiet von Kanchow–Suichuan vollkommen in unseren Händen befindet.

8572

Führer HQ (February 12, 1945)

Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht

Östlich des Plattensees und im Südteil der Slowakei scheiterten zahlreiche Einzelangriffe der Bolschewisten.

Zwischen Bielitz und Ratihor wurden starke, von Panzern und Schlachtfliegern unterstützte feindliche Angriffe in heftigen Kämpfen aufgefangen. In Niederschlesien nahm die Schlacht an Ausdehnung zu. Westlich Breslau warfen unsere Truppen im Gegenangriff den nach Süden stoßenden Feind bis in den Raum Kanth–Kostenblut zurück und verhinderten damit seine Vereinigung mit den aus dem Brückenkopf Brieg nach Nordwesten strebenden feindlichen Kräften. Am Bober-Abschnitt sind nördlich Bunzlau und östlich Sagan heftige Kämpfe im Gange. Zwischen Fürstenberg und dem Oderbruch hat sich bei harten, jedoch örtlich begrenzten Kämpfen die Lage nicht verändert.

Im Südteil von Pommern und Westpreußen wurden nordwestlich Deutsch Krone und an der Front zwischen Landeck und Graudenz Durchbruchsversuche starker sowjetischer Kräfte nach anfänglichem Geländegewinn vereitelt. Die Verteidiger von Schneidemühl und Posen stehen in schweren Straßenkämpfen mit dem in das Innere der Festungen eingebrochenen Gegner. Nach wochenlangem heroischem Kampf ist die Besatzung von Elbing der Übermacht des feindlichen Ansturms erlegen. Ein Teil hat sich unter Mitnahme der Verwundeten zu den eigenen Linien durchgeschlagen.

In Ostpreußen zerbrachen heftige Angriffe des Gegners gegen die Abschnitte von Wormditt, Preußisch-Eylau und Zinten an dem hartnäckige», Widerstand unserer Divisionen, die 46 Panzer und 47 Geschütze zerstörten. Im Samland wurden die nordöstlich Fischhausen eingeschlossenen Teile der sowjetischen 87. Gardeschützendivision vernichtet.

Schlacht- und Jagdflieger vernichteten 39 Panzer, 12 Geschütze und 257 motorisierte und bespannte Fahrzeuge. 21 sowjetische Flugzeuge wurden, zum Absturz gebracht.

In den bisherigen vier Wochen der Winterschlacht im Osten vernichteten Truppen des Heeres und der Waffen-SS sowie fliegende Verbände und Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe 7.986 Panzer, viele hundert Geschütze und mehr als 10.000 motorisierte und bespannte Fahrzeuge der Sowjets. Außerdem wurden 457 feindliche Flugzeuge abgeschossen oder am Boden zerstört. Die blutigen Verluste des Feindes sind gewaltig.

Zwischen Niederrhein und Maas konnten die Engländer nach erbitterten Kämpfen zum Ostrand des Reichswaldes vorstoßen. Der angestrebte Durchbruch blieb ihnen jedoch dank der Standhaftigkeit unserer Truppen wiederum versagt.

Durch das Öffnen der Rurtalsperre wurde das Rurtal weithin überschwemmt und der Feind dadurch gezwungen, seine Steilungen in mehreren Abschnitten am Flussufer zu räumen und seine Angriffsvorbereitungen zu unterbrechen.

Im Abschnitt von Prüm sind eigene Panzer zum Gegenangriff übergegangen und haben den Feind auf das Westufer des Prümflusses zurückgeworfen. Die Stadt selbst wurde befreit. Südwestlich davon wird um einzelne Ortschaften in unseren Westbefestigungen gekämpft.

An der unteren Sauer, wo der Feind vor allem an der Oure-Mündung und bei Echternach seine örtlichen Brückenköpfe auszuweiten versucht, wurde in heftigen Kämpfen ein größerer Erfolg des Feindes verhindert.

In Mittelitalien warfen unsere Truppen, hervorragend von eigener Artillerie unterstützt, beiderseits der Straße Via Reggio–Massa vorübergehend vorgedrungenen Feind wieder zurück und vernichteten dabei 15 feindliche Panzer.

In der Herzegowina wurden fortgesetzte feindliche Angriffe fm Raum von Mostar abgewiesen. Die Säuberung der Bilo Gora und des Gebietes zwischen Virovitica und der Drau ist im schnellen Fortschreiten.

Im westlichen Reichsgebiet setzten anglo-amerikanische Terrorflieger ihre Tiefangriffe gegen die Zivilbevölkerung fort. Nordamerikanische Bomber griffen erneut Orte im Münsterland an.

Das Vergeltungsfeuer auf London dauert an.

