Not so, for the most part. Conditions weren’t ideal, but weren’t horrible either. The Japanese camps, on the other hand…
Führer HQ (February 21, 1945)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Nordwestlich Gran sind erbitterte Kämpfe um den Restteil des feindlichen Brückenkopfes im Gange. Versuche der Sowjets, bei Schwarzwasser und nördlich Ratibor in unsere Front einzubrechen, scheiterten. Ebenso zerbrachen ihre Angriffe südlich Breslau am zähen Widerstand unserer Truppen.
Der Hauptdruck des Feindes in Niederschlesien lag lm Raum von Lauban und Guben, wo die vergeblichen Versuche, unsere Front zu durchstoßen, die Sowjets schwere Verluste an Menschen und Panzern kosteten. An der Oder zwischen Fürstenberg und dem Oderbruch lebte gestern die Kampftätigkeit auf. Feindliche Aufklärungsvorstöße wurden abgewiesen.
Zwischen Pyritz und Arnswalde scheiterten von Panzern unterstützte Einzelangriffe der Bolschewisten. In der Tucheler Heide und westlich der Weichsel wird um jeden Fußbreit Boden gekämpft.
Die Verteidiger von Posen leisten im Kernwerk weiter verbissenen Widerstand. Angriffe der Sowjets gegen die Festung Graudenz wurden zurückgeschlagen.
Der Kampf in Ostpreußen dauert bei stärkerem Artillerie- und Schlachtfliegereinsatz in den bisherigen Schwerpunkten an. Unsere durch Seestreitkräfte unterstützten Angriffe im südlichen Samland brachten weitere Erfolge.
Südöstlich Liebau traten die Bolschewisten auf breiter Front zum Großangriff an. Ihr Durchbruchsversuch nach Liebau wurde im Hauptkampffeld aufgefangen.
Die Sowjets verloren gestern an der Ostfront 152 Panzer und 81 Flugzeuge.
Wie schon am 20. Februar bekanntgegeben, stießen Torpedofliegerverbände unter Führung von Oberstleutnant Stemmler bei stürmischem Seegang und schwierigen Wetterbedingungen überraschend aus den Wolken gegen einen von Murmansk nach England fahrenden Geleitzug und versenkten zwei leichte Kreuzer, davon einen der Leander-Klasse, zwei Zerstörer und acht Handelsschiffe mit insgesamt 57.000 BRT. Weitere drei Handelsschiffe mit 19.000 BRT wurden durch Torpedo so schwer getroffen, dass auch mit ihrem Verluste gerechnet werden kann. Unsere Verbände verloren trotz heftiger Abwehr nur zwei Flugzeuge.
In der Schlacht zwischen Rhein und Maas zerschellten auch gestern die fortgesetzten schweren Angriffe der Engländer und Kanadier am harten Widerstand unserer Grenadiere und Fallschirmjäger. Der Feind verlor 28 Panzer und zahlreiche Gefangene.
Die Angriffe der Amerikaner zwischen Prüm und Echternach haben nunmehr auch auf die Westfront des Stellungsbogens an der Oure übergegriffen, östlich Vianden konnte der Feind nach Norden Boden gewinnen. In dem Flussdreieck zwischen der Mosel und unteren Saar wurden feindliche Übersetzversuche nördlich Remich abgewiesen. Zwischen den beiden Flüssen gelang es den amerikanischen Panzerkräften, vom Süden hex tief in unser Stellungssystem vorwärts des Westwalles einzudringen.
Im Raum östlich Forbach blieben erneute Angriffe der Amerikaner vor den Spicherer Höhen liegen.
In Mittelitalien scheiterten feindliche Vorstöße von Teilen der fünften amerikanischen Armee nördlich und nordwestlich vor Poretta vor unseren Stellungen. Um den Monte Belvedere wird gekämpft.
Amerikanische Terrorverbände warfen am Tage Bomben auf Nürnberg und Wien. Besonders in Nürnberg entstanden Personenverluste und schwere Schäden in Wohngebieten. In der Nacht waren die Reichshauptstadt, Dortmund und weitere Orte im rheinisch-westfälischen Gebiet das Angriffsziel britischer Kampfflugzeuge. Durch Jäger und Flakartillerie wurden 73 meist viermotorige Bomber zum Absturz gebracht Nachtjäger hatten an diesen Erfolgen besonderen Anteil.
Das Vergeltungsfeuer auf London wird fortgesetzt.
Ergänzend zum heutigen Wehrmachtbericht wird gemeldet: „Oberfeldwebel Mischke, Flugzeugführer in einem Schlachtgeschwader, schoss bei den gestrigen Luftkämpfen im Osteninnerhalb kurzer Zeit acht sowjetische Flugzeuge ab, davon vier noch vor Erfüllung seines Auftrages mit angehängter Bombenlast.“
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (February 21, 1945)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
211100A 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. 319
Allied forces between the Rhine and the Maas have beaten off infantry and armored counterattacks launched in the area west of Kalkar. Our units in Goch are mopping up the last remaining pockets of resistance in the southern part of the town. East of the Goch-Kalkar highway, we have captured the villages of Halvenboom and Buchholt. Approximately 10,000 prisoners have been taken since the attack in the northern sector began. Tanks and gun positions in the Düren area and fortified buildings at Buir, to the northeast, were attacked by fighter bombers which also struck at rail yards near Koblenz and in the region around Kaiserslautern. Our ground forces have entered Binscheid, about four miles east of the intersection of the Luxembourg-Belgian-German border, where they encountered fire from small arms and self-propelled guns, and resistance from pillboxes on high ground near the town.
