Falschspieler Roosevelt berichtet dem Kongress
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Führer HQ (March 3, 1945)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Unsere Grenadiere haben in wochenlangen heftigen Gefechten an der unteren Drina in Ostkroatien starke Angriffe überlegener feindlicher Kräfte zerschlagen, dem Feind hohe blutige Verluste zugefügt und zahlreiche Maschinen- und Handwaiien erbeutet. In der mittleren Slowakei führten die sowjetischen Angriffe zu geringen Einbrüchen im Raum nördlich Schemnitz und Karpfen. Panzer und Grenadiere zerschlugen beiderseits Zobten die angreifenden Bolschewisten. Im Abschnitt von Lauban wurden in Gegenangriffen unsere Stellungen vorverlegt.
Bolschewistische Panzer konnten trotz hoher Verluste mit Angriffsspitzen aus ihrem Einbruchsraum östlich Stargard bis nordwestlich Dramburg Vordringen. Nach Westen eindrehende Teilkräfte wurden aufgefangen, ohne daß sie größeren Geländegewinn erzielen konnten. In Ostpommern verhinderten unsere Truppen in erbittertem Abwehrkampf und durch entschlossenen Gegenangriff die Erweiterung der feindlichen Einbruchsschneise, obwohl die Bolschewisten hier neue Kräfte in den Kampf warfen. Schlachtflieger vernichteten in den beiden letzten Tagen Im Kampfraum Rummelsburg 40 sowjetische Panzer und setzten weitere 29 außer Gefecht.
Unsere in Ostpreußen zäh kämpfenden Divisionen zerschlugen die östlich Lichtenfeld und bei Zinten geführten Durchbruchsangriffe von fünf Sowjetarmeen. Geringe Einbrüche mußten die Bolschewisten mit hohen Verlusten erkaufen. 30 feindliche Panzer wurden vernichtet. In Kurland blieben die Kämpfe auf geringe Aufklärungstätigkeit beschränkt.
An der Westfront leisteten unsere Verbände östlich und südöstlich Goch auch gestern den nach schwerem Artilleriefeuer angreifenden Engländern und Kanadiern entschlossenen Widerstand. Nach geringem Vordringen blieb der Feind überall im zusammengefassten Abwehrfeuer liegen.
Die große Abwehrschlacht zwischen der Roer und dem Rhein hat nach Norden auf den Abschnitt zwischen Kempen und Geldern sowie den Raum nordwestlich Düsseldorf übergegriffen. Während sich im Abschnitt MünchenGladbach die eigenen Kräfte weiterhin behaupten, konnten starke Verbände der 9. amerikanischen Armee von Südwesten und Süden her gegen Krefeld Vordringen. Um den Brückenkopf Neuß wird erbittert gekämpft, der Erft-Abschnitt südwestlich davon gegen die angreifenden Amerikaner gehalten. Zwischen der Erft und dem Roerquellgebiet stehen unsere Truppen in heftiger Abwehr gegen den vordringenden Gegner.
Beiderseits Prüm wurden die erneuten Angriffe des Feindes bis auf einzelne örtliche Einbrüche abgewehrt. Heftige Kämpfe sind in und um Trier im Gange.
An der Westfront verloren die Angreifer gestern 70 Panzer.
Nach einem überraschenden Einbruch in die feindliche Einschließungsfront vor La Rochelle kehrte eine Angriffsgruppe der Besatzung mit 250 Gefangenen in die eigenen Linien zurück. In heftigen Kämpfen wurde der nachdrängende Gegner abgewiesen.
Nördlich und nordöstlich Faenza in Mittelitalien blieben erneute feindliche Vorstöße trotz starken Vorbereitungsfeuers erfolglos.
Nordamerikanische Terrorflieger griffen am gestrigen Tage Dresden, Chemnitz, Magdeburg und Linz an. Es entstanden Schäden vorwiegend in Wohnvierteln. Die Briten warfen Bomben auf Köln und weitere Orte am Mittelrhein. In der vergangenen Nacht wurden Kassel und die Reichshauptstadt angegriffen. In heftigen Luftkämpfen und durch Flakartillerie verloren die Anglo-Amerikaner 60 Flugzeuge, in der Mehrzahl viermotorige Bomber.
Durch Kampfmittel der Kriegsmarine wurden aus dem Themse-Schelde-Verkehr erneut zwei Nachschubdampfer mit zusammen 11.000 BRT versenkt.
Außer den gestern bereits gemeldeten 918 Abschüssen der Luftwaffe brachten Luftverteidigungskräfte der Kriegsmarine im Monat Februar 100 feindliche Bomber zum Absturz.