Im Kampf um Posen schlagen sich die unter Führung des Generalmajors Gonell stehenden Angehörigen der Fahnenjunkerschule 5 mit vorbildlicher Tapferkeit.

8573

Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (February 12, 1945)

FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN

ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section

DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
121100A February

TO FOR ACTION
(1) AGWAR
(2) NAVY DEPARTMENT

TO (W) FOR INFORMATION (INFO)
(3) TAC HQ 12 ARMY GP
(4) MAIN 12 ARMY GP
(5) AIR STAFF
(6) ANCXF
(7) EXFOR MAIN
(8) EXFOR REAR
(9) DEFENSOR, OTTAWA
(10) CANADIAN C/S, OTTAWA
(11) WAR OFFICE
(12) ADMIRALTY
(13) AIR MINISTRY
(14) UNITED KINGDOM BASE
(15) SACSEA
(16) CMHQ (Pass to RCAF & RCN)
(17) COM ZONE
(18) SHAEF REAR
(19) AFHQ for PRO, ROME
(20) HQ SIXTH ARMY GP

(REF NO.)
NONE

(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR

Communiqué No. 310

Allied forces have occupied Millingen, on the Dutch-German border east of Nijmegen, and Keeken across the border south of Millingen. Our advance continues despite difficult ground conditions and stiffening resistance.

Fighting continues in the devastated town of Kleve. We have made further progress in the Reichswald Forest and have taken the towns of Middelaar, Ottersum and Ven-Zelderheide to the south.

Enemy troop concentration northeast of the Reichswald Forest, and focal points for communications at Kevelaer and Sonsbeck north of Geldern were attacked by medium, light and fighter-bombers.

Our forces have cleared the enemy from the area north and west of the Roer River between the Schwammenauel Dam and Heimbach.

West and southwest of Prüm, we have captured Steinmehlen and Weinsfeld and have pushed to the Prüm River in several places from three fourths of a mile to two miles southwest of Prüm.

Farther south, our units have cleared the enemy from Biesdorf, one mile northeast of Wallendorf, and have advanced in the area north of Echternach to reach the outskirts of Ferschweiler.

Our forces in the Sinz area, southeast of Remich, have repulsed two counterattacks by infantry and tanks.

Southeast of Haguenau a tank supported enemy counterattack was repulsed in Oberhöfen after it had made initial gains. In stiff fighting our forces regained the lost ground and took 150 prisoners including a battalion commander.

Hard fighting also continued in the vicinity of nearby Drusenheim.

South of Strasbourg, enemy raids from east of the Rhine were repulsed.

Northeast of Mulhouse, harassing enemy artillery fire was received in the Chalampe Bantzenheim area.

Transportation targets in northwest Germany were hit by fighter bombers and rocket-firing fighters. Many locomotives and rail cars were destroyed or damaged and barges, tugs and road vehicles were shot up.

Medium and light bombers struck at railway yards at Mödrath and Kierberg near Cologne, and at Bingen. Bridges, rolling stock and railway lines mainly west of the Rhine in the areas of Cologne, Bonn and Koblenz, and rail traffic in the upper Rhine region northwest and southwest of Mannheim, and at Heilbronn, were the principal targets for other fighter-bombers.

In Holland, fighter-bombers struck at rail supply routes, German units moving in the Rotterdam area and an airfield and barracks at Steenwijk, north of Zwolle.

Escorted heavy bombers attacked a motor fuel depot at Dülmen southwest of Münster.

One enemy aircraft was destroyed during the day. Eight of our fighters are missing.

COORDINATED WITH: G-2, G-3 to C/S

THIS MESSAGE MAY BE SENT IN CLEAR BY ANY MEANS
/s/

Precedence
“OP” - AGWAR
“P” - Others

ORIGINATING DIVISION
PRD, Communique Section

NAME AND RANK TYPED. TEL. NO.
D. R. JORDAN, Lt Col FA2409

AUTHENTICATING SIGNATURE
/s/
8574

U.S. Navy Department (February 12, 1945)

CINCPOA Communiqué No. 256

Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, heavily bombed airfield installations and other targets on Iwo Jima in the Volcanos on February 11 (East Longitude Date). Five enemy aircraft were observed in the air.

On the same date, StrAirPoa Army bombers attacked Marcus Island with unobserved results.

Navy search planes of Fleet Air Wing One bombed Truk in the Carolines on February 11. Two enemy aircraft were airborne over the target.

Fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing sank a barge and set nine others ablaze and destroyed six trucks on Babelthuap in the Palaus on February 11. Attacks were also made on targets on Arakabesan in the same group. Installations on Yap in the Western Carolines were bombed by Marine aircraft on the same date.

Marine fighters attacked targets on Rota in the Marianas on February 11.

