America at war! (1941–) – Part 4

Im Hintergrund Moskau –
Der Mob kämpft in Paris

Vichy, 26. August –
Die Anglo-Amerikaner haben die Pariser Unterwelt zum Widerstand gegen die französischen Behörden und die deutsche Besatzung aufgerufen. Der erste „Erfolg“ war die Ermordung Taittingers, des Präsidenten des Pariser Stadtrats. Taittinger stand auf der Seite der Anglo-Amerikaner, aber er wollte sich bemühen, die öffentliche Ordnung aufrechtzuerhalten und die Herrschaft des Mobs verhindern. Ziel der losgelassenen Meute ist, die Ordnung zu stürzen und die Kommune zur Macht zu bringen.

Das anglo-amerikanische Oberkommando hat auf diese Ausbrüche, die sich ebenso gegen die deutsche Besatzung wie gegen die Ordnung überhaupt richten, sofort reagiert. Die „Eroberung“ von Paris wurde den „Streitkräften der inneren Front“ überlassen. Inzwischen haben sich bürgerliche französische Kreise gegen den Krieg des Terrors erhoben und kämpfen vielfach an der Seite der deutschen Truppen gegen den Pöbel, der wie so oft schon in der französischen Geschichte die Gelegenheit benutzt, durch Raub, Plünderung und Mord die Seinestadt zu tyrannisieren. Diese entfesselten Banden denken gar nicht daran, den Plutokraten den Weg zu ebnen. Ihr Ziel ist, sich auf Kosten des wehrlosen Bürgertums zu bereichern. So war es 1870 und so ist es heute wieder, wo die Anglo-Amerikaner die Voraussetzungen dazu geschaffen haben. London gibt zu, daß Franzosen auf deutscher Seite kämpfen.

Die „Befreiung“ der französischen Hauptstadt sieht also erheblich anders aus, als es sich die Anglo-Amerikaner und manche Franzosen vorgestellt hatten. Schwere Schäden trägt die Seinestadt davon und die Zivilbevölkerung erleidet auch hier hohe Verluste.


Eine spanische Feststellung –
Kein Haß gegen die Deutschen

Madrid, 26. August –
Während einer vierjährigen Frankreichbesetzung haben die Franzosen es nicht gelernt, die Deutschen zu hassen, schreibt ABC. Als die Deutschen sich aus Südwestfrankreich zurückzogen, haben sie weder Repressalien gegen Franzosen noch gegen ihr Eigentum ergriffen. Seinerzeit sei behauptet worden, die Deutschen würden bei ihrem Fortgang alles zerstören und ein andermal wurde gesagt, die französische Bevölkerung würde sich auf die sich zurückziehenden Deutschen stürzen und Mord und Totschlag verüben. Alles das hat sich als Lüge entpuppt. Der deutsche Rückzug war beispielhaft und die Haltung der Franzosen den deutschen Soldaten gegenüber ebenso. Die Deutschen haben kein einziges Kulturdenkmal in Südwestfrankreich zerstört.

Französisches Katyn kündigt sich an –
‚Bruderkämpfe‘ in Obersavoyen

Stockholm, 26. August –
Zum erstenmal mußten sich amerikanische Agenturen entschließen, in ihren Nachrichten aus der Schweiz die bolschewistischen Tendenzen unter den französischen Terroristen beim Namen zu nennen. Sie brechen dabei den Bann, der aus guten Gründen Uber Zusammensetzung und Zielrichtung des sogenannten Maquis gebreitet worden war.

Associated Press meldet „Bruderkämpfe“ zwischen verschiedenen Bandengruppen in Obersavoyen. Im Gebiete am Genfer See sei eine „Internationale Brigade“ auf Plünderungszügen begriffen, durch die die Bevölkerung von panischem Schrecken befallen sei. Auch in dem Pariser unterirdischen Bewegung seien die Kommunisten äußerst rührig.

Typisch für die bolschewistische Tendenzen und Methoden ist folgender, ebenfalls von einer US-Agentur verbreiteter Tatbestand: In Annecy in Obersavoyen ist von bolschewistischen „Maquisards“ ein Massenmord an gefangenen französischen Milizmännern begangen worden. 35 Gefangene sind bereits summarisch „zum Tode verurteilt.“ Es handelt sich hier um den ersten Fall eines französischen Katyn, um einen Auftakt zu der bolschewistischen Schreckensherrschaft, die von den Kommunisten für den Fall einer Beseitung der deutschen Ordnung vorbereitet worden ist.

