Operation HUSKY (1943)

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (July 31, 1943)

GREAT AIR ATTACK TO BLAST ITALY
Ships, planes batter Italy; 3 isles seized

Warships shell mainland; fliers attack only 11 miles from Rome
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer

Surrender of three islands off the west coast of Sicily (circled on the map) was announced today and shelling by warships of the Italian mainland near Locri was also revealed. U.S. PT boats struck at Axis shipping in the Gulf of Eufemia. On land the Allies made more gains and threatened to push Axis forces (now holding the section lined on the map) into a death trap.

Allied HQ, North Africa –
A mounting air and sea offensive that struck faltering Italy within 11 miles of Rome and sent surface craft far up the mainland coast developed today as Allied forces scored steady gains driving Axis troops toward a deathtrap in Sicily.

Three small Italian islands off the Sicilian west coast surrendered unconditionally to U.S. troops.

Headquarters announcements revealed a new bombardment of the mainland near Locri under the toe of the Italian boot, a raid by Mitchell bombers on the Pratica di Mare Airdrome only 11 miles southeast of the capital and thrusts by U.S. PT boats that carried into the Gulf of Santa Eufemia more than 100 miles up the Italian coast above the Strait of Messina.

Allied tightening

With surface vessels slipping within three and four miles of both the Sicilian and Italian mainlands and raiding straight through the strait, the Axis troops falling back in Sicily appeared likely to be caught in an unbreakable Allied net as they were in Tunisia.

Allied planes enjoying mastery of the skies met strong opposition only in sweeps over Sardinia, and there, 21 of the Friday toll of 28 enemy planes were shot down by Warhawks. Additional planes, including big transports, were destroyed on the airfield near Rome. One six-engined transport was sent down. Total Allied loss for the day was one plane, a communiqué said.

Additional progress by land forces in Sicily was revealed in the communiqué. The British 8th Army below Catania inflicted heavy casualties on the defending German forces and the Americans captured 941 additional prisoners, including 500 Germans, in new advances.

A Radio Algiers broadcast said the German and Italian troops in northern and central Sicily were retreating toward a second defense line based in the Caronia Mountains, east of the San Stefano-Nicosia Road.

Aegadian group of islands

The surrendered islands, comprising the Aegadian group, are Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo. They were the first to surrender since the fall of the stepping stones southward toward the North African shore before the invasion of Sicily.

A Navy communiqué said that a force of cruisers and destroyers shelled railroad bridges near Locri under the toe of the Italian boot about 20 miles above Capo-Spartivento, just opposite the Strait of Messina.

Light naval craft, including U.S. PT boats, struck at Axis communications lines to Sicily by sinking from one to seven enemy ships in the Strait of Messina.

PT boats in battle

The American PT boats ventured as far northward up the Italian mainland to the Gulf of Santa Eufemia, on the instep of the boot, to engage two armed lighters and four enemy “E”-boats, probably destroying one E-boat. Other small war vessels were attacked near Stromboli Island, 70 miles above Sicily.

The delayed reports of the naval action filtered in through front advices covering operations the last five days and included a penetration by British forces so close to Reggio Calabria, Italian ferry base across the strait, that shore batteries fired on the vessels but caused no damage.

No details of the surrender of the islands were given and no attacks had been reported on them. They lie off the end of Sicily now occupied by U.S. troops and the largest, Favignana, is only six miles long.

Second coast shelling

The warships attacked the mainland the night of July 28-29 about 75 miles southwest of the Crotone area which was shelled on July 29.

Eight units from British light coastal forces edged up the Sicilian east coast north of Mt. Etna to bombard railways near Giagargina feeding the German armies facing the British below Catania. The range was so close that machine guns were leveled against them. The shells set fires in stations, trains and stores. The allies ships suffered no damage.

The communiqué on land fighting said both the U.S. 7th Army and the British 8th Army made “good progress” in their operations leading up to a final assault on the enemy’s Mt. Etna line and the “coffin corner” of Sicily.

The prisoners fell to the Americans as they met increased enemy opposition during the push into Axis defense lines anchored on San Stefano, on the north coast, while Canadian troops drove out from the Agira area in the center to drive the Germans back toward Mt. Etna.

