Buckeyes top Illinois in 26–12 battle
By Chester L. Smith, sports editor
…
Middies hand Boilermakers 32–0 lacing
…
Cadets beat Penn, 62–7, before 70,000
…
Statement by President Roosevelt on the Sixth War Loan Drive
November 19, 1944, 10:00 p.m. EWT
Broadcast audio:
Ladies and gentlemen:
The Sixth War Loan Drive that starts tomorrow is something more than just a money-raising affair.
We cannot all fight the enemy face to face. We cannot all produce the weapons and the raw materials that are so vital to our Armed Forces.
But there is one front on which all of us – every man, woman, and child – can serve, and serve for the duration. We can all practice self-denial. We can all sacrifice some of our comforts to the needs of the men in service; and yes, even some of our needs to their comforts.
The war in the present month of November alone will cost us seven and one-half billions of dollars. That is 250 millions a day.
That is why every war bond that you buy is so important.
The war is not over – no, not by many a costly battle. While we have every reason to be proud of what has been done – even optimistic about the ultimate outcome – we have no reason to be complacent about the tough road that still lies ahead of us.
We have just been through a wartime election, demonstrating to the people of the world the deep roots of our democratic faith.
This Sixth War Loan, I am confident, will be a further example of democracy in action in a world at war.
There is an old saying about sticking to the plow until you have reached the end of the furrow. Every rule of common sense and patriotic thought makes that maxim applicable to our conduct in this war.
And so, in the name of our wounded and sick, in the name of our dead, and in the name of future generations of Americans, I ask you to plow out this furrow to a successful and victorious end.
U.S. Navy Department (November 19, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 184
Before dawn on November 10 (West Longitude Date) ships of the Pacific Fleet bombarded installations on Iwo Jima in the Bonins. Several explosions were observed after the first salvos. Large fires ashore were started, which could be seen by ships 35 miles away. The enemy apparently was surprised, and his shore batteries replied ineffectively to our fire, causing no damage or casualties to our forces. Only one enemy plane was in the air.
On November 14, units of the 81st Army Division reoccupied Ngeregong Island in the Palaus without resistance. The island had been occupied by an enemy force of approximately 200 men on the night of November 7‑8 (reported in Communiqué No. 181) which meanwhile had been heavily attacked with bombs and gunfire. Corsairs and Hellcats of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing with Navy search Liberators of Fleet Air Wing One bombed enemy‑held islands in the Northern Palaus on November 14, destroyed vehicles and barges and starting fires in ammunition dumps. Fighters of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing pounded the airfield on Yap the same day.
Navy search Liberators of Fleet Air Wing One attacked Hahajima and Iwo Jima in the Bonins on November 14. On the next day Navy search Liberators hit Chichijima and Hahajima. One coastal cargo ship was hit at Chichijima. Liberators of the 7th Army Air Force on November 16 sank one medium cargo ship at Hahajima in the Bonins and caused explosions and fires in two other cargo ships. Other Liberators of the 7th Army Air Force the same day struck at shipping in Chichijima, and Navy search Liberators of Fleet Air Wing One bombed Okimura Town on Hahajima. Results were not observed.
From November 14 to 16, Marine units on Saipan killed 248 and captured 47 Japanese in a drive to clear the island of remnants of the enemy garrison. A number of machine guns were captured. Our losses were nine killed and 40 wounded.
Fighters of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing blasted airfields at Yap on November 16. Fires were started in fuel storage spaces and storage buildings in the Northern Palaus.
Avengers and Corsairs of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing hit Rota on November 17.
Eleventh Army Air Force Liberators on November 16 bombed Suribachi in the Northern Kuriles. Meager anti-aircraft fire was met.
Fighters of the 7th Army Air Force made strafing attacks on Pagan in the Marianas on November 15.
The 4th Marine Aircraft Wing continued neutralizing attacks in the Marshalls on November 16.
