Stokes: Making progress
By Thomas L. Stokes
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Othman: Dis is DE Day
By Fred Othman
WASHINGTON – This is the day to whoop-and-holler, not yesterday.
If you’ve already torn up your phone book and thrown the pieces out the window it serves you right and don’t go blaming President Truman. He did his best. All day yesterday his assistants emerged at intervals from the executive offices and said, “Uhh-uh–not yet.”
The morning started out beautifully. German surrender was in the air and the odor of freshly cut grass. The White House gardeners were cutting the lawn. The sun was shining. The movers were hauling in the new President’s belongings and depositing them in living quarters painted varying shades of raspberry pink, green and blue. Everything looked wonderful.
It still looked that way at 10 a.m. when Press Secretary Jonathan Daniels called in the correspondents.
“All I have this morning,” he said, “is proclamation–.”
The scribes unsheathed their pencils and the press association men got set for the fastest foot race yet to the telephones.
“–a proclamation,” continued Daniels, “about National Rehabilitation Week.”
“Try and get that one on the wires,” cried a disappointed writing wretch.
“Then put it in your pocket,” said Daniels.
Daniels’ girl almost mobbed
An hour passed. Daniels’ girl stuck her head out his door and nearly got mobbed. Daniels had some more news, she gasped.
He did, too. It was a letter to the governors of the 48 states inviting them to drop in at the White House whenever they came to town. The reporters went back to their red leather seats in the reception room, where they smoked too many off-brand cigarettes and bit their fingernails. Lunchtime came. A messenger shagged in some tuna fish sandwiches.
At 1:55 p.m. that girl (the brave one in the tan dress) came out again. More news, she said. Then she leaped out of the way. Daniels read a four-line statement by President Truman saying he’d talked to London and Moscow and didn’t intend to do any talking about peace until they did, too.
Jimmy Byrnes drops in
Until then (and he didn’t say when) there wasn’t anything he could say. Word filtered out that he’d dropped over to the mansion for a bite.
A couple more hours passed and in came Jimmy Byrnes, who used to be the assistant president. He spent an hour with the President and then walked into an impromptu press conference. He said:
- The weather in South Carolina has been so cold and rainy lately that he hasn’t caught any fish.
- He will be in Washington all day today. (Why, Mr. Byrnes?) To visit his dentist and have his choppers polished, he said.
Soon thereafter came the news that President Truman had signed the franking bill for Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Now she doesn’t have to worry about running out of postage stamps, ever again.
The photographers ran outside to get pictures of President Truman’s piano being hoisted in the door. Another hour went by and at 6:10 p.m., Daniels himself came out (the girl must have lost her nerve) and said he had some news:
- Today is President Truman’s birthday.
- He will spend it for the first time in the refurnished White House.
- Today’s the day to whoop-and-holler. Nine a.m. is the hour.
With the Japs still to be licked –
Victory in Europe costs United States 800,000 casualties, $185 billion
Rehabilitation to raise expense
WASHINGTON (UP – The victory in Europe cost the United States about 800,000 casualties and more than $185 billion.
These are the best conservative estimate available now. It will be a long time before the final figures are worked out.
A survey showed today that this country’s share of the cost of crushing the Nazi bid for world domination will exceed by three or four times the cost of World War I and its aftermath – whether the measuring standard is casualties or dollars.
The cost in money will be increased in future years by many billions of dollars through interest on government borrowings and benefits to veterans. The cost in broken lives, too, will be paid over a long period.
Experts consulted
Most of the government experts consulted believed that at least two-thirds of the dollar outlay since defense preparations began in 1940 went directly or indirectly into the war against Germany and Italy.
This is based on the allocation of men to the two major spheres of combat. The best available information is that two U.S. fighting men were sent to Europe for each one sent to the Pacific.
The cost estimate includes not only guns, bullets, planes and tanks, plus the plants to make them, but also such items as Lend-Lease expenditures, training costs, merchant ships, transportation, subsistence and literally thousands of articles and services that never appeared on the field of battle but were vital to victory.
