Oberdonau-Zeitung (April 16, 1945)
Starker Feinddruck und deutsche Gegenschläge
…
Das große Fragzeichen
Wer ist Truman, der neue Mann in den USA?
Funkbericht unserer Berliner Schriftleitung
…
Hunger und Typhus für die deutsche Bevölkerung
Eisenhowers zynische Prophezeiung – Deutsche Lebensmittel beschlagnahmt
…
‚Roosevelts Tod eine verlorene Schlacht‘
Er wollte nachweislich den dritten Weltkrieg – Truman in England gefürchtet
…
US-Schiffsterben bei Okinawa
Weitere 20 Kriegsschiffe versenkt oder beschädigt
Tokio, 15. April – Wie Domei meldet, haben Japanische Luftstreitkräfte am Abend des 12. April 20 feindliche Kriegsschiffe in den Gewässern um die Okinawa-Inseln versenkt oder beschädigt.
Nahe der Hauptinsel der Okinawa-Gruppe wurden zwei Kreuzer versenkt und zwei Schlachtschiffe beschädigt. Ostwärts der gleichen Insel beschädigten die japanischen Luftstreitkräfte fünf feindliche Kriegsschiffe unbekannten Typs bei mehrmaligen Angriffen. Einige von ihnen wurden in Brand geworfen. Bei der Ausführung weiterer Angriffsunternehmungen gegen feindliche Kriegsschiffe in den Gewässern südlich der Okinawa-Inseln warfen japanische Flugzeuge elf feindliche Kriegsschiffe nicht festgestellten Typs in Brand. Von diesen sanken später fünf Einheiten.
Führer HQ (April 16, 1945)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Im ostmärkischen Grenzgebiet setzte der Feind seine Angriffe südöstlich Mürzzuschlag und bei St. Pölten fort. Tiefere Einbrüche wurden abgeriegelt. St. Pölten ging verloren. In Wien haben die Sowjets unseren Brückenkopf südlich der Donau überwältigt. Die tapfere Besatzung hat dem Ansturm der Bolschewisten seit dem 7. April in schweren Häuser- und Straßenkämpfen standgehalten und dem Feind hohe Verluste an Menschen und Material zugefügt.
Der Gegner führte im Donau-March-Winkel nur schwächere Angriffe, versuchte aber beiderseits der Straße Göding-Austerlitz mit stärkeren Kräften unsere Front zu durchstoßen. Diese Absicht wurde durch erfolgreiche Gegenangriffe unserer Panzer vereitelt und dabei 23 Kampfwagen abgeschossen. Auch südwestlich Ratibor nahmen die Sowjets den Angriff mit mehreren Infanterie- und Panzerverbänden wieder auf. Unsere Truppen brachten den eingebrochenen Feind in Gegenangriffen zum Stehen und vernichteten 46 Panzer.
Nach vergeblichen Vorstößen am gestrigen Tage traten die Bolschewisten in den heutigen Morgenstunden zwischen der Neiße-Mündung und dem Oderbruch nach heftigem Trommelfeuer mit starken Infanterie-, Panzer- und Luftwaffenkräften zum Großangriff an. Erbitterte Kämpfe sind auf der ganzen Front im Gange.
In Samland hielten die Angriffe überlegener Kräfte an. Nach bisher vorliegenden Teilmeldungen wurden erneut 18 Panzer abgeschossen.
Deutsche Jagd- und Schlachtgeschwader griffen mit Bomben und Bordwaffen den sowjetischen Aufmarsch, insbesondere im Oderabschnitt und in Schlesien, an. Bei starker Abwehr wurden 12 Panzerkampfwagen und zahlreiche Nachschubfahrzeuge vernichtet, sowie 21 feindliche Flugzeuge im Luftkampf zum Absturz gebracht.
Unterseebootjäger beschädigten in der östlichen Ostsee zwei sowjetische Schnellboote.
In den Morgenstunden des 15. April bombardierten die Bolschewisten bei Hela das deutsche Lazarettschiff Pretoria.
