America at war! (1941–) – Part 4

9583

Führer HQ (March 5, 1945)

Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht

Im Kampf um die Gebirgsengen der mittleren Slowakei gewann der Feind südlich Schemnitz nach verlustreichen Gefechten geringfügig Boden, während seine wiederholten Angriffe südöstlich Altsohl vor unseren Stützpunkten liegen blieben.

Unsere Panzer und Panzergrenadiere hielten im Raum von Lauban ihre an den Vortagen gewonnenen Stellungen gegen zahlreiche Gegenangriffe der Bolschewisten, und erzielten in wendiger Kampfführung weiteren Geländegewinn.

Unsere Truppen in Pommern und Westpreußen standen auch gestern in schwerem Ringen mit starken feindlichen Panzerkräften. Sie konnten den zwischen Stargard und Naugard nach Westen vordringenden Feind auflangen. Stargard ging nach erbittertem Straßenkampf verloren. Auch im Raum nordöstlich Rummelsburg dauern die Kämpfe an. Westlich der unteren Weichsel traten die Bolschewisten beiderseits Großwollental unter hohem Materialeinsatz zum Angriff an und brachen an einzelnen Stellen in unsere Linien ein. Seit Beginn der Schlacht in Pommern und Westpreußen wurden durch Verbände des Heeres und der Waffen-SS 337, durch Verbände der Luftwaffe weitere 120 feindliche Panzer vernichtet.

Die Besatzung von Graudenz schlug heftige, von starker Artillerie und Schlachtfliegern unterstützte Angriffe der Bolschewisten zurück.

In Ostpreußen zerbrachen auch gestern alle Durchbruchsversuche der Sowjets an der Standhaftigkeit unserer bewährten Divisionen.

Der Großkampf in Kurland griff auf den Raum südöstlich Frauenburg über. Unter geringem Geländeverlust wurde der Ansturm überlegener feindlicher Kräfte in harten Nahkämpfen aufgefangen, die feindlichen Durchbruchsversuche südöstlich Libau wiederum verlustreich zerschlagen.

Am Niederrhein hält der Feind seinen starken Druck vor allem im Raum südwestlich Xanten und im Raume Mörs aufrecht. Die Besatzung des Brückenkopfes Homberg behauptete sich in schweren Kämpfen unter Vernichtung zahlreicher feindlicher Panzer gegen sämtliche Angriffe der Amerikaner.

In der Abwehrschlacht zwischen dem Rhein südlich Düsseldorf und dem Erft-Abschnitt hielten unsere Truppen den weiter mit starken Kräften vordringenden Gegner vor neuen Linien auf und vereitelten den erstrebten Durchbruch auf Köln. Der Erft-Abschnitt nördlich Euskirchen wurde gehalten, doch konnte der Feind in die Stadt selbst eindringen. Bei Gemünd und Schieiden dauern Orts- und Bunkerkämpfe an.

Angriffe der 3. amerikanischen Armee zwischen der Schnee-Eifel und der Mosel scheiterten im Gebiet von Stadtkyll, östlich von Prüm gelang es dem Gegner, unsere Truppen auf die Kyll zurückzudrücken. Am Unterlauf des Flusses wurden die Angriffe unter blutigen Verlusten der Amerikaner zerschlagen und Gefangene eingebracht.

Im Brückenkopf südlich Saarbrücken wird im Abschnitt von Forbach und bei Stirnig-Wendel um Bunker und Feldbefestigungen gekämpft.

Teile der Besatzung von Gironde-Süd vernichteten bei einem kühnen Vorstoß feindliche Stützpunkte und kehrten mit zahlreichen Gefangenen und ansehnlicher Beute an Waffen in ihre Ausgangsstellungen zurück.

Im Etruskischen Apennin sind harte Kämpfe nördlich Poretta mit den, erneut nach starker Feuervorbereitung angreifenden Amerikanern entbrannt. Britische Vorstöße nördlich Faenza scheiterlen.

Nordamerikanische Terrorflieger warfen Bomben auf Städte im süd- und südostdeutschen Raum, wobei besonders in Stuttgart, Ulm, Graz und Wiener-Neustadt Schäden in Wohnvierteln entstanden. Die Briten griffen Wanne-Eickel und weitere Orte im Ruhrgebiet an.