Results of survey
Here are the results of the survey:
COST IN MONEY: Defense and war expenditures total more than $277,600,000,000 since July 1, 1940. Assigning two-thirds of this to the European War gives a figure of $185,066,000.0U0. This compares with the $55,345,000,000 cost of the last war.
The figure for the last war includes continuing expenses for many years after the war and unpaid war debts. The figure for this war is just the cost up to now.
COST IN CASUALTIES: Approximately 800,000 men killed, wounded, missing and prisoners. This is a projected figure because the official casualty compilations are far behind.
Army casualties compiled here by theaters as of March 31 showed a total of 685,247 for the European, Mediterranean, Middle East and Caribbean theaters – all part of the European war. The figures included 133,284 killed, 431,965 wounded, 67,008 missing and 52,990 prisoners.
Reports lag
But these figures actually included only casualties suffered until early March. Much severe fighting was not covered by these reports, and it will be months before final casualty data of the war against Germany is available. Best estimates are that the European Theater alone will report a final casualty total exceeding 800,000.
The Navy has never broken down its casualties by war theaters so it is impossible to determine accurately now what part of Navy casualties were incurred against Germany.
But an informed source said that through last July, a period which included the toughest phase of the Battle of the Atlantic as well as the landing operations in North Africa, Italy and Normandy, slightly less than 25 percent of Navy casualties were suffered in the war against Germany.
At the end of last July, the Navy had suffered 52,000 war casualties throughout the world. It may be estimated that naval casualties in the war on Germany totaled between 13,000 and 14,000. No breakdown of this figure into killed, wounded and missing is available now.
World War I figures
In World War I, the final casualty total for all the armed services was 259,735. This included 53,878 killed, 201,377 wounded and 4,480 prisoners.
Relatively speaking, the Merchant Marine suffered the highest death ratio of any of the services engaged in the war against Germany. Although its casualties by theaters are not available, an estimated 5,000 out of more than 6,000 casualties to date occurred in the Atlantic and adjacent waters. A large portion of these are dead or missing, mostly as a result of the German U-boat campaign in the first 18 months of the war.
MEN INVOLVED: Probably between 3,500,000 and 4,000,000 out of the Army’s 5,200,000 men overseas have been involved in the war on Germany and its satellites.
The Army has not announced allocation of its men by theaters, but some 70 divisions have been identified in the war against Germany. These divisions would total roughly 1,250,000 men, but to them must be added the tremendous U.S. Air Force and the great numbers of supply and maintenance men behind the lines.
Naval forces
It is estimated that not more than 235,000 men in the naval services were engaged in the war on Germany. All told, the Navy has a total of 2,352,275 sailors, marines and coast guardsmen now serving outside the continental limits. The Navy estimated that approximately 80 percent of this total are under Adm. Chester W. Nimitz’s command in the Pacific. The rest of them are scattered throughout the world with possibly less than 10 percent in the Atlantic. It was recalled that about 124,000 naval officers and men took part directly or indirectly in the invasion of Normandy.
These were in addition to the many thousands engaged in escorting convoys across the Atlantic and in protecting the supply lines.
COST IN WARSHIPS: A total of 96 naval vessels and naval craft were sunk in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and European theaters.
The figure includes landing craft destroyers, some PT-boats, and transports. The largest vessel lost was the escort carrier USS Block Island. Many merchant ships were also lost.
Medal of Honor won by Tennessean
WASHINGTON (UP) – Sgt. Charles H. Coolidge, Signal Mountain, Tennessee, has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for directing a four-day battle with a handful of reinforcements against a superior German force, the War Department announced today.
During that time the 24-year-old doughboy tried a bluff that failed, dueled two enemy tanks with his light carbine, advanced alone to blast a German attack with two cases of hand grenades and frustrated a determined Nazi attempt to turn the flank of his battalion.
The medal for the action, which took place near Belmont sur Buttet, Prance, last October, will be presented to Sgt. Coolidge in the European Theater.
Gracie Allen Reporting
By Gracie Allen
My goodness! They’re already talking of making a movie about Mussolini. It would have a moral lesson, of course, but I don’t think the hungriest actor in Hollywood could be coaxed to play the part, not even with a two-inch steak. Imagine being “typed” in that role.