Vorarlberger Tagblatt (November 20, 1944)
Europas längste Eisenbahnbrücke bei Moerdijk gesprengt
Neues Husarenstück der Kriegsmarine
…
Treffer auf Schlachtschiff
Tokio, Japan –
Im Verlaufe der unaufhörlichen japanischen Angriffe gegen die feindlichen Flottenstreitkräfte und Transporte im Golf von Leyte erzielten Einheiten der Luftwaffe – Frontmeldungen zufolge – am 16. November Treffer auf einem Schlachtschiff der Washington-Klasse. Einen Zerstörer warfen sie in Brand. Japanische Reserven und größere Mengen von Waffen und Munition sind nach einem Bericht von einem ungenannten Stützpunkt auf den Philippinen auf Leyte gelandet worden. Der Geleitzug, der diese Verstärkungen heranführte, war durch japanische Flotten- und Luftwaffeneinheiten gesichert.
Führer HQ (November 20, 1944)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Die dritte Abwehrschlacht bei Aachen hat sich gestern zu bisher nicht erlebter Härte gesteigert. Unter Masseneinsatz von Artillerie, Fliegern, Panzern und Infanterieverbänden versuchten die Nordamerikaner, den Durchbruch zu erzwingen. Die deutsche Front hat gehalten.
Im Verlauf dieser mit stärkster Erbitterung geführten Kämpfe wechselten im Raum von Geilenkirchen einige Stellungsabschnitte mehrmals am Tage den Besitzer. Mehrere hundert Gefangene blieben in unserer Hand. Zwischen Würselen und dem Wald von Hürtgen vernichteten unsere Truppen erneut 35 feindliche Panzer. Im Übrigen brachte den Nordamerikanern die Opferung Tausender ihrer Soldaten in diesem Kampfgebiet bisher lediglich den Besitz eines schmalen Geländestreifens.
Im Stadtgebiet von Metz, an der lothringischen Nordostgrenze und im Raum östlich Mörchingen fingen unsere Truppen die Masse der feindlichen Angriffe auf. Zwischen dem Rhein-Marne-Kanal und Saint-Dié gelang es dem Feind nach heftigen Kämpfen vorzudringen. Nördlich Montbéliard brachte unsere entschlossene Abwehr angreifende französische Verbände zum Stehen, Unmittelbar an der Schweizer Grenze ist dem Feind unter Ausnutzung dieser Flankensicherung ein Einbruch in das Elsass gelungen.
Über dem Kampfraum im Westen kam es zu erbitterten Luftkämpfen, bei denen deutsche Jäger aus überlegenen feindlichen Verbänden neun Flugzeuge abschossen.
Am Tage und in der Nacht wurde Groß-London und der Raum von Antwerpen von „V1“ und „V2“ beschossen.
In Mittelitalien scheiterten zahlreiche Vorstöße nordamerikanischer Truppen im Etruskischen Apennin und an der Adria.
Durch deutsche Schnellboote wurden in der Adria zwei mit Nachschub beladene feindliche Schoner versenkt.
Bei Apatin und Batina an der Donau scheiterten alle Versuche der Bolschewisten, ihre Brückenköpfe zu erweitern.
Unsere Truppen auf dem Balkan wiesen erneute bulgarische Angriffe östlich der Straße Pristina–Mitrovica ab.
Südöstlich Budapest setzten die Sowjets nach den hohen Panzerverlusten der Vortage ihre Durchbruchsversuche nur mit Infanterie fort. Unsere Divisionen zerschlugen sämtliche Angriffe und entrissen dem Feind in kraftvollen Gegenstößen Gelände. Schlachtflieger zerstörten auf einem sowjetischen Flugplatz 40 Flugzeuge auf dem Boden und beschädigten zehn weitere.
Auch südlich des Matragebirges sowie im Raum Miskolc und Tokaj blieben starke bolschewistische Angriffe bis auf geringe Einbrüche erfolglos.
