Völkischer Beobachter (February 17, 1945)
Jalta: Ein Produkt gemeingefährlicher Gehirne
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Führer HQ (February 17, 1945)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Im Verlauf der nunmehr abgeschlossenen wochenlangen Angriffs- und Abwehrkämpfe zwischen Plattensee und Donau haben Truppen des Heeres und der Waffen-SS starke bolschewistische Verbände zerschlagen.
In der Zeit vom 1. Jänner bis 15. Februar verlor der Feind im Bereich einer unserer Armeen über 5.100 Gefangene, 2.045 Panzer und Sturmgeschütze, 2.727 Geschütze aller Art, 3.114 Granatwerfer und 2.774 Fahrzeuge. Die Luftwaffe griff in zahlreichen Einsätzen in den Kampf ein und zerstörte weitere 202 Panzer und Sturmgeschütze, 322 Geschütze aller Art und 1.600 Fahrzeuge. Die blutigen Verluste des Feindes sind erheblich.
Vor unseren Stellungen in der Slowakei brachen zahlreiche bolschewistische Angriffe zusammen. Bei Schwarzwasser dauern die Kämpfe an. Nördlich Ratibor nahm der Feind seine Angriffe mit Panzer- und Schlachtfliegerunterstützung wieder auf. Zwischen Strehlen und Kanth wurden bei der Abwehr starker feindlicher Angriffe 25 sowjetische Panzer vernichtet. Beiderseits Bunzlau und Sagan konnte der Gegner zunächst Boden gewinnen, wurde dann aber aufgefangen. Sagan fiel in die Hand des Feindes. Bei Christianstadt warfen Volkssturmeinheiten die Bolschewisten über den Bober und den Werftkanal zurück. Gegen die Festung Breslau gerichtete Angriffe wurden abgewiesen, einzelne Einbrüche abgeriegelt.
Im Südwestteil von Pommern sind zwischen der Oder und Reetz schwere Angriffs- und Abwehrkämpfe entbrannt. Der in Westpreußen zwischen Landeck und Graudenz in breiter Front fortgesetzte Ansturm der Sowjets führte zu Einbrüchen in dem unübersichtlichen Gelände der Tucheler Heide und westlich Graudenz, deine Abriegelung noch im Gange ist. In Posen wird um den Stadtkern gekämpft.
Auf ostpreußischem Gebiet wurde in den Schwerpunkträumen südlich Braunsberg, östlich Mehlsack und beiderseits Zinten auch gestern erbittert gerungen. Dem Feind gelang eine Ausweitung seiner Einbrüche, jedoch blieb ihm der angestrebte Durchbruch infolge des zähen Widerstandes unserer Infanterie versagt. Er verlor in diesen Kämpfen 105 Panzer und 54 Geschütze. Die mit örtlich zusammengefassten Kräften nordwestlich Dobeln angreifenden Bolschewisten wurden bis auf einen inzwischen abgeriegelten Einbruch nach Abschuss von 28 Panzern zurückgeschlagen. In heftigen Luftkämpfen wurden über dem Ostkampfraum gestern 32 sowjetische Flugzeuge abgeschossen.
An der westnorwegischen Küste stellten deutsche Jäger einen mit Jagdschutz Einfliegenden britischen Bomberverband, verhinderten den Angriff auf ein eigenes Geleit und brachten sieben Begleitjäger zum Absturz. In Westen warf gestern die 1. kanadische Armee neue Divisionen in die Schlacht, die nach stärkster Feuervorbereitung mit zusammengefassten Kräften gegen unsere Front anrannten. Der Angriff wurde in unserem Hauptkampffeld unter hohen blutigen Verlusten zum Stehen gebracht, nachdem zahlreiche feindliche Panzer vernichtet waren, östlich und südöstlich Gennep blieben die Angriffe ohne Erfolg und brachten auch hier den Kanadiern besonders hohe blutige Ausfälle. Im Kampfgebiet der unteren Sauer nahmen die Amerikaner am Nachmittag und Abend ihre starken Angriffe wieder auf. Nach schweren Kämpfen konnten sie unsere Stellungen geringfügig zurückdrücken. Im Abschnitt Remich an der Mosel haben unsere Truppen sämtliche vorübergehend verlorengegangene Bunker wieder zurückerobert. Bei Saarlautern wurden feindliche Angriffe zerschlagen. Auch östlich Saargemünd behaupteten wir nach wechselvollen Kämpfen unsere Höhenstellungen gegen den erneut angreifenden Gegner. Ein eigener Stoßtrupp stieß nördlich Neuenburg über den Rhein, sprengte mehrere Bunker und kehrte mit zahlreichen Gefangenen in die eigenen Linien zurück.