Die gestern gemeldete Abschusszahl von 39 feindlichen Flugzeugen hat sich durch Nachmeldung unserer Nachtjäger um 22 viermotorige Bomber auf insgesamt 61 Flugzeuge erhöht.

In Fortsetzung ihrer Operationen gegen den feindlichen Nachschub versenkten unsere Unterseeboote in harten Kämpfen wiederum zehn vollbeladene Schiffe mit zusammen 48.000 BRT, einen Zerstörer und ein Geleitfahrzeug.

image

Leutnant Brandt, Staffelkapitän in einem Jagdgeschwader, mit dem Ritterkreuz zum Eisernen Kreuz ausgezeichnet, vollbrachte trotz Behinderung durch, eine Beinprothese am 3. März im Osten eine hervorragende kämpferische Einzelleistung. Durch Bombenwurf zerstörte er drei sowjetische Panzer „T 34,“ schoss bei Tiefangriffen 20 Lastkraftwagen in Brand und brachte in Luftkämpfen drei feindliche Flugzeuge zum Absturz.

Bei Abwehrkämpfen zwischen Frankfurt an der Oder und Küstrin zeichnete sich ein unter Hauptmann Roeske stehendes Bataillon des Panzerkorps „Feldherrnhalle” durch Härte und Standhaftigkeit besonders aus.

9584

Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (March 5, 1945)

FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN

ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section

DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
051100A 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. 331

UNCLASSIFIED: Allied forces are meeting determined resistance in the Xanten area, but elsewhere we have made good progress. The Weeze-Geldern-Venlo pocket is being mopped up and to the east of the towns of Kapellen, Issum and Rheurdt have been cleared of the enemy. Farther east and south our forces are fighting in Moers, Homberg and Uerdingen.

Southeast of Neuss we have reached Derikum, less than two miles from the Rhine River, after an advance of more than five miles.

Northeast of Cologne, our forces reached Ramrath and Anstel, cleared Stommeln and Sinnersdorf, and have sent patrols to the Rhine north of Cologne. We reached Widdersdorf, two miles west of Cologne, and fighting is in progress at Frechen, on the Cologne-Düren road, against strong enemy resistance.

Southwest of Cologne, our infantry is fighting in Liblar and we have cleared Weilerswist and Derkum on the east bank of the Erft River.

Frauenberg, northwest of Euskirchen, is in our hands. To the southwest, we are fighting in Gemund, and our units have taken Schleiden.

In the Prüm area we have captured Reuth, Büdesheim, and Seiwerath.

North of Bitburg, we captured Balesfeld and our units advancing from the north and south made contact in this area between the Nims and Kyll Rivers.

North of Trier, our infantry crossed the Kyll and entered Hosten, encountering enemy small arms, mortar and artillery fire. Northeast of Trier, we captured Pfalzel. In the Zerf area east of Saarburg our units repulsed a counterattack by a strong force of enemy infantry.

We have cleared almost all of Frobach against stubborn resistance. House-to-house fighting continued in the nearby village of Marienau.

Gains of more than a mile were made between Forbach and Saarbrücken. Our forces partially cleared Stiring-Wendel. We cut the Saarbrücken-Metz highway two miles southwest of Saarbrücken.

Along the Rhine south of Strasbourg hostile patrols were forced back across the river.

Allied forces in the west captured 9,769 prisoners 3 March.

Adverse weather yesterday limited air operations which were confined mainly to attacks on the enemy communications.

Communication centers at Winterswijk, in Holland, Barlo, northeast of Bocholt, Brühl and Sechtem, near Cologne, and rail yards at Lenkerbeck, Recklinghausen and Wanne-Eickel were attacked by escorted heavy, medium and light bombers.

Farther south rail targets in a wide arc from Pirmasens to Donaueschingen were struck at by fighter-bombers. Among there were railyards at Gernsbach and Karlsruhe and the rail station at Donaueschingen. Communications at Freiburg and a fuel dump near the city also were attacked.

Railyards, ordnance depots and industrial targets at Ulm and elsewhere in southwest Germany were attacked by escorted heavy bombers in great strength.