In Holland dauern die schweren Abwehrkämpfe im Waal-Issel-Bogen an. Arnheim ging verloren. Die Kanadier setzten ihre Angriffe auf Groningen fort und konnten unter Verlust von 20 Panzern in die Stadt eindringen.
Zwischen Ems und unterer Weser blieben alle Versuche der Briten, unseren vorspringenden Frontbogen zwischen Friesoythe und Wildeshausen einzudrücken, erfolglos.
An der unteren Aller verhinderte die 2. Marineinfanteriedivision in zäher Abwehr den vom Feind erstrebten Durchbruch. Gegen die Elbe zwischen Wittenberge und Tangermünde schließt der Gegner aus der Tiefe auf.
Im Nordabschnitt der Westfront wurden gestern insgesamt 80 Panzer und Panzerspähwagen abgeschossen.
Das erbitterte Ringen an der Ruhr und im Bergischen Land nahm mit steigender Heftigkeit seinen Fortgang. Hierbei konnten die mit besonders starken Kräften von Süden angreifenden Amerikaner auf schmalem Raum den Durchbruch zur Ruhr erzwingen. Während Lüdenscheid nach heldenhaftem Kampf verlorenging, toben in den Ruinen von Hagen weiter heftige Straßenkämpfe.
Im Harz verhinderte der hartnackige Widerstand unserer Sperrgruppen größeren Bodengewinn des Gegners, der nur in einigen Abschnitten in unübersichtlichem Waldgelände in unsere Stellungen einsickern konnte.
Im mitteldeutschen Raum drängen starke amerikanische Kräfte zwischen Bernburg und Bitterfeld nach Norden, nach Einnahme mehrerer Ortschaften blieben sie jedoch auch hier am zähen Widerstand unserer Truppen liegen. Wiederholte Angriffe auf Bitterfeld wurden abgewiesen. Während sich die Lage im Raum Halle-Leipzig nicht wesentlich veränderte, hielt der starke feindliche Druck weiter südöstlich gegen die Mulde an. Eine aus dem Raum von Meerane vorgebrochene amerikanische Panzerkampfgruppe wurde nordöstlich Chemnitz durch Eingreifreserven im Gegenangriff aufgefangen, schwächere in den Westteil von Chemnitz eingedrungene Kräfte lm Gegenstoß geworfen. Der Feind verlor in diesem Kampfraum 32 Panzer.
In der fränkischen Schweiz beiderseits des Ludwigs-Kanals südlich Bamberg dringen amerikanische Panzer und Infanterie nach Südosten vor.
Unsere Front zwischen Neustadt an der Aisch und dem Neckar südlich Heilbronn hielt starken Angriffen stand. Um einige örtliche Einbrüche wird noch gekämpft.
Heftige Kämpfe sind auch im Schwarzwald, beiderseits Wildbads und in der Rheinebene östlich Kehl mit dem nach Süden angreifenden Gegner im Gange.
In Italien setzten die Angloamerikaner ihren Großangriff unter Ausdehnung auf weitere Frontabschnitte mit starkem Materialaufwand fort. Unsere bewährten Italienkämpfer schlugen sie an der Ligurischen Küste sowie an den Bergstellungen südwestlich Vergato und südlich Bologna bis auf geringfügige örtliche Einbrüche blutig ab. Die zwischen Imola und dem Comacchio-See angreifenden feindlichen Divisionen wurden vor neuen Stellungen aufgefangen.
In Nordostkroatien stehen unsere Truppen zwischen Save und Drau in heftigem Kampf mit starken Banden.
Zahlreiche amerikanische Tiefflieger setzten am Tage den Terror gegen die Bevölkerung Mittel- und Süddeutschlands fort. Schwächere Kampfverbände griffen mehrere süd- und südwestdeutsche Städte an. In der Nacht war Groß-Berlin das Ziel britischer Terrorbomber.