But it just shows you how far some people in Hollywood would go with the biography cycle. First they filmed the lives of celebrities of long ago, then living celebrities, and now they even have scouts on the trails of those for whom great futures are predicted.
Well, I supposed they’ll end up doing the same characters over and over. Don Ameche should be able to look forward to at least three remakes showing him inventing the telephone. And the next time I hope he invents enough phones to go around in wartimes.
Millett: Public sympathy lacking when women are brave
People too wiling to accuse widows of taking their loss ‘too well’
By Ruth Millett
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Chandler assailed for slap at racing
Baseball feeds bookies most, writers charge
By Jack Cuddy, United Press staff writer
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‘Big Poison’ leaves indelible records –
Hall of Fame nomination may top Paul Waner’s illustrious career
By Al Vermeer
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V-E Day puts okay on All-Star Game
Tuesday, May 8, 1945
Now that V-E Day has been officially proclaimed baseball’s World Series will be played.
It is also probable that the All-Star Game which was eliminated in the spring, will be reinstated. Commissioner A. B. “Happy” Chandler has indicated he will try to arrange a date for this affair.
The World Series was not cancelled but was left depending upon the status of the war at a winter meeting in Washington of Presidents Ford Frick and Will Harridge of the major leagues and ODT chiefs.
Horseracing enthusiasts also expect modification of the ban on that sport.
West’s rails ready for shift to Pacific war
Lines modernized, revamped for job
By Charles T. Lucey, Scripps-Howard staff writer
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New radio program for Yanks overseas
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‘Program for people’s sake’ new radio idea
Network program chief ‘bolts’
By Si Steinhauser
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Miners take ‘holiday’ – war plants hum
Almost 100 pits unable to operate
Tuesday, May 8, 1945
War plant ‘patriots’ hear Truman, go home
President Truman had just finished his address proclaiming victory and urging all Americans to remain on their jobs.
At the Allenport plant of the Pittsburgh Steel Company, more than a thousand had listened in silence.
As he finished, one worker remarked: “Let’s go home.”
They all did.
Victory in Europe set back coal production in Western Pennsylvania.
Thirty-three thousand miners “celebrated” by taking the day off. But workers in virtually all district war plants remained at their posts.
The Solid Fuels Administration announced that almost 100 mines are closed, causing a production loss of 180,000 tons.
Mines open, close
Most pits failed to open when miners failed to show up. At two mines of the Pittsburgh Coal Company, the Midland and Somers, workers stayed in the pits only a few hours. Miners began emerging as President Truman proclaimed victory. When he finished reading his proclamation, they went home.
Today’s estimates raised the production loss in Western Pennsylvania coal fields to 2,140,000 tons since January 1, due to numerous strikes and “holidays” taken by the miners, and high absenteeism.
Absenteeism low
But in war plants workers were busy turning out weapons for continuance of the war against Japan.
At most plants, workers heard the President on plant PA systems.
Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company and Curtiss-Wright at Beaver all reported absenteeism lower than average. A 20-minute program was held for Curtiss-Wright workers.
Carnegie-Illinois, the National Tube Company and the American Bridge Company all reported conditions normal.
25 million men deployed in European war
WASHINGTON (UP) – On V-E Day the greatest array of fighting manpower the world has ever seen – fully 25 million men – will have laid down their arms.
But some will pick them up again within a short time. It has been estimated that about three million American soldiers now in Europe and an undetermined number of French, British and Dutch servicemen will journey to the Pacific to wage war against the last remaining Axis power – Japan.
The army of the Soviet Union is the largest in Europe with an estimated nine and a half million men under arms. The German Army ranked second in size. As of last autumn, the Germans had about nine million men in their army, including about a million non-Germans who were forced into service.
The United States used four million men to wage the battle against the Nazis on the continent. The Britons used a million while the French had an army by V-E Day of a half million. In addition to the regularly organized armies, partisan forces in all parts of Europe totaled about a million men.
German ships ordered to port
LONDON, England (UP) – The Admiralty announced today that all German and German-controlled ships of every type were being ordered to report their positions to the nearest Allied wireless station, received orders to proceed to port and await further orders.