[NormanStewart]

Aged Sicilian finds his Yank grandson

Algiers, Algeria (UP) –
It was a million to one shot, but his grandfather, whom he had never seen, found Pvt. Tony Calato, of San Francisco, among the thousands of U.S. troops who poured through Palermo after its fall.

The Army newspaper, Stars and Stripes, told the story today.

The grandfather, who spoke no English, reasoned that one of the Americans in Palermo might be his grandson. So he seared himself on a prominent corner, and at intervals shouted Tony’s name. Finally, an Italian-speaking doughboy told the old man he knew a Tony Calato and gave him the name of his company and regiment. After several hours search, the grandfather located Tony sleeping in a cobblestone courtyard.

[NormanStewart]

‘Green verdant Sicily’ is really a barren waste

By John Gunther, North American Newspaper Alliance

With the British 8th Army in Sicily, Italy – (July 28, by wireless, delayed)
Anyone who thinks Sicily is a green verdant isle should visit this sector of the Catania front where the Germans are fiercely resisting tried British troops. Perched on a cropped hilltop 1,000 yards from the enemy lines, we can survey a broad arc embracing almost all of the Catania plain.

As far as the eye can see, there is not a single spot of green and not a sign of water. The dusty fields have been harvested. They are covered with dry, tawny stubble that looks like Nebraska during a heat wave.

I asked an officer at headquarters in a deserted barn where we were. He replied:

We aren’t anywhere. This is a point on a map, nothing more.

The Germans up here are attempting infiltration tactics at night. They cross no man’s land in small groups, get among or behind British advance guards and try to toss grenades or shoot up posts with Tommy guns and then retreat into the darkness. Some of these enemy raiders speak English. They call out in good Oxford accents:

Sergeant major, who goes there? What unit is this?

They hope to get information this way, but they don’t often get it.

Main enemy position

The German defenses appear threatening in this particular area which I reached after a long tour of the front. It is one of the enemy’s main positions.

One officer told me:

I should call the situation rather stationary from the big point of view but we certainly are kept busy.

He described a British battalion which was isolated for 23 hours. It could not be relieved; no supplies could be sent up and nobody could be evacuated except a few men who were seriously wounded. Violent German shellfire prevented relief units from reaching the battalion.

An officer with a ripe Scottish accent commented:

It was a hellish business, mark you. Our troops in this sector are being carefully rested before new operations begun. In this kind of fighting, a man is virtually useless after eight or ten days in the frontlines. He must be given a chance to recuperate and replenish his energy.

British exposed on plain

So, the general lull and stalemate continues with the British pecking away and maintaining steady pressure but not yet attempting a full offensive. As in other areas of this general front, the enemy has cover on high ground whereas we are exposed in the plain below.

German reinforcements are believed still pouring in. The British are tired, largely because of the intense, pitiless heat and the lack of sleep. They didn’t get much sleep at night because German artillery keeps busy and infiltration parties cause confusion.

This is not like the desert. Digging in is very difficult because of the stubborn, stony nature of the ground. By day, rest is almost impossible because there is no shade.

An officer said:

My men are shag tired, that’s the word for it, shag tired.

A group of us manage to spend an hour swimming at a beach near Catania nearly every day and we see some remarkable sights from the waterfront. Those elegant folk accustomed in former days to loll lazily on the Mediterranean beaches should get a quick eyeful of this one. It is not merely a beach with a fine aquamarine water, but it is also a perfect ringside seat for one of the most striking shows on earth.

Find ‘chutist’s grave

We first got the idea that swimming at the beach had unusual elements when – the first time we were there – our conducting officers happened to find a couple of grenades lying around. They thoughtfully exploded them and tossed them aside. Next, we saw a grave of an unidentified British parachutists a few yards from the pellucid surf. He had been buried where he fell presumably in the first landings. His parachute gear was set up in a kind of tombstone.

Then it became apparent that we had accidentally stumbled on a sheltered cove which commands an absolutely clear view of German-held Catania, a few miles away. We saw Spitfires rolling in nice decision patterns above the town and we poked through long reeds along the shore, wondering how close Nazi patrols were.