Aus dem Frontbogen südöstlich Libau trat der Feind erneut zum Großangriff an, den er durch starkes Artilleriefeuer und heftige Schlachtfliegerangriffe vorbereitet hatte. Die erste Angriffswelle brach zusammen. Weitere heftige Kämpfe mit nachgeführten Kräften sind im Gange.
An der Landfront von Sworbe steht die Besatzung der Halbinsel in schwerem Kampf mit dem eingebrochenen Gegner. Deutsche Seestreitkräfte unterstützten durch ihr Feuer die eigenen Truppen.
Im westlichen Reichsgebiet setzten anglo-amerikanische Fliegerverbände ihre Angriffe gegen die Zivilbevölkerung fort und beschossen Eisenbahnzüge. Von dem Wien und weitere Orte in Südostdeutschland angreifenden nordamerikanischen Bombern schoss Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe 21 viermotorige Bomber ab.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (November 20, 1944)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
201100A November
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) SHAEF 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) NEWS DIV. MINIFORM, LONDON
(REF NO.)
NONE
(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR
Communiqué No. 226
In the Venlo area of southeastern Holland, Allied forces have cleared the wooded area between Helden and Kessel, and reconnaissance elements have reached the Meuse River at Kessel. North of Meijel, crossings were made over the Deurne Canal.
Medium, light and fighter-bombers, and rocket-firing fighters operating in strength, again struck at the enemy’s rail and road supply routes to the battlefront. In northern and eastern Holland and beyond the frontier into Germany northwest of the Ruhr and in the Rhineland, railway lines were cut in some 50 places. Many locomotives and a large number of railway trucks and road vehicles were either destroyed or damaged.
Medium and light bombers attacked the road and railway bridge at Venlo and railway targets at Kempen and Viersen.
Further progress has been made in our attacks in the Geilenkirchen–Aachen sector. The town of Geilenkirchen was taken yesterday. Several counterattacks were contained in the vicinity of Prummern, and we have made gains east of Setterich which has been cleared of the enemy.
Farther south, Hongen, Kinzweiler and Sankt Jöris are in Allied hands. Our patrols, advancing through wire entanglements and mine fields, are in the southern outskirts of Eschweiler, and we have reached the town of Röhe. Hamich and Hastenrath, northeast of Stolberg, have been freed and we have made substantial progress in this area.
In close support of our troops in the Geilenkirchen–Aachen sector, fighter-bombers dive-bombed and strafed nine towns including: Welz, Gereonsweiler, Aldenhoven, Niedermerz and Güsten. Medium bombers attacked four defended villages near Düren. Light bombers struck at troop concentration at Baal.
In France, northeast of Koenigsmacker, our forces have reached Launstroff and advanced across the border to Wellingen.
Medium bombers attacked Merzig, five miles northeast of Launstroff.
Our forces have completed the encirclement of Metz. Troops are on the eastern edge of the city, and units from the north and south have established contact at Vallières and Vaudreville east of Metz. On the northwestern side of the city, our forces are advancing across Saint-Symphorien Island between the Moselle River and the lateral canal, while other units have crossed the Seille River on the northeastern edge of the city.
Farther south, we are in the northern outskirts of Dieuze and have reached Grostenquin, eleven miles to the north.
Advances of several miles were made against moderate resistance in the offensives north and southeast of Blâmont. Eleven more towns have been freed in the area farther south, including Réchicourt, Harbouey and Badonviller.
In the Vosges Mountains, Gerardmer has been freed.
Our troops have thrust almost through the Belfort Gap, reaching Sapois, within 20 miles of the Rhine River. Other units have driven to within three miles of Belfort.
East of the Belfort Gap, medium bombers went for the Rhine River bridge at Neuenburg.
A storage depot at Saverne, 20 miles northwest of Strasbourg, an ordnance depot at Pirmasens, and two enemy radio stations were among the day’s targets for other medium, light and fighter-bombers and rocket-firing fighters.