ACT OF MILITARY SURRENDER
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We the undersigned, acting by authority of the German High Command, hereby surrender unconditionally to the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and simultaneously to the Supreme High Command of the Red Army all forces on land, sea, and in the air who are at this date under German control.
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The German High Command will at once issue orders to all German military, naval and air authorities and to all forces under German control to cease active operations at 2301 hours Central European time on 8th May 1945, to remain in the positions occupied at that time and to disarm completely, handing over their weapons and equipment to the local allied commanders or officers designated by Representatives of the Allied Supreme Commands. No ship, vessel, or aircraft is to be scuttled, or any damage done to their hull, machinery or equipment, and also to machines of all kinds, armament, apparatus, and all the technical means of prosecution of war in general.
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The German High Command will at once issue to the appropriate commanders, and ensure the carrying out of any further orders issued by the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and by the Supreme High Command of the Red Army.
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This act of military surrender is without prejudice to, and will be superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by, or on behalf of the United Nations and applicable to GERMANY and the German armed forces as a whole.
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In the event of the German High Command or any of the forces under their control failing to act in accordance with this Act of Surrender, the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and the Supreme High Command of the Red Army will take such punitive or other action as they deem appropriate.
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This Act is drawn up in the English, Russian and German languages. The English and Russian are the only authentic texts.
Signed at Berlin on the 8th day of May, 1945
VON FRIEDEBURG
KEITEL
STUMPFF
On behalf of the German High Command
––––––––––––––––––––
IN THE PRESENCE OF:
A. W. TEDDER
On behalf of the Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force
GEORGI ZHUKOV
On behalf of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army
At the signing also were present as witnesses:
F. DE LATTRE-TASSIGNY
General Commanding in Chief First French Army
CARL SPAATZ
General, Commanding United States Strategic Air Forces
АКТ О ВОЕННОЙ КАПИТУЛЯЦИИ
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Мы, нижеподписавшиеся, действуя от имени Германского Верховного Командования, соглашаемся на безоговорочную капитуляцию всех наших вооружённых сил на суше, на море и в воздухе, а также всех сил, находящихся в настоящее время под немецким командованием, – Верховному Главнокомандованию Красной Армии и одновременно Верховному Командованию Союзных экспедиционных сил.
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Германское Верховное Командование немедленно издаст приказы всем немецким командующим сухопутными, морскими и воздушными силами и всем силам, находящимся под германским командованием, прекратить военные действия в 23-01 часа по центрально-европейскому времени 8-го мая 1945 года, остаться на своих местах, где они находятся в это время и полностью разоружиться, пгредав все их оружие и военное имущество местным союзным командующим или офицерам, выделенным представителями Союзного Верховного Командования, не разрушать и не причинять никаких повреждений пароходам, судом и самолётом, их двигателям, корпусам и оборудованию, а токже машинам, вооружению, аппаратам и всем вообще военнотехническим средствам ведения войны.
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Германское Верховное Командование немедленно выделит соответствующих командиров и обеспечит выполнение всех дальнейших приказов, изданных Верховным Главнокомандованием Красной Армии и Верховным Командованием Союзных экспедиционных сил.
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Этот акт не будет являться препятствием к замене его другим генеральным документом о капитуляции, заключённым объединёнными нациями или от их имени, применимым к Германии и германским вооружённым силам в целом.
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В случае, если немецкое Верховное Командование или какие-либо вооружённые силы, находящиеся под его командованием, не будут действовать в соответствии с этим актом о капитуляции, Верховное Командование Красной Армии, а также Верховное Командование Союзных экспедиционных сил, предпримут такие карательные меры, или другие действия, которые они сочтут необходимыми.
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Этот акт составлен на русском, английском и немецком языках. Только русский и английский тексты являются аутентичными.
Подписано 8 мая 1945 года в гор. Берлине.