8575

The Pittsburgh Press (February 12, 1945)

Big Three agrees on plan to rule ‘doomed’ Germany

Poland to receive government based on national unity

WASHINGTON (UP) – The Big Three has agreed on plans for enforcing unconditional surrender terms on Germany, the calling of a United Nations’ conference on world security organization problems, and future quarterly meetings of their foreign secretaries.

This was announced in a communiqué issued by the White House. It said the meeting lasted eight days and was held in the Russian Crimea. The meeting has now been concluded.

President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Marshal Joseph Stalin also agreed to form a new government for Poland to be called the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity.

Their joint communiqué declared that in the future the Big Three powers will “immediately consult” on problems arising in any European liberated state or former Axis satellite.

The plans for occupation and control of Germany were agreed upon.

They provide control of the Big Three powers, but France will be invited to take over a zone of occupation and become a fourth member of a Central Control Commission.

The commission will have headquarters in Berlin and will include representatives of all the big powers.

The communiqué, six pages long, was divided into nine sections.

The first, devoted to the military aspects of the conference, said that the big three meeting had been “most satisfactory from every point of view” and had resulted in an interchange of the fullest information.

It promised “new and even more powerful blows” to be launched by the United Nations armies and air forces into the heart of Germany from the east, west, north and south.

The communiqué said:

Nazi Germany is doomed. The German people will only make the cost of their defeat heavier to themselves by attempting to continue a hopeless resistance.

The communiqué revealed that the three leaders had solved the major unfinished business of the Dumbarton Oaks World Organization Conference – the voting procedure question – but gave no details of the solution.

The text of the proposals on voting procedure will be announced as soon as China and France have been consulted.

The Big Three agreed that the full United Nations Conference to set up the world organization should meet at San Francisco April 25.

The communiqué said a new situation had been created in Poland as a result of her “complete liberation by the Red Army” and called for establishment of a more broadly based provisional government in that country.

It proposed reorganization of the provisional government which is now functioning in Poland on “a broader democratic basis with the inclusion of democratic leaders from Poland itself and from Poles abroad.”

The three leaders said they considered that the eastern frontier of Poland should follow the Curzon Line “with digressions from it in some regions of five to eight kilometers in favor of Poland.” They recognized that Poland must receive substantial territory in the north and west as compensation.

The Curzon Line would give Russia a substantial amount of Polish territory.

The final delimitation of the western Polish frontier should await the peace conference, they said.

The Big Three recommended to Marshal Tito and Premier Ivan Subasic of Yugoslavia that the agreement between them should be put into effect immediately and a new government formed on that basis. They further recommended that the new government should immediately declare extension of the anti-Fascist Assembly to include members of the last Yugoslav Parliament “who have not compromised themselves by collaboration with the enemy”

The communiqué said the three leaders had considered the question of damage caused by Germany and recognized it as “just” that she be obliged to make compensation in kind “to the greatest extent possible.”

A commission will be established in Moscow to consider the extent and methods for compensating such damage.

The Big Three declaration on Liberated Europe said in part:

They jointly declare their mutual agreement to concert during the temporary period of instability in Liberated Europe the policies of their three governments in assisting the peoples liberated from the domination of Nazi Germany and the peoples of the former Axis satellite states of Europe to solve by domestic means their pressing political and economic problems.

The Big Three promised jointly to assist the people of Europe “to establish conditions of internal peace; to carry out emergency measures for relief of distressed people; to form interim governmental authorities broadly representative of all democratic elements in the population and pledge to the earliest possible establishment through free elections of governments responsive to the will of the peoples, and to facilitate when necessary the holding of such elections.”

They affirmed “our determination to build with other peace-loving nations world order under law, dedicated to peace, security, freedom and general well-being of all mankind.”

The three powers expressed the hope that France would be associated with them in the procedure suggested, apparently recalling Gen. Charles de Gaulle’s recent assertion that France would not be bound by any decisions reached at the Big Three conference in her absence.

The Big Three said it was their “inflexible purpose” to destroy German militarism and Nazism so that Germany will never again disturb the peace. It would do it this way:

We are determined to disarm and disband all German forces; break up for all time the German General Staff that has repeatedly tried the resurgence of German militarism; remove or destroy all German military equipment; eliminate or control all German industry that can be used for military production; bring all war criminals to just and swift punishment and exact reparation in kind of the destruction wrought by the Germans; wipe out the Nazi Party, Nazi laws, organizations and institutions, remove all Nazi and militarist influences from public office and from the cultural and economic life of the German people; and take in harmony with such other measures in Germany as may be necessary to the future peace and safety of the world.

The Big Three said it does not intend to destroy the future of Germany. but it said that only with the elimination of Nazism and militarism could there be hope for “a decent life for Germans, and a place for them in the comity of nations.”