Anglo-amerikanische Terrorflieger griffen am gestrigen Tage Orte im westlichen und südlichen Reichsgebiet an. Wohnviertel verschiedener Städte im Münsterland und am Niederrhein wurden schwer getroffen. Durch Tieffliegerangriffe erlitt die Bevölkerung ebenfalls Verluste.
Das Vergeltungsfeuer auf London dauert an.
Seit Tagen verfolgen unsere Unterseeboote den im Wehrmachtbericht vom 11. Februar erwähnten stark gesicherten Nachschubgeleitzug nach Murmansk. Nachdem Torpedoflugzeuge bereits vier Schiffe und fünf Zerstörer versenkt haben, gelang es unseren unter der Führung von Fregattenkapitän Reinhard Suhren nachstoßenden Unterseebooten den Geleitzug kurz vor Erreichen seines Zieles unmittelbar unter der Küste zu fassen und sieben vollbeladene Schiffe mit 47.500 BRT, einen Geleitzerstörer und einen Bewacher zu versenken sowie zwei weitere Dampfer mit zusammen 14.000 BRT und einen Bewacher so zu torpedieren, dass mit ihrem Sinken ebenfalls gerechnet werden kann. Damit hat dieser Geleitzug durch die Operationen von Kriegsmarine und Luftwaffe elf Schilfe mit 71.500 BRT und sieben Zerstörer und Geleitfahrzeuge mit Sicherheit, einen Kreuzer, zwei weitere Frachter sowie einen Bewacher mit Wahrscheinlichkeit verloren.
Die Besatzung des Ernzer Hofes bei Echternach hat sich unter Führung von Leutnant Bullinger in dreitägigen harten Kämpfen gegen alle Angriffe des überlegenen Feindes behauptet und auch nach ihrer Einschließung die Übergabe abgelehnt. Sie hielt den Stützpunkt so lange, bis er mit der Besatzung am Nachmittag des 9. Februar vom Feind gesprengt wurde.
In den letzten Tagen der schweren Kämpfe um Elbing hat sich in viertägigem ununterbrochenem Ringen gegen irisch herangeführte starke feindliche Kräfte eine an» Panzergrenadieren der thüringischen 7. Panzerdivision bestehende Kampfgruppe unter Führung des mit dem Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes ausgezeichneten Oberstleutnants Ehle besonders hervorgetan.
Der Obergefreite Walter Süß-Meyer, 10. Batterie des Flakregiments 46 (mot.), hat in der Nacht vom 8. zum 9. Februar im Kampfraum Liegnitz allein fünf feindliche Panzer durch „Panzerfaust“ vernichtet.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (February 17, 1945)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
171100A 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. 315
UNCLASSIFIED: Allied forces have captured Huisberden east of Kleve. Farther south, heavy fighting continues along the Kleve-Kalkar road, and to the east of the Kleve Forest. Several enemy counterattacks, with strong artillery support, were beaten off. Our bridgeheads over the Niers River have been extended.
In the Nijmegen sector, communications centers and supply centers at Rees, Wees, Uedem and Wese were attacked by medium, light and a strong force of escorted heavy bombers while rocket-firing fighters and fighter bombers went in immediately ahead of our advancing ground forces to attack blockhouses, earthworks, gun positions and fortified buildings south and southeast of the Reichswald Forest.
Our ground units repulsed an attempt by the enemy to retake the bridge over the Prüm River at Hermespand, northeast of Prüm.
North of Echternach, our forces gained one-fourth mile to occupy high ground overlooking the Enz and the Prüm Rivers. Northeast of Echternach, our units astride the Echternach-Irrel road cleared some enemy pillboxes and pushed to a point one-half miles from Irrel. East of Echternach, we gained one-half mile against strong resistance along the Sauer River, and other elements reached a point one-half mile northwest of Minden.
Fortified localities in the areas of Prüm, Bitburg and Saarburg were attacked by fighter-bombers.
Our patrols entered Wasserbillig, at the junction of the Sauer and Moselle Rivers, but were forced to withdraw under enemy pressure. In the Sinz area, southeast of Remich, enemy infantry and tanks made two counterattacks against our forces and retook several pillboxes.
Allied forces in the west captured 1,258 prisoners 14 February.
Troops barracks and supply areas in the northeastern outskirts of Landau were hit by medium bombers. Fighter-bombers attacked fortified buildings northwest of Haguenau.