Battle of Sicily war writer’s dream

By L. S. B. Shapiro, North American Newspaper Alliance

With the Canadians in central Sicily, Italy – (July 24, delayed)
A dramatic change took place this afternoon in the shape of the battle for Sicily.

After advancing northwest for 100 miles from the Pachino Peninsula in 14 days, the Canadians suddenly wheeled right from the central part of the island and moved due east in a flareup of the most spectacular fighting they have experienced in the campaign.

Resembles Tunisian campaign

Gen. Alexander’s plan of campaigning naturally cannot be revealed but as I stood on a mountain top this evening, I watched the Canadians moving eastward, battling fiercely for a town and later fanning out toward the mountain top. The direction of the Canadians was easily visible from my point of vantage.

Beyond the rolling foothills of Mt. Etna, the famous mountain itself hung like a shimmering backdrop in the heat haze of a blazing day. Beyond the gun muzzles of the Canadians is Mt. Etna and eight miles beyond that lies the sea.

On the south side of the mountain, the British are developing a situation comparable with the next final stages of the Tunisian battle. The Germans are steadily being pushed back into the northeast corner of the island and the Allied forces are converging on the enemy’s defenses perimeter.

Maps hardly necessary

This campaign is a war correspondent’s dream. From commanding mountain tops, an observer can see not only the complete battleground, including the artillery of both sides and movements of tanks and infantry, but also the final objective of an advance.

Allied planes supporting the attack swooped down to the level of my vantage point and beyond loomed Mt. Etna, the south side of which I saw a few days ago while observing the battle for the Simeto Bridge. Printed maps are hardly necessary in this campaign, for each mountain top affords a view of a natural relief map.

Today’s action started promptly at 3 p.m. when the biggest concentration so far in the Sicilian campaign opened up suddenly against the German positions. War correspondents had been advised in advance and early in the afternoon I drove up the mountain to the observation post.

Allied air force strikes

This town is protected by sheer cliffs which were conquered by the Canadians last Tuesday (July 20). My jeep had difficulty in managing the terraced road to the town. It was full of sharp hairpin turns and we were eating our own dust all the way, I finally went the last lap on foot, climbing the cobbled streets built for mule traffic until I reached the topmost peak, crowned by an ancient turret reputedly built by the Normans.

From here the entire battle scene lay before me. After 45 minutes of creeping artillery barrage, a Canadian regiment advanced behind tanks.

At this point, the Allied air force swept over the German positions. I counted 50 planes in five minutes, and probably there were many more. Meanwhile, the Canadian artillery got the range of the German posts and our troops swept through.

I saw the flash of a German anti-tank gun, followed in a minute by a heavy explosion at the same point. The German gun was silent from then on.

As darkness fell, the Canadians had cleaned up and were advancing toward frightening heights guarding the approaches to the east. The hardest part of the battle remained for the hours of darkness. The Canadians were scaling cliffs which made the cliffs of Québec City look like curbstones and Gen. Wolfe’s storied victory seem like a second-class affair.

As I write this by the light of a curtained military truck the valley below is dotted with burning tanks and other vehicles. Shells are still screaming across the valley with a sound not unlike Benny Goodman’s top note. Canadian troops are still pouring into the valley. Tomorrow’s dawn will have a bloody story to tell.

[NormanStewart]

Sicily to get U.S. supplies

Island first enemy territory to receive aid

Washington (UP) –
An innovation in Lend-Lease procedure which would make Sicily the first enemy territory to receive American supplies and equipment may be announced soon, official sources said today.

President Roosevelt discussed the steps being taken by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower to help the Italian people yesterday while other government officials went forward with plans to put the whole undertaking on a business basis.

Meanwhile, Washington was outwardly calm, in contrast to the apparent tension caused in London by the urgent early morning cabinet meeting there yesterday.

Many rumors heard

Rumors raced through this capital and there was a feeling that momentous events were in the making, but there was no exceptional activity by any of the high-ranking government officials.

The more or less customary Friday Cabinet meeting at the White House was not held and department heads appeared to be concerned only with their usual wartime duties.

The Lend-Lease arrangements with Sicily would presumably be through AMGOT, the Allied military government there. The first movies would be through the military commanders.