8576

Allies seize 2 key bases in Siegfried Line

Canadians capture Kleve, Yanks Pruem

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8577

Record raid on Corregidor softens up Jap defenses

U.S. tanks splinter enemy force in southern Manila into isolated pockets

MANILA, Philippines (UP) – The fortress of Corregidor in Manila Harbor where Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s Americans made their last stand against the Japs rocked today under the heaviest saturation bombing attack yet launched in the Pacific.

For nearly a week, the Jap anti-aircraft guns on the rocky fortresses have been silent, presumably knocked out by American bombs.

The terrific air attack, softening up Corregidor for an American landing, came as U.S. tanks and infantry columns splintered the Jap forces in southern Manila. The Japs were cut into scores of isolated pockets and infantry patrols were sweeping down burning streets to destroy them.

In the last 48 hours more than 500 bombing sorties have been flown against Corregidor and southern Bataan. Nine hundred tons of bombs have been dropped, 200 tons on Corregidor alone. In one attack

Hard-hitting armored units of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division broke open the Jap defenses Saturday with two quick thrusts across the Pasig River on the east side of Manila. One column drove south toward Fort McKinley while the second wheeled westward to link up with doughboys of the 37th Infantry Division in the Pandacan District.

The sudden breakthrough promised to close out the bloody street battle for Manila in short order. After eight days of fanatical resistance, the Japs were breaking up into small suicide squads.

Probably the strongest remaining Jap positions were around Fort McKinley on the southeastern outskirts of the capital and in the old Walled City on Manila Bay.

The 1st Cavalry Division forced the Pasig River in amphibious tanks early Saturday, crossing just beyond the capital’s eastern outskirts. Advancing rapidly southward, the Americans reached Nielsen Airfield a mile southeast of the city limits and just north of Fort McKinley.

A few hours later, a second armored spearhead crossed the river a half-mile to the west, near the Santa Ana racetrack, quickly mopped up Jap resistance in the area and pushed westward to join up with the 37th Division.

Drive mile from river

The 37th Infantry Division’s advanced spearheads were already more than a mile south of the Pasig at some points and their right wing was reported moving against the main Jap strongpoint behind the massive stone walls of the Intramuros on the waterfront.

Elements of the U.S. 11th Airborne Division, meanwhile, were moving up along the shores of Manila Bay into the Jap rear. By Saturday night, they were reported north of Baclaran, two miles south of the city limits and about the same distance southwest of Fort McKinley.

Other units of the 11th Airborne Division were still locked in a blood struggle for Nichols Field, five miles south of Manila, where a strong Jap force had been cut off from the main garrison inside the capital. The Americans captured 10 eight-inch guns and two six-inch guns in the area Saturday after a hard fight.

Race toward coast

Almost 70 miles north of Manila, spearheads of the 6th Armored Division were well on their way to cutting Luzon in two with a dash overland to the island’s east coast. Two columns advanced well beyond Laur and Bongabon and were reported 20 miles or less from their objective – Baler and Dingalan Bays.

Northwest of the capital, other U.S. forces continued their methodical destruction of the Jap units trapped in the foothills of the Zambales Mountains overlooking Fort Stotsenburg. The Japs were well-entrenched in a network of rock caves, and the Americans were using airpower and artillery to the utmost in order to keep down casualties.

Jap broadcasts asserted that the Americans have lost more than 30,000 men in the month-old battle for Luzon, half of them killed, against Jap losses of 6,500 killed or wounded. Last week, however, Tokyo placed the American losses at about 11,200 men.

Strong forces of Liberator bombers hit Corregidor Island on Friday, and more than 70 attack bombers worked over the southern shores of Bataan Peninsula on the same day, bombing and strafing the enemy without opposition.

American PT boats ranged north of Lingayen Gulf to sink 20 coastal craft near San Fernando and La Union.

8578

Elliott Roosevelt opposed by GOP

Senators challenge promotion right

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8579

Sinatra heads for coast – draft decision due today

Crooner insists he doesn’t know whether he’s been accepted or rejected

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8580

I DARE SAY —
Simple duty

By Florence Fisher Parry

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8581

Legion pledges fight to create U.S. need for 55 million jobs

Posts and auxiliaries ‘from bottom up’ included in move to create markets
By Edward A. Evans, Scripps-Howard staff writer

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8582

Senate seeks work-or-else ‘compromise’

Solution without ‘big stick’ is goal
By Charles T. Lucey, Scripps-Howard staff writer

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Showdown due on George bill

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8583

Senate checks report that Col. Roosevelt is ‘unfit for either combat or flying duty’

Statement made by Air Force general leads to delay in action on promotion
By Douglas Larsen

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8584

29 persons hurt in train crash

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8585

World bank approval asked

Roosevelt backs Bretton Woods plan

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