More than 1,000 escorted heavy bombers attacked railway yards at Rheine, Osnabrück and Hamm, oil refineries at Salzbergen and near Dortmund and Benzol plants near Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen. Medium, light and fighter-bombers, in strength, struck at communications, railway yards and rail and road transport north and east of the Ruhr and along the Rhine Valley from Emmerich in the north to Offenburg in the south. Rail lines were cut in many places and a large number of locomotives, railway cars and motor vehicles were destroyed.
An aircraft factory at Solingen, and an ordnance factory at Unna were attacked by a strong force of medium and light bombers and a chemical plant at Leverkusen was hit by fighter-bombers.
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/
U.S. Navy Department (February 17, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 261
Further reports on the attacks on Tokyo by aircraft of the Fifth Fleet under ADM R. A. Spruance on February 16 and 17 (East Longitude Dates) are unavailable.
Bombardment of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands by battleships and cruisers of the Pacific Fleet is continuing. On February 17, carrier aircraft and Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, bombed targets on the island through intense anti-aircraft fire. One of our ships was damaged during the attack by shore-based gunfire which was intense.
Five aircraft were strafed on the ground at Chichijima in the Bonin Islands and eighteen small craft were strafed and an ammunition barge exploded at Hahajima in the same group on February 17. Enemy anti-aircraft fire was intense over both targets. Ship’s anti-aircraft batteries shot down two enemy planes.
StrAirPoa Army Liberators bombed Marcus Island on February 16.
Fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing attacked targets on Babelthuap in the Palaus and on Yap in the Western Carolines on the same date.
The Pittsburgh Press (February 17, 1945)
LANDING REPORTED ON IWO
Burning Tokyo blasted again
Landing below Japan follows heavy U.S. air-sea bombardment
By William F. Tyree, United Press staff writer
New island hop by U.S. troops, this time landing on Iwo Island in the Volcanos, was reported by the Japs. To the north, U.S. carrier planes raided Tokyo for the second straight day.
ADM. NIMITZ’s HQ, Guam – U.S. troops stormed ashore early today on Iwo Island, only 750 miles south of Tokyo, enemy broadcasts reported.
At the same time, carrier planes hit the burning Jap capital for the second straight day of a diversionary assault.
Invasion forces swarmed over the southwest and southeast beaches of Iwo in twin landings only 10 minutes apart, a Tokyo Domei broadcast said. It added the customary claim that the troops had been “repulsed” after fierce fighting.
The report of the invasion came on the second day of an earth-shaking bombardment of Iwo in the Volcano Islands by more than 30 U.S. warships – ranging from battleships to destroyers – and scores of carrier- and land-based bombers. Most shore batteries were knocked out yesterday.
The U.S. Navy Department declined to comment on the Jap reports of the Iwo landings. One official pointed out that the enemy often makes such claims in an effort to “fish for information.”
Japs claim 147 planes downed
A landing on Iwo would represent an amphibious jump of 750 miles – halfway to Tokyo – from the Marianas for the Americans and would give them at least three strategic air bases within Flying Fortress, Liberator and fighter-plane range of the enemy capital.
Wave after wave of U.S. carrier planes sent hundreds more tons of bombs crashing down on smoking Tokyo today. A Jap communiqué said the second day of the unprecedented assault got underway at 7 a.m. (6 p.m. Friday ET) and the raid was still continuing 8½ hours later.
The Japs said 200 U.S. carrier planes have been attacking Hachijo Island, in the Izu group 200 miles south of Tokyo, since early yesterday.
The enemy communiqué admitted that 61 Jap planes were lost in yesterday’s nine to 10-hour attack on Tokyo, but claimed 147 U.S. planes were shot down and more than 50 damaged. Jap planes counterattacking the American task force “heavily damaged and set afire” a large warship, believed an aircraft carrier, the communiqué said.
Battleship sunk, Tokyo claims
Tokyo broadcasts freely interpreted the assault as a diversionary attack to cover an invasion of Iwo and one said an American landing on Japan itself may be near. Another warned without elaboration that U.S. forces may “attempt to come near the homeland at two points, one of them the Boso Peninsula,” western arm of Tokyo Bay and site of the Yokosuka Naval Base.
Domei said U.S. forces began landing operations on Futatsune Beach in Southwest Iwo about 10:30 a.m. (9:30 p.m. Friday ET), but were “completely smashed.”
“Following the failure, all enemy troops withdrew far out to sea,” the broadcast said.
Two minutes later – 10:40 a.m. – U.S. troops began landing on Kamiyama Beach on the southeastern tip of the tiny eight-square-mile island, Domei said.