Das Grenadierregiment 477 unter Führung des mit dem Ritterkreuz ausgezeichneten Oberstleutnant Manfred Schulz hat einen Ort an der Westfront nach siebeneinhalbstündigem Häuserkampf genommen, ihn gegen überlegenen Feind unter Abschuss von 26 Panzern gehalten und hierdurch einen Durchbruch verhindert.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (April 16, 1945)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
161100B April
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 MAIN
(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) HQ SIXTH ARMY GP
(21) WOIA FOR OWI WASHINGTON FOR RELEASE TO COMBINED U.S. AND CANADIAN PRESS AND RADIO AT 0900 HOURS GMT.
(REF NO.)
NONE
(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR
Communiqué No. 373
UNCLASSIFIED: Allied forces completely cleared Arnhem and advanced beyond the town to Deelen. Fighting continues in Apeldoorn. Farther north we occupied Zwolle, Meppel and Heerenveen.
Reconnaissance elements have reached the sea north of Ternaard.
We captured the southern half of Gröningen and occupied Winschoten.
In our bridgehead over the Aller River north of Rethem we pushed four miles against determined enemy resistance. To the southeast we occupied Minsen on the right bank of the river and advanced north to Bergen.
Heavy fighting continues in Uelzen.
Our armored units now hold a 12-mile stretch of the west bank of the Elbe River near Seehausen. We cleared Stendal and advanced eight miles beyond. Our forces mopping up in the rear areas reached Wittingen and Salzwedel and cleared Bismark.
Our armor withdrew from the northern bridgehead across the Elbe River because of heavy enemy pressure, but farther south infantry continues to expand its bridgehead in the vicinity of Barby.
Armored elements reached the Mulde River two miles southeast of Dessau and other units are on the main Dessau-Leipzig Railroad, eight miles south of Dessau. We are fighting in Köthen.
Northeast of Nordhausen we entered Güntersberge and Siptenfelde.
House-to-house fighting continues in Halle and we captured Leuna. Our armor established a six-mile front on the Mulde River, 20 miles north of Chemnitz.
South of Leipzig our armored units are fighting in Hagenest and Altenberg, and infantry entered Ziegelheim and Glauchau.
We reached the vicinity of Weissbach, entered Pillingsdorf and Rosendorf, northeast of Neustadt an der Orla, and we are in Bahren to the southwest. Our forces cleared Bad Lobenstein, entered Hirschberg, and captured Schlegel, all northwest of Hof. Other units are in the area ten to 13 miles southwest of the city. Our armor captured Bayreuth and entered Weidenberg.
In a 20-mile advance our armor reached Creußen, seven miles south of Bayreuth.
We have closed to within 15 miles of Nürnberg. To the north, Forchheim was taken; to the northwest we are across the Aisch River, and to the west we reached Herrnneuses.
On a wide front from north of Rothenburg to the Heilbronn area, we gained several miles.
Southeast of Baden-Baden, our advance extended to Besenfeld in the Schwartzwald Forest. Pushing along the Rhine River plain southeast of Kehl, opposite Strasbourg, we gained some eight miles to the vicinity of Offenburg.
Allied forces in the west captured 87,779 prisoners 14 April.
The Ruhr Pocket was cut in two when our units advancing from the north and from the south met at Wetter. We are in the vicinity of Wuppertal. Hagen was cleared of the enemy, and we are near Iserlohn.
Allied forces which launched an attack to clear the enemy from the Gironde Estuary in France captured Meschers, Semussac, Médis, and are one mile from Royan.
Gun positions, strongpoints and other enemy installations on both sides of the estuary were attacked without loss by our heavy and medium bombers in very great strength.
Enemy batteries at the mouth of the estuary were subjected to severe bombardment by an Allied naval task force supporting the ground operations.
Rail lines between Bremen and Hamburg were severed in several places and motor transport on the west and east sides of the Elbe were attacked by fighter-bombers.