But after military operations have ceased in Sicily, the Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation would probably take over. Eventually, some stable Italian government may be developed for the handling of supplies.

Supplies to be sold

Lend-Lease supplies in Sicily, except for those used for urgent relief needs, will not be given away but will be sold or bartered. The Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation has reported that the great bulk of its operations in Tunisia has been conducted on a commercial basis rather than on a direct contribution basis.

Mr. Roosevelt, discussing a cable he had just received from Gen. Eisenhower, told his press and radio conference yesterday that supplies for the civilian population in Sicily are being furnished from a stockpile in North Africa. They included pasta, sugar, flour, milk, olive oil, meat, soup, matches and medicines. Public heath officers are going into Sicily and agriculture experts are helping to organize the island’s food resources.

[NormanStewart]

Völkischer Beobachter (August 1, 1943)

Alle Durchbruchsversuche an der deutschen Abwehrfront gescheitert
Voller Abwehrerfolg auf Sizilien

dnb. Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 31. Juli –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

In den Hauptkampfabschnitten der Ostfront nahm gestern die Kampftätigkeit an Stärke wieder zu. Gegen unsere Stellungen im Orelbogen führte der Feind neue schwere Angriffe zusammengefaßter Infanterie- und Panzerkräfte. Sie sind in wechselvollen Kämpfen unter hohen feindlichen Verlusten gescheitert.

Am Kubanbrückenkopf und am Ladogasee griff der Feind wieder mit starken Kräften an. Westlich Krymskaja brach der Angriff mehrerer Sowjetdivisionen vor unseren Linien zusammen. Südlich des Ladogasees wurden die mit starker Artillerie und Schlachtfliegerunterstützung angreifenden Sowjets abgeschlagen und feindliche Kräfte, die in die Front eingedrungen waren, vernichtet.

In den beiden letzten Tagen zerstörten unsere Truppen an der Ostfront 148 Panzer.

Ein Unterseeboot versenkte im Schwarzen Meer einen Tanker von 7.000 BRT.

Auf Sizilien erzielten gestern unsere Truppen bei den heftigen Kämpfen im Mittelabschnitt der Front einen vollen Abwehrerfolg. Alle feindlichen, zum Teil mit frischen Kräften geführten Durchbruchsversuche wurden unter sehr hohen Verlusten abgewiesen. Über dem Mittelmeerraum wurden 16 feindliche Flugzeuge abgeschossen.

Im Kampf gegen den feindlichen Nachschub nach Sizilien beschädigte die Luftwaffe einen großen Transporter schwer und erzielte Bombentreffer zwischen Landungsbooten, in Treibstofflagern und Anlagen des Hafens Avola an der Südostküste der Insel.

Feindliche Fliegerverbände griffen am gestrigen Tage die Stadt Kassel und einige Orte in den besetzten Westgebieten an. Sie bombardierten in der vergangenen Nacht die Stadt Remscheid. Die Bewohner der angegriffenen Städte hatten Verluste. Schwere Zerstörungen und Brandschäden entstanden vor allem in den Wohngebieten von Remscheid. Luftverteidigungskräfte vernichteten nach bisher vorliegenden Meldungen insgesamt 60 Flugzeuge, meist viermotorige Bomber.

Deutsche Unterseeboote versenkten im Atlantik drei Schiffe mit 15.000 BRT. und im Eismeer einen Bewacher. Bei der Abwehr feindlicher Luftangriffe schossen sie im Atlantik ein nordamerikanisches Luftschiff und ein Flugzeug ab.

Kampf um beherrschende Höhenstellungen

dnb. Berlin, 31. Juli –
An der sizilianischen Front entwickelten sich am 30. Juli am mittleren und nördlichen Abschnitt größere Kampfhandlungen, während es an dem Südostflügel, vor allem im Abschnitt von Catania, bis auf geringe Spähtrupptätigkeit völlig ruhig blieb. Im nördlichen Küstenabschnitt versuchten sich die nur zögernd vorfühlenden nordamerikanischen Infanterieverbände an die neuen, günstigen Abwehrlinien der deutschen Truppen heranzutasten. Der einzige aus diesen Bewegungen heraus entstehende stärkere Vorstoß feindlicher Kräfte, der in den frühen Morgenstunden nach heftiger Artillerievorbereitung in Gang kam, blieb jedoch schon vor unseren Stellungen im Abwehrfeuer liegen. Den heftigsten Angriff führte der Gegner im mittleren Abschnitt mit starken Kräften, er begleitete den mit Infanterie, Panzern und Artillerie geführten Stoß durch örtlich begrenzte Entlastungsangriffe. Das Ziel der Unternehmungen war die Wegnahme beherrschender Höhenstellungen. Die Angriffe scheiterten jedoch unter empfindlichen Verlusten für den Feind, so daß die Höhen nach Bereinigung örtlicher Einbrüche fest in unserer Hand blieben.