“Our garrison troops going into action to engage these enemy forces successfully repulsed them, with severe losses inflicted on the invaders,” it asserted.
The broadcast, while saying that the second landing had been “repulsed,” notably made no claim that these forces had also withdrawn.
Iwo, a gourd-shaped island in the Volcano group, is barren and rocky. The Japs, however, built three airfields on its shores from which to intercept Tokyo-bound Superfortresses and raid their bases in the Marianas. It also served as an observation post from which to warn the homeland of the approach of Superfortresses.
The landing, if confirmed, would put U.S. troops for the first time on Jap soil administered as part of the Tokyo Prefecture. Winter monsoons normally sweep the area from December to March, bringing strong winds and high seas.
A Jap communiqué claimed counterattacking Jap batteries and planes at Iwo sank a battleship, two cruisers and two other ships of the invasion fleet. Three assault craft were damaged and 10 American planes shot down, the communiqué said.
Three waves totaling 50 planes from the sky-filling fleet of 1,200 to 1,300 aboard the world’s biggest carrier armada standing less than 300 miles off the Jap coast opened today’s assault on the Tokyo area soon after dawn, enemy broadcasts said.
Other formations followed at intervals of an hour and a half, concentrating on Greater Tokyo itself rather than inland targets as yesterday, broadcasts said. They admitted transportation facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan district and adjacent areas had been hit.
A Jap communiqué issued at 3:30 p.m. (2:30 a.m. ET) acknowledged that the raids were still continuing at that hour.
The Tokyo radio said at 9:06 p.m. (8:06 a.m. ET) that the air-raid warning was continuing in the Tokyo-Yokohama area “because of an unknown object in the southern waters.” Fourteen minutes later Tokyo said one American plane was flying northward over the Izu Islands toward the capital.
It asserted that the American carrier planes had caused only “slight” damage to ground installations in yesterday’s attack on the Tokyo area. However, a pall of smoke, broken by occasional flashes of fire, still hung over Tokyo from that attack as the second phase of the assault got underway today.
Domei reported that 600 carrier planes took part in today’s raid on Tokyo, compared with 1,200 to 1,300 yesterday. The agency said the attacks were centered on airfields and aircraft factories in the Kanto area, which embraces the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan districts.
A Superfortress pilot who witnessed yesterday’s raids said as many as 1,200 planes were over the capital at one time, it was speculated that the planes flew more than 2,000 sorties yesterday.
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, commander of the Pacific Fleet, confirmed that the assault on Tokyo had extended into a second day in a brief communiqué which said merely that the attack was “continuing.” Unofficial reports reaching headquarters indicated that the first day’s attackers met “considerable success.”
B-29s sight smoke
Superfortresses crew who witnessed the attack from the substratosphere told of smoke rising 7,000 feet or more from burning installations and of scores of Jap planes shot down or destroyed on the ground.
It was assumed that yesterday’s attacks were designed to destroy or pin down enemy planes on the several dozen fields dotting the great plain around Tokyo. Today, it was believed, Helldivers and Avengers began pinpoint bombing of Jap military installations, including aircraft repair and manufacture facilities.
Tokyo conceded that the assault appeared to have the aim of destroying the Jap Air Force.
Japs too busy
The fact that the Japs to date have mentioned only one attack on the task force off their coast may indicate that they have been so busy attempting to protect Tokyo that they have been unable to muster sufficient planes to attack the American carriers.
Adm. Nimitz said in his communiqué that preliminary reports indicated “considerable damage” had been inflicted on installations on Iwo by battleships and cruisers during the first day of the bombardment yesterday.
Silence batteries
Enemy shore batteries which sought to answer the bombardment were silenced, he said. Carrier aircraft set fire to two luggers and probably destroyed three enemy bombers on the ground.
A Kingfisher seaplane from one of the cruisers in the bombardment force shot down a Jap Zero fighter. One American aircraft was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft batteries, but the pilot was rescued.
SKY TROOPS ON CORREGIDOR
MacArthur captures Bataan
Fierce battles ranging on fortress guarding Manila Bay, Japs say
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Yanks recapture Bataan after seaborne invasion
All important objectives on peninsula quickly seized by MacArthur’s troops
MANILA, Philippines (UP) – U.S. troops have deemed historic Bataan with a bold seaborne landing on the southern shores of the peninsula under the guns of Jap-held Corregidor.
“We have captured Bataan,” Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced in a triumphant communiqué.
Less than 48 hours after the landing, all the peninsula’s militarily-important objectives were in American hands. Gen. MacArthur’s troops were pursuing the disorganized enemy over the same dark around where on April 11, 1942, some 30,000 Americans and Filipinos laid down their arms and began their tragic death march to Camp O’Donnell.