Railyards at Hersbruck and Donauwörth, Günzburg and Ulm were attacked by medium, light and fighter bombers. Rail and road transport in the areas of Dessau, Mühlberg, Leipzig, Borna, Dresden and Chemnitz, and airfields near Dessau, Leipzig and at Marienbad in Czechoslovakia, were attacked by fighter-bombers which destroyed and damaged enemy aircraft on the ground.
Enemy troops and strongpoints ahead of our ground forces in central Germany, and strongpoints in the Löwenstein area, at Neuhaus, and east of Stuttgart were hit by fighter-bombers.
Nineteen enemy aircraft were shot down during the day. According to reports so far received, four of our fighter-bombers are missing.
Targets in Berlin were attacked by light bombers last night.
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/
U.S. Navy Department (April 16, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 334
Supported by carrier aircraft and by naval gunfire, elements of the XXIV Army Corps landed on le Shima, an island west of Okinawa, on the morning of April 16 (East Longitude Date). Advancing inland rapidly against resistance which was initially light but later stiffened, our troops captured the enemy airfield and secured most of the area west of that point. The greater part of the enemy defense force has been driven back to defensive positions in the pinnacles southeast of the airfield.
Marines of the III Amphibious Corps continued to attack groups of the enemy on Motobu Peninsula, Okinawa, on April 16. Marine forces continued to advance northward in the rugged terrain of the island north of the peninsula.
There was little change in the lines of the XXIV Army Corps in the southern sector of Okinawa. Naval guns and carrier planes attacked enemy positions in the south.
At the end of April 13 our forces on Okinawa had killed 9,108 of the enemy and captured 391 prisoners of war. About 85,000 civilians had come under jurisdiction of the U.S. Military Government on the island by the end of April 15. Our Military Government authorities have constructed one large camp and have taken over thirteen villages for use of civilians. Civilian foodstuffs are being salvaged and used. Our medical facilities have proved adequate for treatment of civilians thus far.
Fast carrier task forces of the U.S. Pacific Fleet attacked aircraft, airfields and other military installations in the northern Ryukyus and on the island of Kyushu during the period April 12 to 15 (East Longitude Dates). In sweeps over airfields on Kikai and Tanega our planes shot down 77 enemy aircraft from April 12 to 14. Attacking major air bases at Kanoya and Kushira on Kyushu on April 15, U.S. carrier planes shot down 29 aircraft, destroyed 58 on the ground and damaged 60 more.
The enemy launched heavy air attacks against our forces in and around Okinawa on the morning of April 16. Strong combat air patrols from the fast carrier task forces of the U.S. Pacific Fleet met the attacking enemy aircraft and preliminary reports indicate that our planes shot down 62 enemy aircraft over the Okinawa area. Fighters, sweeping Kyushu, shot down 22 more, antiaircraft guns of the fast carrier forces shot down 15, and 67 more were shot out of the air by combat air patrols in the Ryukyus area.
Ship’s anti-aircraft fire off the Okinawa beaches destroyed 38 Japanese planes on April 16. Land-based aircraft shot down an unreported number.
On April 16, Army Mustang fighters of the VII Fighter Command based on Iwo Island attacked ground installations at Kanoya and Kushira on Kyushu.
Army Black Widow night-fighters attacked military installations in the Bonins during the night of April 15-16. Search planes of Fleet Air Wing One damaged a small cargo ship heavily on April 16 in the northern Ryukyus.
LIFE (April 16, 1945)
A war is a war is a war
Gertrude Stein gives G.I.’s a lecture on deportment
By Percy Knauth
…
Editorial: Salute to the fleets
U.S. Navy, world’s biggest, is an expression of power and instrument of foreign policy
…
The victory of the Rhine
How Gen. Omar Nelson Bradley’s daring and sure timing won the great battle in the west
By Charles Christian Wertenbaker
…
Movie of the week: Colonel Blimp
Low’s celebrated British cartoon character becomes the hero of a chivalrous romance
…
Message to Congress by President Truman
April 16, 1945, 1:00 p.m. EWT
Broadcast audio:
Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Members of the Congress:
It is with a heavy heart that I stand before you, my friends and colleagues, in the Congress of the United States.