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (August 1, 1943)

Air battles raging –
Allies nearing main Axis line

8th Army opens heavy barrage near Catania
By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer

Squeezed into corner of Sicily, the Axis forces were battling hard against advancing Allied troops. The British 8th Army opened a heavy artillery barrage south of Catania, possibly a prelude to a smashing advance. The map shows the direction of the American, British and Canadian drives.

Allied HQ, North Africa – (July 31)
Allied troops, supported by crushing air and sea power, were tonight reported nearing the enemy’s main Etna line across northeastern Sicily and, with the British 8th Army opening another of its famed artillery barrages, the zero hour for the final drive to conquer all Sicily appeared to be fast approaching.

Far to the west of the fighting lines, three tiny islands off Sicily’s west coast – Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo comprising the Aegadian group – submitted to unconditional surrender.

Down 21 fighters

In the air and on the sea, the Allies scored smashing new victories. U.S. Warhawk fliers, taking on 35 enemy fighters over southern Sardinia Friday, shot down 21 at a cost of only one plane in their greatest triumph of the campaign. U.S. Mitchell bombers hammered an airfield only 11 miles below Rome as other Allied fliers destroyed five other Axis planes for a one-day total of 26.

U.S. motor torpedo boats sank or damaged six vessels during a series of daring attacks this week, one of them 100 miles up the Italian coast from the Strait of Messina area. Allied planes accounted for 12 other ships in the Thursday-Friday period.

Make good progress

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s daily war bulletin announced that British, Canadian and U.S. forces in Sicily had made “good progress” during the past 24 hours, although it did not reveal the extent of the gains.

The 8th Army of Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, reverting to the tactics that opened the way through the enemy lines at El Alamein and Mareth in the North African campaign, opened up a number of artillery barrages below Catania and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.

Men of the U.S. 7th Army, captured 941 more prisoners, including 500 Germans, indicating that Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr.’s forces were continuing the tactics of cutting off whole areas as they forged ahead with French Moroccan Goumiers fighting with them.

The Allied advance was reported to have narrowed down the strip of virtual no-man’s-land that has been separating the Allies from the main bulk of the enemy forces to a thin ribbon “some” miles wide. It appeared that the important showdown battle was approaching rapidly.

The Morocco radio reported that U.S. troops had captured Sperlinga, five miles northwest of Nicosia, but that a slight slowing of the U.S. advance could be expected because the retreating Germans were blowing up roads.

The Algiers radio reported that German troops were retreating towards Messina while in another broadcast, the same station said Germans and Italians on the northern and central sectors were falling back toward a second defense line based in the Caronia Mountains, east of the San Stefano-Nicosia Road.

London military observers, asserting there were now between 50,000 and 60,000 Germans in Sicily, said the Etna Line was held as follows: Germans, probably the 25th Motorized Division, are deployed on the coast near San Stefano south through Mistretta to the Nicosia area; then Italians as far as Regalbuto; then the German 15th Panzers and Hermann Göring Division to Catania.

Meanwhile, Allied warplanes ranged over Sardinia, Sicily and Italy.

Mitchells, escorted by Lightning fighter-bombers, attacked Pratica di Mare Airfield, 11 miles southwest of Rome and Flying Fortresses hit the airfield at Grottaglie, 10 miles east of the Taranto Naval Base.

Milazzo, on the north coast of Sicily, was attacked by U.S. fighter-bombers which sank a 500-ton merchant ship and damaged others.

Beaufighters of the Coastal Command Thursday night hit a medium-sized merchant ship with torpedoes and shot up escorting ships, setting a destroyer and motor torpedo boat afire.

