Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (March 7, 1945)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
071100A 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. 333
UNCLASSIFIED: Allied forces are meeting fierce resistance along the approaches to Xanten.
Sonsbeck, southwest of Xanten, has been captured against moderate resistance and farther south our troops have made advances of two miles to the Bonninghardt Forest. The town of Rheinberg has been cleared.
Continued bad weather yesterday again limited our air operation, however enemy troops, armor and transport at Wesel were attacked by escorted light bombers.
Our forces cleared the area west of the Rhine River from a point eight miles south of Neuss to Cologne, with the exception of Zons and the area in the river band just north of Zons.
Cologne has been captured, but sporadic fighting continues in the southern outskirts of the city. Resistance in the city came mainly from houses converted into strong points.
South of Cologne, resistance is stronger and fighting is in progress in Hermülheim. We captured the Goldenberg Power Station, on the northwest edge of Knapsack and have reached Pingsdorf and Heimerzheim. Our units are within six miles of Bonn. East of Euskirchen, we have taken Niederdrees and Oberdrees. Farther to the southwest the towns of Stotzheim, Satzvey and Glehn are in our hands. South of Gemünd, we have crossed the Olef River and have taken the town of Olef.
Northeast of Prüm, our units reached the Kyll River, captured Lissendorf and entered Niederbettingen. An enemy counterattack was repulsed in this area. East and southeast of Prüm, we crossed the Kyll, captured Michelbach and Mürlenbach, and entered Densborn.
An armored column, striking northeast and east from the Bitburg area, drove 25 miles to reach the vicinity of Schönbach. The towns of Gindorf, Meisburg and Oberstadtfeld were overrun by this force, which reached a point 20 miles from the Rhine River in one area.
East of Bitburg, we reached the vicinity of Binsfeld. East of Trier, our troops have crossed the Ruwer River to clear Kenn and Eitelsbach. Enemy counterattacks were repulsed north, east and southeast of Trier.
West of Forbach, stiff fighting continued in the Bois de la Résèrve where the enemy established strong points. Hostile infiltrations were mopped up. North of Forbach, we repulsed a tank-supported counterattack.
Sharp fighting also took place on the east bank of the Saar River north of Bübingen.
Along the Rhine enemy patrols were turned back.
Allied forces in the west captured 6,485 prisoners 5 March.
An oil refinery at Salzbergen was bombed by escorted heavy bombers.
Railyards at Lenkerbeck, Recklinghausen, Rauxel, Opladen and Siegburg were attacked by medium and light bombers.
During the night heavy bombers made two separate attacks and light bombers made repeated attacks on enemy concentrations at Wesel. Targets at Sassnitz, on the Rügen Island in the Baltic Sea were attacked by heavy bombers which also attacked targets in Berlin.
COORDINATED WITH: G-2, G-3 to C/S
THIS MESSAGE MAY BE SENT IN CLEAR BY ANY MEANS
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Precedence
“OP” - AGWAR
“P” - Others
ORIGINATING DIVISION
PRD, Communique Section
NAME AND RANK TYPED. TEL. NO.
D. R. JORDAN, Lt Col FA4655
AUTHENTICATING SIGNATURE
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