De Gaulle sucht offensichtlich seine Machtübernahme zu beschleunigen, Ist aber selbst politisch ein Gefangener der Sowjets und wird nicht in der Lage sein, jener kommunistischen Unterwelt, die an den jetzigen Vorgängen so starken Anteil hat, wirklich in die Arme zu fallen; im Gegenteil, er ist von ihr abhängig und wird genau wie die englisch-amerikanischen militärischen Befehlshaber in Italien den Bolschewisten überall Konzessionen machen müssen, um den andernfalls angedrohten Bürgerkrieg wenigstens noch eine Weile hinauszuschieben.

Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (August 27, 1944)

Communiqué No. 141

Allied troops advancing eastwards towards the upper SEINE valley have reached the river in the northern outskirts of TROYES and at a point 12 miles farther north.

Near PARIS, armored units have launched an attack between MELUN and CORBEIL where a bridgehead had been previously established.

Approximately 10,000 enemy troops including the German commander and his staff were taken prisoner in PARIS. One enemy strongpoint has been holding out in CHAMPIGNY on the southeast edge of the city and small enemy groups still operate in the northeast and northwest suburbs.

Within the city, formal resistance has ceased but some sniping continues.

In the SEINE valley, armored elements have advanced along the south side of the river in the area between MANTES-GASSICOURT and PARIS encountering slight opposition.

Allied forces have closed in towards the south bank of the SEINE and have crossed the river at VERNON and PONT-DE-L’ARCHE. Further west our troops have captured BOURGTHEROULDE and are clearing the enemy from the FORÊT DE LA LONDE. In the coastal area the enemy has been driven over the lower RISLE and PONT-AUDEMER is in our hands.

Heavy fighting is in progress in the area north or BREST on the BRITTANY Peninsula where the enemy garrison is offering stubborn resistance. Gun positions and fortified targets at BREST were again attacked without loss by escorted heavy bombers.

Attacks on enemy transport in Northeast FRANCE by our fighter-bombers and fighters are being extended into BELGIUM and GERMANY. Locomotives and hundreds of motor vehicles and railway cars – some loaded with ammunition and oil – have been destroyed or damaged during the last 24 hours, especially near the SEINE at ROUEN. Marshalling yards at GISORS and CHARLEROI were also hit. Rail movements in the LILLE–AMIENS–DIEPPE area have been pounded incessantly.

Concentrations of enemy troops and vehicles seeking passage over the SEINE were hit throughout the day by waves of escorted light and medium bombers which dropped fragmentation and high explosive bombs. Their targets also included four fuel dumps to the east and southeast of ROUEN.

Enemy air opposition was slight, but heavy anti-aircraft fire has been concentrated at many points to the east of the SEINE. Six enemy aircraft were shot down and at least twelve others were destroyed on the ground. Seven of our bombers and 17 fighters are missing.

U.S. Navy Department (August 27, 1944)

CINCPAC Press Release No. 533

For Immediate Release
August 27, 1944

Liberators of the 7th AAF bombed the airfield and defense installations at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on August 25 (West Longitude Date). More than 42 tons of bombs were dropped while the Liberators fought off 8 to 10 enemy fighters. Two fighters were destroyed and two damaged, and several Liberators were damaged. Anti-aircraft fire was intense.

A single 7th AAF Liberator bombed Yap and Woleai Islands on August 25. There was no opposition at Woleai, and only light anti-aircraft fire at Yap.

Truk Atoll was bombed by Liberators of the 7th AAF on August 24. Sixty‑four tons of bombs were dropped on defense installations. Eight enemy fighters intercepted, and one fighter was damaged. All of our planes returned.

In the Marshall Islands, Wotje and Mille were attacked on August 24 by Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. Harassing raids were carried out during the night of August 24-25 against Wotje, Maloelap, Jaluit, and Mile. On August 25, Corsairs again bombed and strafed Mille and Maloelap.

Aguijan Island in the Marianas was bombed and strafed by our aircraft on August 25, starting several fires.

Ponape and Nauru Islands were attacked on August 25, Ponape by Mitchell medium bombers of the 7th AAF and Nauru by Ventura search planes of Group 1, Fleet Air Wing Two.

