Ein lukrativer SS-Betrieb
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Auf Okinawa 46.000 Japaner gefallen
NEWYORK, 18. Mai (R) – Wie bereits berichtet, wurde Nagoya, das Zentrum der japanischen Flugzeugindustrie, vorgestern von 500 amerikanischen Superfestungen zum zweitenmal in drei Tagen verheerend bombardiert.
In ihrer Intensität entsprach diese Aktion der Wirkung eines Angriffs von 1.750 Liberatormaschinen. Ein großer Teil der Stadt liegt in Trümmern. Die amerikanischen Flugzeugbesatzungen melden, dass, als sie zum Angriff schritten, die Brände, die der Angriff vor zwei Tagen Verursacht hatte, noch immer wüteten.
Die japanische Jägerwaffe trat nicht in Aktion. Auf Okinawa sind bisher 46.000 japanische Soldaten gefallen. Die Japaner versuchten mit allen Mitteln der übermächtigen amerikanischen Angriffe auf die Insel Herr zu Werden und haben selbst die ihnen heiligen Gebäude zu Maschinengewehrnestern ausgebaut.
Westlich von Okinawa auf dem Festland dauern die Kämpfe bei Futschau an. 300 Seemeilen von Okinawa entfernt traf die Japaner ein weiterer schwerer Schlag, als australische Truppen, unterstützt von niederländischen Kontingenten, auf der Insel Karakan bei Borneo landeten. Karakan ist eines der reichsten Erdölgebiete der Welt.
In Birma bauen die britischen Truppen ihre Operationsbasis zum Vormarsch gegen Singapur aus.
Kärntner Nachrichten (May 19, 1945)
Die Ziele der Konferenz von San Francisco
Erklärungen der Britischen Völkerfamilie und der Vereinigten Staaten
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Die französische Besatzungszone in Deutschland
Washington, 18. Mai – Die amerikanische Regierung teilte offiziell mit, dass die Vereinigten Staaten bereit sind, einen Teil der amerikanischen Besatzungszone in Deutschland an Frankreich abzutreten. Der französische Außenminister Bidault wurde hievon während seines Aufenthaltes in Washington offiziell unterrichtet.
Präsident Truman hat General de Gaulle mitteilen lassen, dass die Vereinigten Staaten mit diesem Entschluss zum Ausdruck bringen wollen, wie hoch sie die Rolle einschätzen, die Frankreich bei der Befreiung Europas vom deutschen Joch gespielt hat.
L’Aube (May 19. 1945)
Au lendemain de l‘entrevue Truman-Georges Bidault –
Une France puissante est indispensable a l’équilibre du monde déclare le Président des États-Unis
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U.S. Navy Department (May 19, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 367
Troops of the Tenth Army maintained heavy pressure on the enemy along the whole southern front of Okinawa on May 18 (East Longitude Date), meeting strong resistance at all points on the front lines. The 6th Marine Division withdrew from “Sugar Loaf Hill” in the western sector after nightfall on May 17 but occupied the summit for the fifth tim0e after heavy fighting on the morning of May 18. The enemy has sacrificed large numbers of troops in the defense of this key position before Naha. The 1st Marine Division gained several hundred yards and was operating east of Wana Town to destroy enemy strongpoints in that area. The 77th Infantry Division continued to assault strongly-held enemy positions with local support from aircraft and from flamethrowing tanks. This division gained some ground on its right flank near Ishimmi Town. In the hilly sector on the eastern end of the lines south and east of Conical Hill, the 96th Infantry Division progressed slowly in hand-to-hand fighting. The enemy employed substantial artillery fire all along the line in attempts to contain the attacks of our forces. Our troops were supported throughout the day by ships’ gunfire and aircraft bombing. A few enemy aircraft appeared over the Okinawa area during the evening of May 17. Two enemy planes were shot down.
Minor changes were made in the positions of our troops attacking the Shuri position on May 19. Enemy resistance throughout the hilly area around the fortress town remained extremely strong. The 6th Marine Division repulsed a counterattack east of Takamotoji during the early morning. The 1st Marine Division and 77th Infantry Division continued to attack abreast against heavily fortified ridges and hills around Wana Town. The 96th Infantry Division continued to develop its positions around Conical Hill and to the west of that point in violent hand-to-hand fighting. On the evening of May 18, a small group of enemy aircraft attacked our forces in the area of Okinawa. Fourteen were shot down by combat air patrols and by ships’ gunfire.
Our attacking troops were supported by aircraft from carriers and from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and by Naval gunfire.
The enemy on Okinawa at the end of May 17 had lost 48,103 killed in action. U.S. Military Government authorities on that date, had 139,858 civilians under their jurisdiction.
The following is a report of casualties to U.S. forces in the Okinawa operation and associated operations against Japan since March 18:
- Army troops to May 18, killed and missing 3,093, wounded 12,078.
- Fleet Marine Forces to May 18, killed and missing 1,239, wounded 8,180.
- U.S. Pacific Fleet to May 16, killed and missing 3,978, wounded 3,958.
Sweeping the northern Ryukyus on May 17-18, aircraft from fast carriers of the U.S. Pacific Fleet sank a number of luggers and small craft and damaged numerous others, destroyed five planes on the ground and probably destroyed eight more. Fuel dumps, buildings and installations at Yaku, Tokara, Tokuno, Kikai, Gaja and Amami were destroyed or damaged.
Search Liberators and Privateers of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen struck shipping and installations along the south coast of Honshu May 18, sinking a trawler, damaging six small cargo ships, a trawler, a sailing vessel, and numerous fishing craft. In low-level attacks, planes of this wing wrecked a train. On the following day, the planes of the same wing sank a small cargo ship and damaged three others near the Honshu coast.
Search Privateers of FlAirWing One heavily damaged a medium oiler south of Korea on May 19.
On May 18, Army Mustangs of the VII Fighter Command attacked military installations on Chichi Jima in the Bonins. On the same date, Corsairs and Hellcats of the 4th MarAirWing struck targets in the Palaus, on Yap and in the Marshalls. Marine aircraft again bombed installations in the Palaus on May 19. One plane was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire but pilot was rescued.
The Pittsburgh Press (May 19, 1945)
B-29s ROCK KEY WAR CENTER
2,100 tons hit Hamamatsu in half-hour raid
Iwo-based fighters escort big bombers
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50 Yanks climb Okinawa hill but only one walks down
Medical man defies sniper’s verbal and lethal shots as he rescues five wounded comrades
By Edward L. Thomas, United Press staff writer
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