От имени Германского Верховного Командования:
КЕЙТЕЛЬ
ФРИДЕБУРГ
ШТУМПФ
В присутствии:
По уполномочию Верховного Главнокомандования Красной Армии
Г. ЖУКОВА
По уполномочию Верховного Командующего экспедиционными силами союзников
ТЕДДЕРА
При подписании также присутствовали в качестве свидетелей:
Командующий Стратегическими военно-воздушными силами США генерал
СПААТС
Главнокомандующий Французской армией генерал
ДЕЛАТР де ТАССИНЬИ
KAPITULATIONSERKLAERUNG
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Wir, die hier Unterzeichneten, handelnd in Vollmacht für und im Namen des Oberkommandos der Deutschen Wehrmacht, erklären hiermit die bedingungslose Kapitulation aller am gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt unter deutschem Befehl stehenden oder von Deutschland beherrschten Streitkräfte auf dem Lande, auf der See und in der Luft gleichzeitig gegenüber dem Obersten Befehlshaber der Alliierten Expeditions Streitkräfte und dem Oberkommando der Roten Armee.
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Das Oberkommando der Deutschen Wehrmacht wird unverzüglich allen Behörden der deutschen Land-, See- und Luftstreitkräfte und allen von Deutschland beherrschten Streitkräften den Befehl geben, die Kampfhandlungen um 2301 Uhr Mitteleuropäischer Zeit am 8 Mai einzustellen und in den Stellungen zu verbleiben, die sie an diesem, Zeitpunkt innehaben und sich vollständig zu entwaffnen, indem sie Waffen und Geräte an die örtlichen Alliierten Befehlshaber beziehungsweise an die von den Alliierten Vertretern zu bestimmenden Offiziere abliefern. Kein Schiff, Boot oder Flugzeug irgendeiner Art darf versenkt werden, noch dürfen Schiffsrümpfe, maschinelle Einrichtungen, Ausrüstungsgegenstände, Maschinen irgendwelcher Art, Waffen, Apparaturen, technische Gegenstände, die Kriegszwecken im Allgemeinen dienlich sein können, beschädigt werden.
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Das Oberkommando der Deutschen Wehrmacht wird unverzüglich den zuständigen Befehlshabern alle von dem Obersten Befehlshaber der Alliierten Expeditions Streitkräfte und dem Oberkommando der Roten Armee erlassenen zusätzlichen Befehle weitergeben und deren Durchführung sicherstellen.
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Diese Kapitulationserklärung ist ohne Präjudiz für irgendwelche an ihre Stelle tretenden allgemeinen Kapitulationsbestimmungen, die durch die Vereinten Nationen und in deren Namen Deutschland und der Deutschen Wehrmacht auferlegt werden mögen.
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Falls das Oberkommando der Deutschen Wehrmacht oder irgendwelche ihm unterstehende oder von ihm beherrschte Streitkräfte es versäumen sollten, sich gemäß den Bestimmungen dieser Kapitulations-Erklärung zu verhalten, werden das Oberkommando der Roten Armee und der Oberste Befehlshaber der Alliierten Expeditions Streitkräfte alle diejenigen Straf- und anderen Maßnahmen ergreifen, die sie als zweckmäßig erachten.
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Diese Erklärung ist in englischer, russischer und deutscher Sprache abgefasst. Allein maßgebend sind die englische und die russische Fassung.
Unterzeichnet zu Berlin am 8.5. Mai 1945.
VON FRIEDEBURG
KEITEL
STUMPFF
Für das Oberkommando der Deutschen Wehrmacht
––––––––––––––––––––
In Gegenwart von:
GEORGI ZHUKOV
Für das Oberkommando der Roten Armee
A. W. TEDDER
Für den Obersten Befehlshaber der Alliierten Expeditions Streitkräfte
Bei der Unterzeichnung waren als Zeugen auch zugegen:
F. DE LATTRE-TASSIGNY
General, Oberstkommandierender der Ersten Französischen Armee
CARL SPAATZ
Kommandierender General der Strategischen Luftstreitkräfte der Vereinigten Staaten
Neues Österreich (May 9, 1945)
Churchill und Truman über die Kapitulation
London, 8. Mai – Premierminister Churchill sagte heute in einer Rede über den Rundfunk, da§ die Kapitulationsurkunde heute in ‘Berlin ratifiziert werden wird. Die Feindseligkeiten werden eine Minute nach Mitternacht eingestellt.