From all air operations, 29 fighters and three bombers are missing, but four of our fighter pilots are safe. At least, sixteen enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air during the day.
A sharp attack by enemy ground forces on Mardyck in the Dunkerque area was firmly repulsed on Saturday morning. Yesterday, strongpoints and gun positions in the area were attacked by fighter-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 FA2409
AUTHENTICATING SIGNATURE
/s/U.S. Navy Department (November 20, 1944)
Communiqué No. 555
Pacific Theater.
The following vessels of the Southwest Pacific Force have been lost as the result of enemy action or the perils of the sea in the Philippine Area, but not in the battles of October 24‑25:
- The Destroyer USS ABNER READ (DD-526)
- The Destroyer Escort USS EVERSOLE (DE-404)
- YMS‑70
- PTs-320 and 821
- Fleet Tug USS SONOMA (AT-12)
- LCI‑1085
The following vessels of the Southwest Pacific Force have been lost in the New Guinea Area as the result of enemy action or the perils of the sea:
- The Destroyer Escort USS SHELTON (DE-407)
- PTs‑368 and 371
The next of kin of casualties have been informed.
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 185
Aircraft from a carrier task force under the tactical command of VAdm. J. S. McCain struck at shipping and airfields in and around Manila on November 18 (West Longitude Date). Incomplete reports show that two large cargo ships and one large oiler were burned in Manila Harbor and about 100 enemy planes were destroyed on the ground. Light fighter opposition was met over the targets and 10 Japanese aircraft were shot down. Our fighters destroyed eight additional attacking planes near our carriers.
Fighter planes of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing hit a fuel dump and other storage areas on Babelthuap in the Palaus and sank two enemy barges in waters around this island on November 17. On the same day Catalinas of Fleet Air Wing One bombed the town on Koror in the Palaus. Fighters of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing pounded the runways on Yap Airfield.
On November 18, strafing and bombing attacks were made by planes of Fleet Air Wing One on barges near Kits. Iwo Jima in the Bonins. Unaggressive attacks were made on our planes by five enemy fighters.
Liberators of the 11th Army Air Force on November 18 bombed targets in Suribachi in the Northern Kurils. Intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered.
Second Marine Aircraft Wing fighters attacked the phosphate plant on Rota in the Marianas on November 18.
Fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing encountered intense anti-aircraft fire in bombing attacks on the power plant and other installations on Nauru on November 18. An explosion was observed near the power station.
The Pittsburgh Press (November 20, 1944)
FRENCH ADVANCE TO RHINE
Yanks smash Metz resistance; 1st Army slugs toward Cologne
Swiss radio reports Allies across river in Bavarian Germany
By J. Edward Murray, United Press staff writer
…
Yanks invade another group of Pacific Isles
Conquest of Maipas completed in four days
By William B. Dickinson, United Press staff writer
…
Swiss dispatches report –
Posters scattered in Berlin declare end of war is near
Hitler again reported in Tokyo trying to induce Japan to attack Russia
…
Perkins: CIO and AFL sessions rap U.S. agencies
Criticism is heaped on WLB and NLRB
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer
…
WLB action due in phone strike
Back-to-work plea ignored by union
…
Next of kin to get details direct from battle areas
Company commander or chaplain to write relatives of those killed or seriously wounded
…
Two Manila raids reported by Japs
27 ships blasted in other air attacks
…
Chiang Kai-shek removes six top cabinet members
Minister of War one of those ousted in move to silence criticism of Chungking regime
…
At AFL convention –
Anti-strike law to face attack
U.S. control of labor also to be rapped
…
U.S. asks serial number of burned war bonds
…
Demobilization orders fought by patriots
Belgian and French guerrillas protest
By the United Press
…
Acres of woods flattened, yet Nazis battle fiercely
German soldiers 50 to 58 years old taken prisoner in Hürtgen Forest fighting
By Henry T. Gorrell, United Press staff writer
…