Targets in Berlin 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/
9585 
5 March 1945

FROM: Public Relations Division, SHAEF, Main

Special Communiqué No. 6

News has been received of the success achieved by Danish Saboteurs against German troop movements through Denmark. Repeated attacks have been made by Danish Patriots on all railway lines in the country with the result that not one train arrives in Germany without having been delayed, either by direct attack or by the necessity of it having to be diverted because of sabotage. In addition, the problem has been made more difficult for the Germans by the destruction of factories making rails and junction points, by the sabotage of water towers and by the blowing up of electric points, turntables and railway stations.

This action by Danish Saboteurs is an effective contribution to current military operations on both the western and eastern fronts.

9586

U.S. Navy Department (March 5, 1945)

CINCPOA Communiqué No. 289

During the night of March 4-5 (East Longitude Dates), the enemy made a number of attempts to infiltrate into our lines on Iwo Island and subjected the Marines to substantial small arms and artillery fire. All enemy efforts to move into our positions were broken up. No appreciable change was made in the lines of the opposing forces on March 5. Improved wind and weather conditions facilitated unloading of supplies on both Eastern and Western beaches.

Seventh Army Air Force Liberators operating under the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, bombed the airfield on Chichi Jima in the Bonins on March 4.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters and Avenger torpedo planes of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing set an ammunition dump and a supply area afire and damaged a pier by bombing and rocket attacks in the Palaus on March 4. Two of our aircraft were lost.

Navy search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two strafed targets on Ponape in the Eastern Carolines on the same date.

9587

The Pittsburgh Press (March 5, 1945)

1st Army inside Cologne – Duisburg bridges blasted

Thousand of Nazis trapped on west bank of Rhine in north

…

9588

Four-fifths of Iwo in American hands

Three-fourths of Japs on isle knocked out

GUAM (UP) – U.S. Marines completed the capture of four-fifths of Iwo today as the bloodiest battle of the Pacific war went into its third week on a rising note of fury.

More than 15,000 of the original enemy garrison of 20,000 troops have already been knocked out. But the remainder were fighting to the death for the shrinking strip of the north and east coasts still in their hands.

Stiffened enemy resistance reduced Marine gains to 100 yards yesterday. Hand-to-hand fighting with bayonets, grenades and even knives swirled through clouds of sulfurous steam rising from crevices in the volcanic terrain as the battle entered its final stage.

B-29 lands on Iwo

The Japs appeared to have chosen to fight from cave to cave and pillbox to pillbox until they finally have been thrown over the high cliffs of Northern Iwo into the Pacific. But a last “Banzai” suicide charge such as has marked the collapse of organized resistance on other islands is still a possibility.

Even as Marines continued their yard-by-yard advance to the north, Seabees repaired captured Motoyama Airfield No. 1 in Southern Iwo – first of three captured airfields – sufficiently for hospital planes to land and evacuate the wounded.

A Superfortress made an emergency landing for refueling on the airstrip yesterday after bombing Tokyo and took off four hours later. Eventually, Iwo’s airfields will be used regularly for refueling the B-29s and as a base for escorting fighters.

Find 12,846 bodies

Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, commander of the Pacific Fleet, announced that 12,846 Jap dead had been counted by 6 p.m. Saturday, an increase of more than 5,700 over the toll announced only 24 hours later.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands more enemy dead were believed behind the Jap lines.

Eighty-one prisoners had been taken by 6 p.m. Saturday, comprising 45 Koreans and 36 Japs, Adm. Nimitz said.

The 3rd Marine Division at the center of the front hacked out limited gains yesterday in its drive toward the northeast coast, a quarter mile away, in an attempt to split the enemy garrison.

Japs counterattack

The 4th Division, fighting through a ravine in the eastern sector, liquidated a troublesome Jap strongpoint near the town of Minami.

The 5th Division was engaged in hand-to-hand combat for enemy strongpoints on the northwest coast.

The Japs counterattacked the 5th Division in daylight yesterday and were repulsed with the loss of several hundred enemy troops.

Behind the front, other Marines were mopping up enemy stragglers and bypassed strongpoints. The Marines blew up the entrances to many fortified caves whose occupants refused to surrender.