Churchill erklärte weiter: Gestern früh um 2,41 Uhr unterzeichnete Generaloberst Jodl als Vertreter des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht und als Vertreter des deutschen Staatschefs Großadmiral Dönitz im Hauptquartier General Eisenhowers die bedingungslose Kapitulation der deutschen Land-, See- und Luftstreitkräfte in Europa vor den Alliierten und der Sowjetarmee. General Wendell Smith, Stabschef General Eisenhowers, und Francois Savais unterzeichneten im Namen des alliierten Oberbefehlshabers, General Suslaparow für Russland. Die Kapitulation wird heute in Berlin durch Ratifizierung bestätigt werden durch den Befehlshaber der Obersten alliierten Streitkräfte und General Tassigny sowie Marschall Schukow für Russland. Die deutschen Vertreter werden sein Generalfeldmarschall Keitel sowie die Befehlshaber des deutschen Heeres, der Luftwaffe und Kriegsmarine.
Offiziell werden die Feindseligkeiten eine Minute nach Mitternacht eingestellt, aber um Menschenleben nicht unnötig zu opfern, erklang das Signal „Feuer einstellen” bereits gestern entlang der Front.
An verschiedenen Punkten leisten die Deutschen noch den russischen Streitkräften Widerstand. Sollten sie diesen Widerstand eine Minute nach Mitternacht nicht einstellen, dann stellen sie sich außerhalb des Schutzes des Kriegsrechtes und werden von alliierten Streitkräften von allen Seiten angegriffen werden. Es ist verständlich, dass an so langen Frontlinien den Befehlen des deutschen Oberkommandos nicht überall sofort Folge geleistet werden kann. Aber nach unserer Meinung stellt dies keinen Grund dar, der Nation die Tatsache noch länger vorzuenthalten: Die bedingungslose Kapitulation Deutschlands, unterschrieben in Reims.
Der Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten Truman verkündete gleichzeitig mit Premierminister Churchill in einer Rundfunkansprache das Ende des Krieges in Europa. Er führte unter anderem aus:
Diese Stunde ist eine Stunde der Freude und des Ruhmes. Mein einziger Wunsch ist, dass Präsident Roosevelt dies noch hätte ernten können. In dieser Stunde des Sieges beugen wir uns vor der Vorsehung, die uns geleitet und unseren Mut hochgehalten hat. Das Gefühl unserer Freude ist gedämpft in dem Bewusstsein des furchtbaren Preises, den wir gezahlt haben, um die Welt von Hitler und seinen verbrecherischen Helfershelfern zu befreien.
Japan protestiert
London, 8. Mai – Der japanische Außenminister Tojo legte gestern gegen die bedingungslose Kapitulation Deutschlands Protest ein, Deutschland habe den Dreierpakt gebrochen und Japan behalte sich vor, daraus die Konsequenzen zu ziehen.
Der Oberbefehlshaber der Landstreitkräfte im pazifischen Raum, General Richardson erklärte, die Vereinigten Staaten beabsichtigen sechs Millionen ausgewählte amerikanische Truppen gegen Japan ins Feld zu stellen. Starke amerikanische Kräfte werden aus Europa abgezogen werden.
Auch Prag und Böhmen befreit
London, 8. Mai – Der tschechoslowakische Sender Prag gab heute früh 6 Uhr bekannt, dass die Deutschen in Prag und ganz Böhmen die bedingungslose Kapitulation angenommen haben.
Der deutsche Wehrmachtsbefehlshaber in Pilsen, General Majelski, beging gestern nach seiner Kapitulation vor General Pattons Streitkräften Selbstmord.
In Mahren kämpfen deutsche Truppen immer noch im Raum von Olmütz.
Breslau ist nun völlig von russischen Truppen besetzt. Der deutsche Befehlshaber von Breslau ergab sich gestern mit 40.000 Mann der Besatzung.
In Jugoslawien wurde Laibach von Kräften des Marschalls Tito genommen.
Zusammentreffen Montgomery-Rokosowski
London, 8. Mai – Gestern trafen General Montgomery und Marschall Rokosowski in Wismar zusammen.