The Pittsburgh Press (August 27, 1944)

Five Allied armies drive on Reich

2,800 bombers blast path toward border; British cross Seine

U.S. observers predict –
German hopes hinge on next few weeks

Delaying action only choice of two armies

Nazi flee South France as Yanks roll up Rhône


Port of Toulon left a mass of wreckage

Lights blaze again in Paris after four years of darkness

By Richard McMillan and Robert Richards, United Press staff writers

Flying bomb area believed finished

Last salvos sent over Friday morning

Mine strikes imperil U.S. war effort

Government seizure of pits hinted


Washington denies report Hull’s in Rome

Three-power meeting plans new ‘League’

Real progress made at Dumbarton Oaks

Tank-borne flamethrower used on Nazis in France

British-developed weapon hurls stream of fire 450 feet, around corners

Iceland expects U.S. to withdraw troops

americavotes1944

No complaints heard yet against CIO political unit

House committee conducting hearing waits, but nothing so far has happened

Washington (UP) – (Aug. 26)
The special House committee to investigate campaign expenditures ended its first week of hearings today without a single complaint being filed with it by a House member, although previous reports indicated that several would protest political activities of the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Chairman Clinton P. Anderson (D-NM) said some members has urged him to take action against the CIO and its Political Action Committee prior to his group’s organization, but since the committee opened its doors for business, no one has filed a formal protest for the record.

He said:

Upshot of all this is that probably the most the committee can accomplish will be to recommend remedial legislation where it may be found necessary to correct provisions in present law.

Members fear CIO

One such recommendation, he suggested, might be to make the Smith-Connally Act, prohibiting political campaign contributions by labor unions, corporations and other organizations, apply to primaries as well as general elections.

The CIO was recently exonerated by a Senate Investigating Committee for its primary activities.

Mr. Anderson did not account for failure of members to make formal protests, but other committee members indicated that Congressmen who had “weathered the storm” of CIO opposition did not want to “make a kick” for fear the union would throw up an even greater barrage in November.

To hear Hillman Monday

Others, they said, especially Democrats who survived CIO scraps in primaries, are reluctant to complain because they hope to get the CIO’s support against Republican candidates in the final election.

The committee is scheduled to meet Monday to hear testimony of CIO chairman Sidney Hillman, his assistant C. B. Baldwin and CIO-PAC counsel John J. Abt.

Mr. Anderson said that when hearings are concluded, the committee will have a thorough knowledge of PAC campaign efforts, the amount of money expended and how it was used and will be in a position to recommend changes in present laws.

In Washington –
Demobilization plan assailed by Republicans

GOP: ‘Cart put before horse’

americavotes1944

General promised Socialists’ time

New York (UP) – (Aug. 26)
Maj. Gen. F. H. Osborn, director of the Information and Educational Division of the Army Service Forces, was the officer who promised the Socialist Party radio time for an overseas broadcast equal to that of President Roosevelt’s Bremerton speech.

Harry Fleischman, Socialist Party secretary, said Gen. Osborn made his promise in a letter to him dated Aug. 21, and referred him to Capt. Albert E. Gibson of the Army Service Forces here for assistance.

Mr. Fleischman said Gen. Osborn’s letter was in answer to Socialist Party claims that Mr. Roosevelt’s speech was political and therefore the Socialist Party was entitled to rebuttal time. Gen. Osborn suggested that “in order to comply with your request under the terms of Law Title V” the party should draw up a 38-minute script, the exact length of the President’s, which would be given free time, Mr. Fleischman said.

Mr. Fleischman said:

This letter is in direct contradiction to the statement of Paul Porter [public relations chief of the Democratic Party] that the Army’s classification [as political] of the President’s speech at Bremerton was made by a lieutenant and therefore unofficial.

americavotes1944

Plea for Dewey radio time to be renewed

New York (UP) – (Aug. 26)
Herbert Brownell Jr., Republican National Committee chairman, said today he agreed with the Army’s first decision that President Roosevelt’s speech at the Bremerton, Washington, Navy Yard Aug. 12 was political, and disclosed he was renewing his request to the major radio networks to grant Governor Thomas E. Dewey free time on the air.

Under an FCC ruling, Governor Dewey is entitled to the same radio facilities accorded the Chief Executive “when he becomes a politician.” Mr. Brownell said his first request for free time was refused Aug. 21 by the radio stations.

Judge Blair Gunther quits Slav Congress; raps political leftists

Charges radicals are taking over group
By Kermit McFarland

Dewey starts work on campaign talks

Whole staff moves to Pawling farm

Poll: Farmers show trend away from Roosevelt; labor ‘coddling’ cited

Wastefulness and extravagance, bureaucrats and excessive regulation also emphasized
By George Gallup, Director, American Institute of Public Opinion