Japs flee into hills
Covered by the big guns of the U.S. Seventh Fleet and the bombs and bullets of hundreds of American warplanes, a big invasion convoy swept into the mouth of Manila Bay at dawn Thursday to spill tanks, troops and guns ashore at Mariveles.
The startled Jap coastal defenders fought back briefly, then broke and fled into the hills under a storm of rockets and gunfire.
Corregidor’s giant batteries, partially neutralized by days of continuous aerial and naval bombardment, fired a few bursts at the convoy but they were silenced quickly by salvoes from American cruisers and destroyers.
Captured by first wave
Mariveles, where the remnants of the American-Filipino army embarked for Corregidor after the fall of Bataan three years ago, was captured by the first wave of attacking infantrymen, who found the town reduced to rubble by the preliminary air and sea barrage. All of the native population had fled before the attack began.
Doughboys of 38th Infantry Division who made the surprise landing fanned out to the east and west of Mariveles. They quickly established contact with spearheads of the 6th Infantry Division advancing down the east coast of Bataan.
Limay and Lamao were captured by the 6th Infantry Division’s 1st Regiment in an 11-mile advance south of Pilar and the juncture was made at an undisclosed spot on the 15-mile coastal strip between Lamao and Mariveles.
The linkup sealed off several thousand Japs in the mountainous and militarily-useless southwestern corner of Bataan. The survivors were badly scattered and disorganized, however, and it was indicated the fight had become a large-scale mopping-up operation.
A third American force was rapidly sealing off the west coast of Bataan in an advance south from Moron toward the highway terminal at Bagac, 13 miles northwest of Mariveles.
Gen. MacArthur’s communiqué paid high tribute to the covering support of the Seventh Fleet, particularly the daring minesweepers that combed the approaches to Mariveles Bay for two days under direct fire from Corregidor.
Speed Manila mop-up
The triumph on Bataan momentarily overshadowed the savage battle still raging in the streets of southern Manila. Units of the U.S. 37th Infantry Division, the 11th Airborne and the 1st Cavalry were slowly chopping down the enemy’s major pocket of resistance on the Manila waterfront in and directly south of the old Walled City.
The mopping-up was proceeding more swiftly, although the remaining Japs were still fighting for every barricaded house and street corner in the city.
Marikina and Santo Nino village, 5½ miles east of Manila, were captured, and American units on the southeastern outskirts of the capital seized two airfields at Mandaluyong and fought their way to the west gate of Fort McKinley.
Iwo Island part of Tokyo region
By the United Press
The reported landing on Iwo Jima would put U.S. troops on soil administered as part of the Tokyo Prefecture for the first time.
The tiny gourd-shaped island is strategically situated for use as an air base and observation point despite its small size and lack of developed harbors. It has an area of only eight square miles, but lies on a direct route from the Marianas to Japan.
Good escort base
The Japanese Domei News Agency has pointed out that if Iwo fell to the Americans, it would provide an escort base for B-29 Superfortresses.
Iwo lies in the range of the warm Japanese current and this is one of its driest months, despite the fact that this is considered part of the winter monsoon season.
Successful conquest of Iwo Jima would bring the Japanese capital within the range of land-based fighter planes and would free B-29 bases on the Marianas from the threat of enemy air raids.
Built on two volcanoes
The island has been built up by two volcanoes, Suribachi Yama on the southwest and Moto Yama on the northwest. The volcanoes are connected by a narrow neck of lowland.
Moto Yama rises 358 feet high in a flat-topped dome shape. It is surrounded by terrace cut by the Waves and has a number of vents, some of which expel steam and sulfurous vapors. Suribachi Yama is an extinct volcano rising to 546 feet.
The Volcanic Islands, including Kita Iwo on the north and Minami Iwo on the south, were absorbed into the Japanese Empire in 1891. The inhabitants of Iwo Jima are almost entirely pure Japanese, although somewhat taller than the usual inhabitants of the home island. In 1940, the population was 1,151.
The largest village on the island is Higashi, less than a mile inland from the northeast coast. Other principal settlements are Minami, on the east central coast; Nishi, on the northwest; and Moto Yama, in the north central part of the island. The main villages are connected by roads and trains.
GEORGE BILL APPROVED BY HOUSE, 399-2
Action clears path for vote on Wallace
Republicans still opposed to him
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Stainless steel companies, officers fined $240,000
Group pleads no defense to charge of conspiracy to fix prices
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Effort to seize auto industry laid to unions
Situation blamed on U.S., officials
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