Neue Erfolge der Japaner –
Schlachtschiff und sieben Transporter versenkt
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Führer HQ (December 19, 1944)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
In der Winterschlacht im Westen setzten unsere Truppen gestern auf der ganzen Front den Angriff fort. Durch die Lücken der zerschlagenen und auseinandergerissenen 1. amerikanischen Armee sind Panzerverbände in die Tiefe des Kampfraumes durchgestoßen. In einer nächtlichen Panzerschlacht wurden Eingreifverbände des Gegners geworfen.
Geschwader deutscher Jagd- und Schlachtflieger, die die Bewegungen unserer Truppen abschirmten, schossen in Luftkämpfen 24 feindliche Flugzeuge ab.
An der übrigen Westfront dauern die Stellungskämpfe in den alten Schwerpunkten an.
Das Feuer unserer Fernkampfwaffen auf London, Antwerpen und Lüttich wurde verstärkt fortgesetzt.
In Mittelitalien konnte die 8. britische Armee ihre verlustreichen Großangriffe nicht durchhalten, sie beschränkte sich daher gestern auf Vorstöße beiderseits Faenza und Bagnacavallo, die scheiterten.
An der ungarischen Front blieben zwischen Drau, Plattensee und Budapest zahlreiche Vorstöße des Feindes in unserem Abwehrfeuer legen.
Zwischen dem Donauknie bei Waitzen und der slowakischen Südgrenze brachten unsere Verbände stärkere bolschewistische Angriffe nach geringem Geländeverlust zum Scheitern. Gegenangriffe an der Enge von Ipolyság gewannen gegen zähen feindlichen Widerstand Boden. Südlich Szécsény, im Bükkgebirge und beiderseits des Sajó hielt der Druck der Bolschewisten an. Die im Raum südlich Rosenau und an der Straße Ungvár–Kaschau angreifenden feindlichen Verbände wurden nach geringem Vordringen wieder aufgefangen.
An der übrigen Ostfront kam es nur zu örtlichen Stellungskämpfen.
Städte im westdeutschen Raum, in Oberschlesien und in Südostdeutschland waren am gestrigen Tag das Angriffsziel nordamerikanischer Terrorflieger. Die Briten flogen in der Nacht in das Ostseegebiet ein und führten Störangriffe gegen West- und Süddeutschland. Luftverteidigungskräfte schossen 15 viermotorige Bomber ab. Die Zahl der am 17. Dezember zum Absturz gebrachten viermotorigen Terrorbomber erhöht sich nach den jetzt vorliegenden Meldungen von 24 auf 45.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (December 19, 1944)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
191100A December
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. 255
Heavy fighting continues in the sectors where the enemy launched his attacks between the Monschau area and the southern part of the German-Luxembourg border. Supporting Allied ground forces, fighter-bombers knocked out 95 enemy armored vehicles and struck at rail and road transport. Medium and light bombers attacked targets at Herhahn, Olef, Harperscheid, Blumenthal and Hellenthal, east of Monschau. Forty-six enemy aircraft were shot down in the air. From these operations, 11 fighters are missing; all the bombers returned.
Our forces in the Linnich area are mopping up in Würm and Müllendorf.
In the Dillingen and Saarlautern bridgeheads, our troops continue to make slow progress in wiping out enemy strongpoints. In the area northeast of Saargemund, we have reached a wooded area one mile north of Habkirchen, and gains were made in the vicinity of Walsheim and Medelsheim.
Fighter-bombers destroyed or damaged many fortified buildings and attacked road and rail transport in the area of Landau.
In the vicinity of Bitsch, our units have taken a large portion of two stubbornly defended Maginot Line fortifications.
Northwest of Wissembourg, we advanced two miles and entered the German villages of Bundenthal and Niederschlettenbach. Farther east, heavy fire was received from the Siegfried Line.
Stiff fighting continues northwest of Colmar. Further limited advances have been made in the high Vosges Mountains.
Last night, a strong force of heavy bombers attacked enemy ships in the Baltic Sea port of Gdynia.
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 (December 19, 1944)
Communiqué No. 560
Pacific Area.
The USS MISSISSINEWA (AO-59), an auxiliary oiler, was recently lost in the Central Pacific as a result of enemy action.
Next of kin of all casualties have been notified.
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 208
Further reports on carrier‑based strikes against shipping in and around Luzon on December 13, 14 and 15 (West Longitude Dates) reveal the following additional damage to the enemy:
| Sunk | Damaged |
|---|---|
| One large oiler | One large transport |
| One minelayer | One medium oiler |
| Seven small craft | One small oiler |
| Five small vessels | One coastal defense vessel |
Revised information shows that cargo ships sunk were nine, cargo vessels damaged were nine, and small cargo vessels damaged were seventeen. These totals were previously reported as ten cargo ships sunk, ten cargo vessels damaged, and twenty‑five small vessels damaged (Communiqué No. 207). Our forces lost 27 planes in combat in the three‑day action.
On December 17, Marine torpedo planes bombed defense installations on Rota in the Marianas.
On the same date, Navy search aircraft bombed airstrips on Truk in the Carolines, encountering moderate anti-aircraft fire. Four enemy fighters attacked our planes, but all returned safely.
Marine aircraft bombed and strafed targets on Babelthuap in the Palaus on December 17, setting two aircraft ablaze and destroying a barge, a motor launch and four trucks.
The Pittsburgh Press (December 19, 1944)
MASSED YANK TANKS, GUNS HURLED AT NAZI OFFENSIVE
Germans 20 miles inside Belgium
1st Army makes stand in north; enemy’s drive reported slowed
By James McGlincy, United Press staff writer
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Doleful Belgians watch Yank retreat as Germans throw ‘Sunday punch’
Three months of liberation at end, people wait for return of Nazis
By Jack Frankish, United Press staff writer
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Cooks and bakers join the battle
By Morley Cassidy, North American Newspaper Alliance
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Stoneman: Situation to get worse in Belgium
Optimistic U.S. officers who derided Germans now speeding to the rear
By William H. Stoneman
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New raid hits area –
Luzon invasion hinted due soon
94 Jap ships, 461 planes battered
By William B. Dickinson, United Press staff writer
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Roosevelt ends vacation in South
Serious problems faced in capital
By Merriman Smith, United Press staff writer
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Green scoffs at CIO bid for joint meeting
Murray’s proposal AFL head blasts
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Perkins: Discord in ‘House of Labor’ is sweet music to Lewis
UMW head watches feud between Green and Murray; he may return to top spot
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer
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Fired co-ed may come back but LSU kiss ban stands
President will discuss reinstatement with student council; father defends girl
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