Only yesterday, we laid to rest the mortal remains of our beloved President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. At a time like this, words are inadequate. The most eloquent tribute would be a reverent silence.
Yet, in this decisive hour, when world events are moving so rapidly, our silence might be misunderstood and might give comfort to our enemies.
In His infinite wisdom, Almighty God has seen fit to take from us a great man who loved, and was beloved by, all humanity.
No man could possibly fill the tremendous void left by the passing of that noble soul. No words can ease the aching hearts of untold millions of every race, creed and color. The world knows it has lost a heroic champion of justice and freedom.
Tragic fate has thrust upon us grave responsibilities. We must carry on. Our departed leader never looked backward. He looked forward and moved forward. That is what he would want us to do. That is what America will do.
So much blood has already been shed for the ideals which we cherish, and for which Franklin Delano Roosevelt lived and died, that we dare not permit even a momentary pause in the hard fight for victory.
Today, the entire world is looking to America for enlightened leadership to peace and progress. Such a leadership requires vision, courage and tolerance. It can be provided only by a united nation deeply devoted to the highest ideals.
With great humility I call upon all Americans to help me keep our nation united in defense of those ideals which have been so eloquently proclaimed by Franklin Roosevelt.
I want in turn to assure my fellow Americans and all of those who love peace and liberty throughout the world that I will support and defend those ideals with all my strength and all my heart. That is my duty and I shall not shirk it.
So that there can be no possible misunderstanding, both Germany and Japan can be certain, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that America will continue the fight for freedom until no vestige of resistance remains!
We are deeply conscious of the fact that much hard fighting is still ahead of us.
Having to pay such a heavy price to make complete victory certain, America will never become a party to any plan for partial victory!
To settle for merely another temporary respite would surely jeopardize the future security of all the world.
Our demand has been, and it remains – Unconditional Surrender!
We will not traffic with the breakers of the peace on the terms of the peace.
The responsibility for making of the peace – and it is a very grave responsibility – must rest with the defenders of the peace. We are not unconscious of the dictates of humanity. We do not wish to see unnecessary or unjustified suffering. But the laws of God and of man have been violated and the guilty must not go unpunished. Nothing shall shake our determination to punish the war criminals even though we must pursue them to the ends of the earth.
Lasting peace can never be secured if we permit our dangerous opponents to plot future wars with impunity at any mountain retreat, however distant.
In this shrinking world, it is futile to seek safety behind geographical barriers. Real security will be found only in law and in justice.
Here in America, we have labored long and hard to achieve a social order worthy of our great heritage. In our time, tremendous progress has been made toward a really democratic way of life. Let me assure the forward-looking people of America that there will be no relaxation in our efforts to improve the lot of the common people.
In the difficult days ahead, unquestionably we shall face problems of staggering proportions. However, with the faith of our fathers in our hearts, we do not fear the future.
On the battlefields, we have frequently faced overwhelming odds – and won! At home, Americans will not be less resolute!
We shall never cease our struggle to preserve and maintain our American way of life.
At this moment, America, along with her brave Allies, is paying again a heavy price for the defense of our freedom. With characteristic energy, we are assisting in the liberation of entire nations. Gradually, the shackles of slavery are being broken by the forces of freedom.
All of us are praying for a speedy victory. Every day peace is delayed costs a terrible toll.
The armies of liberation today are bringing to an end Hitler’s ghastly threat to dominate the world. Tokyo rocks under the weight of our bombs.
The grand strategy of the United Nations’ war has been determined – due in no small measure to the vision of our departed Commander-in-Chief. We are now carrying out our part of that strategy under the able direction of Adm. Leahy, Gen. Marshall, Adm. King, Gen. Arnold, Gen. Eisenhower, Adm. Nimitz and Gen. MacArthur.
I want the entire world to know that this direction must and will remain – unchanged and unhampered!
Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. Because of these sacrifices, the dawn of justice and freedom throughout the world slowly casts its gleam across the horizon.