Carrier planes teamed with Army Liberators in an attack on Chichi in the Bonin Islands, just north of Iwo.

9589

New B-29 blow at Tokyo reported

Follows 200-plane attack yesterday

…

9590

Yanks, RAF hit oil, rail centers

U.S. fliers meet little Nazi opposition

…

9591

One nation gets veto power in world council

Russian demands met by compromise

…

9592

Vinson named U.S. loan chief

Economic Stabilizer gets Jones’ job

…

U.S. urges conservation as coal supply dwindles

Record set by consumption in January – union, operators meet in closed session

…

9593

I DARE SAY —
Sanctuary

By Florence Fisher Parry

…

9594

Nurse draft bill debated in Congress

Measure may be passed Wednesday

…

Peace task taken by Vandenberg

Roosevelt assures him of freedom

…

9595

Pope summarizes spiritual aims, sends blessing in special interview

First pontiff to be quoted since 1915 – pledges prayer for future of America
By Henry J. Taylor

…

9596

Envoy Kurusu’s son killed in air battle

…

9597

15,000 Briggs strikers won’t return to work until 15 are rehired

Management claims discharged men organized walkouts – Chrysler tie-up ends

…

9598

Simms: Americas make real progress in Mexico City

Collective security, better world mapped
By William Philip Simms, Scripps-Howard foreign editor

…

9599

CIO asks Biddle to save Bridges

Wants deportation charges dropped
By Daniel M. Kidney, Scripps-Howard staff writer

…

9600

California bills provide for G.I.’s

…

Ohio Valley fears new rise in river

By the United Press

…

9601

Nurses treated as civilians in Jap camp

Victims only of reduced rations
By Earl Richert, Scripps-Howard staff writer

WASHINGTON – An Army nurse freed in Manila after nearly three years internment said here that, as far as she knew, none of the captured nurses had been assaulted or harmed by the Japs.

The nurse, 28-year-old Lt. Phyllis Arnold of Minneapolis, was taken prisoner on Corregidor and held in the Santo Tomas prison camp in Manila until February 3, 1945, when she and 67 other Army nurses were liberated.

She said:

We were fortunate enough to be treated as civilians.

But please don’t think that the prisoners of war were treated the same. The stories told about the atrocities committed upon them are true.

Life was “not so bad as prison camps go” until the Japs cut their rations last fall.

The nurses’ rations were cut to about 800 calories a day (About 200 calories are needed daily for the average person).

The nurses lost weight steadily. Lt. Arnold dropped from her normal 125 pounds to 100.

She said the thing she noticed most in flying back from Luzon was that the farther away from the front lines one got, the more optimistic the people were about the war being over quickly.

“In the front lines,” she said, “the boys all say that the war is a long way from being over.”

Vise clamped on Japanese in North Luzon

Filipino guerrillas capture province

…

9602

Devil’s cauldron seethes on Iwo

Sulfur fumes stem from crevices
By Lisle Shoemaker, United Press staff writer

WITH U.S. MARINE ASSAULT TROOPS ON IWO (March 3, delayed) – This volcanic terrain in Iwo’s mining district is the most horrible, grotesque and devilish ever imagined. It is what one would think the entrance to Hell looked like.

White clouds of sulfur fumes steam up from every crevice in the twisted crags and depressions of the nightmarish landscape.

Setting for ‘Macbeth’

This northern end of Iwo would make a perfect setting for the witches’ scene in Macbeth. It makes you think that all the witches in the world are crouched over a pot of devil’s brew on the other side of the next hill.

Half-obscured figures of Marines creeping through the evil-smelling clouds of sulfur fumes look like weird figures in a bad dream.

There are many dead Japs scattered around this fantastic spot just past captured airfield No. 2. Only a few sticks of charred, shattered wood mark the site of the house and sulfur mines of Motoyama.

Earth is warm

The earth is warm because of the sulfur boiling and bubbling underground. The troops who fight here merely dig down a little deeper when they are cold during the night.

There are a few dead Marines in sight, too. It takes only a glance at their bodies to realize that this hellhole is real and not a ghastly nightmare.