To the southwest, our forces reached the Dasburg-Lützkampen road along a two mile stretch north of Dahnen. In the Vianden area, we entered Bivels to the north, and to the southeast we cleared Obersgegen and took Korperich. Our units have captured Stocken, about five miles to the east. Allied elements, after a surprise crossing of the Moselle River north of Remich, occupied Wincheringen, while other units captured Palzem, just north of Remich, and advanced to the vicinity of Rommelfangen, four and a half miles southwest of Saarburg. Farther to the southeast our troops have captured Weiten, and are clearing Freudensberg. Fierce fighting is in progress in Orscholz, two miles south of Weiten. Fighter bombers struck at the fortified towns of Taben-Rodt and Trassem. Our forces in the bridgehead at Saarlouis repulsed a small counterattack without loss of ground.
In the southern outskirts of Forbach, stiff fighting resulted when we surrounded an enemy strong point. South of Saarbrücken, our elements have occupied several towns including Alsting, Zinzing, Hessling and Grossblittersdorf. Farther east, Kleinblittersdorf, on the German bank of the Saar River, has been cleared. Supply dumps near Pirmasens and Landau, and a train loaded with vehicles near Eutingen as well as rail centers at Haslach, Hausach and Villingen were attacked by fighter bombers. During the day, strong forces of escorted heavy bombers attacked the rail center at Nürnberg. The escorting fighters shot down 14 enemy aircraft and strafed airfields and rail targets in southern Germany. They destroyed 39 enemy aircraft on the ground and destroyed or damaged large numbers of locomotives and rail cars. From all yesterday’s operations, 16 bombers and 24 fighters are missing. Last night very strong forces of heavy bombers attacked Dortmund, while light bombers attacked Berlin and road and railways in and to the west of the Ruhr.
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 21, 1945)
Communiqué No. 580
Far East.
United States submarines have reported the sinking of 25 enemy vessels, including an escort carrier, a large converted cruiser and a destroyer, as a result of operations in these waters. The ships sunk were:
- 1 escort aircraft carrier
- 1 destroyer
- 1 large converted cruiser
- 1 medium transport
- 14 medium cargo vessels
- 8 small cargo vessels
- 1 large cargo transport
- 2 medium cargo transports
- 1 small transport
These sinkings have not been announced in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 269
The Fifth Amphibious Corps, having secured the southern Iwo airfield made a general advance toward the island’s central airdrome on February 21 (East Longitude Date). Advance elements of the 5th Marine Division on the western side of the island bypassed the southern ends of the airstrip’s runways while the 4th Marine Division was pushing toward the center of the field directly from the south at noon. Gains were made along the whole line and were generally about 500 to 1,000 yards in extent.
In the meantime, Marines at the south end of the island were pressing slowly forward up the slopes of Mount Suribachi and during the forenoon of the third day of the assault. They made gains averaging more than 100 yards against this enemy citadel.
In both the northern and southern actions, the Marines are moving forward yard by yard against heavy machine gun mortar, small arms, and rocket fire. The numerous small strongpoints which confront our forces in all areas thus far penetrated are being reduced by individual troop action.
Casualties at 0800 local time on February 21 were estimated at a total of 150 officers and 3,500 men wounded, missing and killed. Of these, our forces had evacuated 3,063 of the wounded.
During the night of February 20‑21, little activity by the enemy was noted. Attempts at infiltration of our line were frustrated and a local counterattack on the left flank where the enemy used several tanks supported by artillery fire was repulsed.
Ship’s guns supported the ground troops throughout the night with shell fire and illumination and continued heavy fire support through the morning. Carrier aircraft made heavy bombing and strafing attacks on February 21.
Supplies and rations were unloaded on the beaches throughout the night of February 20‑21.
The Pittsburgh Press (February 21, 1945)
IWO BATTLE ‘HELL ON EARTH’
Marines gain yard by yard
U.S. casualties 3,650 in third day – invaders advance half a mile
By William F. Tyree, United Press staff writer
They met the Japs on Iwo, these two U.S. Marines, whose bodies sprawl on the shell-blasted beach of the Pacific island. The bodies are mute evidence of the ferocity of the battle for the tiny Jap stronghold. The picture was sent from Guam to San Francisco by U.S. Navy radio-telephoto.
ADM. NIMITZ HQ, Guam – U.S. Marines advanced an average of half a mile today as they stormed Iwo’s second airfield.
The invaders of Japan’s “doorway island” bypassed the southern tip of the airfield and drove toward its heart from the south against a withering Jap barrage.