Our forefathers came to our rugged shores in search of religious tolerance, political freedom and economic opportunity. For those fundamental rights, they risked their lives. We well know today that such rights can be preserved only by constant vigilance, the eternal price of liberty!
Within an hour after I took the oath of office, I announced that the San Francisco Conference would proceed. We will face the problems of peace with the same courage that we have faced and mastered the problems of war.
In the memory of those who have made the supreme sacrifice–in the memory of our fallen President – we shall not fail!
It is not enough to yearn for peace. We must work, and if necessary, fight for it. The task of creating a sound international organization is complicated and difficult. Yet, without such organization, the rights of man on earth cannot be protected. Machinery for the just settlement of international differences must be found. Without such machinery, the entire world will have to remain an armed camp. The world will be doomed to deadly conflict, devoid of hope for real peace.
Fortunately, people have retained hope for a durable peace. Thoughtful people have always had faith that ultimately justice must triumph. Past experience surely indicates that, without justice, an enduring peace becomes impossible.
In bitter despair, some people have come to believe that wars are inevitable. With tragic fatalism, they insist that wars have always been, of necessity, and of necessity wars always will be. To such defeatism, men and women of good will must not and cannot yield. The outlook for humanity is not so hopeless.
During the dark hours of this horrible war, entire nations were kept going by something intangible – hope! When warned that abject submission offered the only salvation against overwhelming power, hope showed the way to victory.
Hope has become the secret weapon of the forces of liberation!
Aggressors could not dominate the human mind. As long as hope remains, the spirit of man will never be crushed.
But hope alone was not and is not sufficient to avert war. We must not only have hope but we must have faith enough to work with other peace-loving nations to maintain the peace. Hope was not enough to beat back the aggressors as long as the peace-loving nations were unwilling to come to each other’s defense. The aggressors were beaten back only when the peace-loving nations united to defend themselves.
If wars in the future are to be prevented the nations must be united in their determination to keep the peace under law.
Nothing is more essential to the future peace of the world than continued cooperation of the nations which had to muster the force necessary to defeat the conspiracy of the Axis powers to dominate the world.
While these great states have a special responsibility to enforce the peace, their responsibility is based upon the obligations resting upon all states, large and small, not to use force in international relations except in the defense of law. The responsibility of the great states is to serve and not to dominate the world.
To build a foundation of enduring peace we must not only work in harmony with our friends abroad, but we must have the united support of our own people.
Even the most experienced pilot cannot bring a ship safely into harbor, unless he has the full cooperation of the crew. For the benefit of all, every individual must do his duty.
I appeal to every American, regardless of party, race, creed, or color, to support our efforts to build a strong and lasting United Nations Organization.
You, the members of the Congress, surely know how I feel. Only with your help can I hope to complete one of the greatest tasks ever assigned to a public servant. With Divine guidance, and your help, we will find the new passage to a far better world, a kindly and friendly world, with just and lasting peace.
With confidence, I am depending upon all of you.
To destroy greedy tyrants with dreams of world domination, we cannot continue in successive generations to sacrifice our finest youth.
In the name of human decency and civilization, a more rational method of deciding national differences must and will be found!
America must assist suffering humanity back along the path of peaceful progress. This will require time and tolerance. We shall need also an abiding faith in the people, the kind of faith and courage which Franklin Delano Roosevelt always had!
Today, America has become one of the most powerful forces for good on earth. We must keep it so. We have achieved a world leadership which does not depend solely upon our military and naval might.
We have learned to fight with other nations in common defense of our freedom. We must now learn to live with other nations for our mutual good. We must learn to trade more with other nations so that there may be for our mutual advantage – increased production, increased employment and better standards of living throughout the world.
May we Americans all live up to our glorious heritage.
In that way, America may well lead the world to peace and prosperity.
At this moment, I have in my heart a prayer. As I have assumed my heavy duties, I humbly pray Almighty God, in the words of King Solomon:
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
I ask only to be a good and faithful servant of my Lord and my people.