Flieger Mangold in einer Luftwaffenalarmeinheit schoss im Raum Rummelsburg mit der Panzerfaust in einem Gefecht sechs sowjetische Panzer ab und trug damit entscheidend dazu bei, dass seine Einheit einen sowjetischen Panzerdurchbruch verhindern konnte.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (March 3, 1945)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
031100A March
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) SHAEF MAIN
(20) PRO, ROME
(21) HQ SIXTH ARMY GP
(REF NO.)
NONE
(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR
Communiqué No. 329
UNCLASSIFIED: Allied forces have fought their way through the Hochwald Forest despite strong resistance, and farther west have taken the strongly defended villages of Kervenheim and Weeze.
Targets in Kevelaer, a communications center, were bombed by medium and light bombes, while fighter-bombers attacked enemy troops and gun positions near Weeze.
Other fighter-bombers attacked rail and road transport and communications in the Ruhr, to the north and northeast of the Ruhr, and barges on the Rhine River between Wesel and Dinslaken.
To the south, our advance has now reached Straelen, and Roermond and Venlo have been captured.
North of Munchengladbach we have occupied Dülken and Viersen. Our units have entered Krefeld and have captured Neuss.
Our forces west of Köln, have advanced to Bedburg and Buchholz. Berghem has been cleared, and we have reached Niederaussem and Habbelrath. Fighting continues in Mödrath. Enemy resistance is stiff in the area east of the Erft River and the Canal.
Communications and other targets at Cologne were bombed yesterday morning and again in the afternoon by escorted heavy bombers in great strength. More than 3,000 tons of bombs were dropped in the target areas.
East of Düren, our units entered Gymnich after a gain of about two and one-half miles. Wissersheim and Erp have been cleared and our armored elements are in Borr and Friesheim. In the Zülpich area, we have reached Bessenich, Junkersdorf and Embken. We have cleared Heimbach and advanced 1,500 yards farther south on the east side of the Roer River.
In the Prüm area, our forces reached high ground two and one-half miles northeast of the town, and to the south and southeast have captured Winringen, Plütscheid and Seffern.
Fighter-bombers attacked fortified places east of Prüm, and targets in the towns of Badem and Eisenschmitt to the south.
Trier has been captured by armored and infantry units. Our forces advancing from the northwest are two and one-half miles from the city after taking Kersch and Newel. Southwest of trier we have captured Konz-Karthaus at the junction of the Saar and Moselle rivers.
Fighter-bombers attacked targets in Schillingen, Greimerath and Losheim, fortified towns south of Trier.
Enemy patrols which crossed the Rhine north and south of Strasbourg were repulsed.
Allied forces in the west captured 7,053 prisoners 1 March.
Communications and transport west of the Rhine River from Krefeld southward to Landau and east of the river from Dortmund southward to Haslach were struck at by medium, light and fighter bombers in strength. Among the targets were communications centers at Sinnersdorf and Meckenheim, and bridges at Sinzig, Eller, Zell, Bernkastel-Kues and Simmern.
A motor repair depot at Iserlohn and ordnance depots at Giessen and Wiesbaden were hit by medium and light bombers.
Railway yards at Chemnitz and Dresden, synthetic oil plants at Magdeburg and Böhlen, an oil refinery at Rositz and the Krupts Works at Magdeburg were attacked by escorted heavy bombers in very great strength. Airfields near Leipzig and Magdeburg were strafed by some of the escorting fighters.
Targets in Berlin and Kassel were bombed last night by light 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 FA4655
AUTHENTICATING SIGNATURE
/s/
U.S. Navy Department (March 3, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 286
Without enemy air opposition carrier aircraft of the U.S. Pacific Fleet struck military, naval and air installations and shipping in the Nansei Shoto on March 1 (East Longitude Date). Islands which came under attack were: Amami, Minami, Kume Jima, Okinawa Jima, Tokuno Jima and Okinoyerabu Jima.
Our aircraft inflicted the following damage on the enemy:
AIRCRAFT:
- Four aircraft shot out of the air.
- Thirty seven aircraft destroyed on the ground.
- About 50 aircraft destroyed or damaged on the ground, some of which may have been previously in operational.
SHIPPING: SUNK:
- One destroyer.
- One motor torpedo boat.
- Six small cargo ships.
- Two medium cargo ships.
- One ocean going tug.
- Two luggers.
PROBABLY SUNK:
- One medium cargo ship.
- Six small coastal cargo ships.
- Six luggers.