The battle was one of the most costly and savage of the Pacific war – a hell on earth, eyewitnesses said.
Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz announced on the third day of the invasion of Iwo that the two Marine divisions had suffered 3,650 casualties – killed, wounded or missing – up to 8 a.m. today. The casualties included 150 officers and the rest enlisted men.
A communiqué on the Iwo battle, the toughest in the long history of the Marine Corps, said the two divisions were slugging forward yard-by-yard against heavy machine gun, mortar, small-arms and rocket fire.
Hammer up coast
Maj. Gen. Keller E. Rockey’s 5th Marine Division hammered up the west coast beyond the lower end of the runways of the last airfield remaining in Jap hands. The first and main field was firmly in American hands.
At the same time, Maj. Gen. Clifton B. Cates’ 4th Marine Division launched a frontal assault against the field from the south and by noon was “pushing toward the center of the field,” Adm. Nimitz’s communiqué said.
“The Fifth Amphibious Corps, having secured the southern Iwo airfield, made a general advance toward the island’s central airdrome today,” the communiqué said.
Along whole line
“Gains were made along the whole line, and generally were about 500 to 1,000 yards in extent.”
At the south end of Iwo, where part of the Jap garrison was cut off by the Marine drive across the island, U.S. forces were driving slowly up the Slopes of Mt. Suribachi, volcano peak from which the enemy was plastering the Marines.
This morning, the forces pushing up Mt. Suribachi gained more than 100 yards in the face of a murderous fire sweeping the slopes.
3,063 casualties evacuated
Adm. Nimitz said that of the 3,650 casualties by 8 a.m. today, 3,063 of the wounded had been evacuated.
In the dry language of the communiqué, “the numerous strongpoints which confront our forces in all areas thus for penetrated are being reduced by individual troop action.”
That meant that the Marines were charging the Jap strongpoints and dugouts with flamethrowers, small arms and bayonets, in bloody hand-to-hand struggles.
The Japs were relatively quiet last night. A local counterattack on the American left flank, supported by several tanks and artillery fire, was beaten off, and attempts at infiltration were thwarted.
Warships rock foe
Warship guns supported the Marines throughout the night, rocking the Jap-held part of Iwo with a ceaseless barrage which continued today.
Carrier-borne planes swarmed back into the battle with bombing and strafing attacks.
Making it plain that the Marines had come to stay, the unloading of supplies and rations on the beaches went on all last night.
“The Japs are resisting desperately, and the fighting is fierce in some parts of the combat area,” United Press writer Mac R. Johnson reported from a warship off Iwo.
One group kills 100
He said the Japs were resorting to their night infiltration tactics which became standard practice with them. One U.S. battalion alone reported that more than 100 Japs were killed in these attempts.
The going was the toughest in the center of the line at the No. 2 Motoyama Airfield, Mr. Johnson said. The Japs appeared to be throwing everything they had into the defense of this base, the second most important objective on the island. The No. 1 field, already captured, was the first.
Radio Tokyo said the Americans were “continuously” landing fresh reinforcements with the number of troops ashore passing the 20,000-mark yesterday noon. More than 7,000 Americans have been killed or wounded and at least 100 tanks disabled, the broadcast said.
The 27th Regiment of Marines beat off the fanatical first Jap counterattack on Motoyama Airfield No. 1 early yesterday.
Last-man stand
Though cut off from the remainder of Iwo by an American smash to the west coast, Jap troops on Suribachi were fighting literally to the last man from well-fortified caves and gun emplacements studding the side of the 554-foot mountain.
Col. Harry B. Liversedge of Pine Grove, California, commander of the Marine regiment which cut off Suribachi, said his men found pillboxes every 10 feet and less at the base of the volcano.
Jap guns and mortars on Suribachi were firing almost point blank at Marines attempting to clamber up the sides of the extinct volcano. The Japs were also pouring shells into the rear of other forces farther north.
Fiercest on north
Front reports said the fiercest resistance was being met on the northern end of the beachhead. There the Japs were supplementing their artillery and mortar barrages for the first time in the Pacific war with anti-personnel rockets.
Magnetic and “yardstick” mines were also being encountered.
Iwo losses larger than at Tarawa
WASHINGTON (UP) – The battle for Iwo has already cost more casualties than the bloody capture of Tarawa in 1943.
The Tarawa losses, however, were proportionately heavier than those thus far reported from Iwo.
At Soissons, France, in the last war, the Marines suffered 1,400 casualties in 60 minutes.
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz estimated today, the third day of the Iwo battle, that casualties had reached 3,650. In the 76-hour Tarawa battle, casualties totaled 3,151.
The great proportion of Iwo casualties were wounded, as indicated by Adm. Nimitz’s report that 3,063 of the total had been evacuated. On Tarawa, the ratio was 988 men killed to 2,163 wounded.
Only one Marine division participated in the assault on Tarawa. Two divisions are in action on Iwo.
Ringling officials sentenced to prison as result of fire
Terms vary from six months to seven years – circus corporation is fined $10,000
…