DAMAGED:
- Four destroyer escorts or patrol craft.
- One medium transport.
- Four medium cargo ships.
- Nine small coastal cargo ships.
- One small cargo ship.
- Ten luggers.
- In addition, several small craft sunk or damaged.
GROUND INSTALLATIONS:
On the Islands of Okinoyerabu, Amami, Minami, Okinawa, Kume and Tokuno, our aircraft destroyed or damaged airfield installations, barracks, administration buildings, mills, lumber yards, warehouses and radio and radar installations.
Our losses in combat were five pilots, three aircrewmen and thirteen aircraft.
During the night following the attack, the force conducted a bombardment of Okina Daito Jima starting large fires in the target area.
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 287
Under heavy fire from small arms and mortars the 5th Marine Division on the left flank and the 3rd Marine Division in the center pushed forward in a general advance of 200 to 400 yards on Iwo Island on March 3 (East Longitude Date). Progress of the 4th Division on the right flank was slow due to extremely heavy enemy resistance in that sector. Attacks by the Infantry were supported by Marine artillery but close carrier aircraft support was limited by the small dimensions of the area now held by the enemy. A strong pocket of the enemy in the 4th Division zone of action near Minami continued to hold back our lines in that sector.
Carrier aircraft made bombing and rocket attacks on installations in Omura Town on Chichi Jima and on harbor installations at Haha Jima in the Bonins. One ship was sunk at Haha Jima.
Ships are unloading on both eastern and western beaches of Iwo Island.
Land-based aircraft have begun to use the Southern Iwo airfield for evacuation of the wounded.
Seventh Army Air Force Liberators operating under the Strategic Air Force bombed Omura Town and the airfield on Chichi Jima in the Bonins on March 2.
Two bridges were destroyed and fires were started on enemy-held islands of the Palaus after attacks by Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing on March 2.
Army Thunderbolts bombed airfield installations on Pagan in the Marianas on March 3.
Navy search Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed the Airfield on Wake Island through moderate anti-aircraft fire on March 2.
On the same date, fighter planes of the 4th MarAirWing struck neutralizing blows at enemy-held bases in the Marshalls.
The Pittsburgh Press (March 3, 1945)
Nazis blast Rhine bridges, block 9th at Duesseldorf
U.S. patrols on river, trying to save spans, when explosions occur
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Marines nearing north coast of Iwo
Leathernecks drive 700 yards in day
GUAM (UP) – The veteran 3rd Marine Division battled to within a half mile of the northeast coast of Iwo today in a determined bid to split the Jap garrison.
Maj. Gen. Graves B. Erskine’s 3rd Division resumed its attack early today after pushing ahead 700 yards to within 600 yards of sheer cliffs overlooking a 300-yard beach on the northeast coast yesterday.
A thrust to the northeast coast would isolate the Japs on the east coast from those on the northwest and speed final conquest of tiny Iwo, only 750 miles south of Tokyo. Front dispatches said the Iwo campaign was already entering its last stages.
Capture of a 362-foot height dominating Northern Iwo, by the 3rd Division yesterday, was expected to facilitate the drive to the northeast coast. The division was also within 1,200 to 1,400 yards of the northern tip of Iwo.
The Japs were still fighting desperately and exacting a steady toll of Marines despite losses of nearly three-quarters of the original garrison of 20,000 men.
The number of Jap bodies recovered by the Marines reached 7,127 – an increase of 2,343 since Monday – by noon yesterday and thousands more were known to have been pulled back by the enemy. Thirty-two prisoners have been taken.
A front dispatch from Marine Combat Correspondent Jim Lucas revealed that the Japs have begun attempts to supply the hard-pressed garrison from the air.
Jap planes dropped cargo chutes believed carrying tanks of water on northern Iwo for “thirst-crazed enemy troops,” Sgt. Lucas said. There are no springs or natural sources of water on Iwo.
The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions, slugging up the east and west coasts respectively, also made small gains yesterday over some of the most rugged and bitterly-defended terrain yet encountered in the Pacific.
Just ahead of the 5th Division lies the small west coast town of Nishi. The 5th Division yesterday beat off the first enemy counterattack since Tuesday.
Carrier planes made a bombing and rocket raid on Omura town and the airfield on Chichi in the Bonin islands, just north of Iwo. Army Liberators also attacked Chichi.
Union tax forecast on all necessities if Lewis wins royalties
UMW head to answer operators’ estimate that proposal would cost industry $400 million
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In Washington –
GOP supports bill creating nurse draft
Need to care for casualties cited
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Sen. Moses, North Dakota, dies
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