Damage seven ships

Planes of the British Middle East Command damaged seven enemy vessels in the Aegean Sea area Thursday and set fire to a large tug Friday off Rhodes at a cost of one plane.

A naval communiqué issued here revealed that British cruisers and destroyers on Wednesday night bombarded important rail bridges near Locri on the sole of the Italian boot. The railroad runs near the coast at that point and damage to the bridges would hold up the movement of supplies southward for days.

[Chewbacca]

Ironically nobody expects Sicily to be hit by a “sled dog” operation

[NormanStewart]

Völkischer Beobachter (August 2, 1943)

Seit 5. Juli im Osten 7.110 Kampfwagen vernichtet –
Im Juli über 800.000 BRT. ausgeschaltet

dnb. Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 1. August –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

Die am 30. Juli aufgelebte Kampftätigkeit an der Ostfront ließ am gestrigen Tage mit Ausnahme der Kämpfe am Orelbogen wieder nach. An der Miusfront gingen unsere Truppen nördlich Kuibyschewo, durch starke Kampfverbände der Luftwaffe unterstützt, zum Gegenangriff über, schlossen eine starke sowjetische Kampfgruppe ein und vernichteten sie. Im Raum von Bjelgorod scheiterten örtliche Angriffe der Sowjets. Eigene Gegenstöße in diesem Abschnitt verliefen erfolgreich. Am Orelbogen setzten die Bolschewisten während des ganzen Tages ihre Angriffe mit starken Infanterie- und Panzerkräften fort. Unter hohen blutigen Verlusten und großem Materialausfall brachen ihre Angriffe im Abwehrfeuer aller Waffen zusammen. Ein örtlicher Einbruch wurde abgeriegelt.

Südlich des Ladogasees war die feindliche Angriffstätigkeit wesentlich geringer als an den Vortagen. Deutsche Jäger warfen vorübergehend eingedrungene feindliche Kräfte im Gegenangriff zurück.

Die Sowjets verloren am gestrigen Tage an der gesamten Ostfront 217 Panzer. Mit diesem Erfolg erhöht sich die Zahl der seit dem 5, Juli 1943 allein von Truppen des Heeres abgeschossenen Kampfwagen auf 7.110.

Auf Sizilien setzte der Feind seine Anstrengungen, die Mittelfront zu durchbrechen, fort. In beweglicher Kampfführung vereitelten unsere Truppen die Absichten des Feindes und fügten ihm hohe Personal- und Materialverluste zu. Auch an der Nord- und Südfront brachen alle Angriffe des Gegners zusammen. Die Luftwaffe zersprengte mit schnellen Kampfflugzeugen motorisierte feindliche Verbände und setzte Flakgeschütze des Gegners außer Gefecht.

Über dem Reichsgebiet fanden bei Tage und in der Nacht keine Kampfhandlungen statt.

Von Seestreitkräften der Kriegsmarine, der Bordflak von Handelsschiffen und der Marineflak wurden in der Zeit vom 21. Bis 31. Juli ein nordamerikanisches Luftschiff und 56 feindliche Flugzeuge abgeschossen. Im Kampf gegen die britisch-nordamerikanischen Seeverbindungen und Landungsflotten im Mittelmeer wurden im Monat Juli 94 Schiffe mit zusammen 550.241 BRT. versenkt und weitere 53 Schiffe mit insgesamt 246.750 BRT. vernichtend getroffen. Darüber hinaus wurden mindestens 220 Schiffe mit etwa 780.000 BRT. durch Bomben- und Torpedotreffer beschädigt. Auch von diesen letzteren Schiffen kann ein Teil als verloren betrachtet werden. An diesem Ergebnis ist die Unterseebootwaffe mit 351.243 BRT. versenkten und 30.000 BRT. durch Torpedotreffer beschädigten Schiffsraums beteiligt.

Die feindlichen Kriegsflotten erlitten ebenfalls schwere Verluste. Einheiten der Kriegsmarine versenkten 3 Zerstörer, 7 Schnellboote, 1 Unterseeboot, 1 Bewacher. 1 Kreuzer und mehr als 15 Schnellboote wurden schwer beschädigt.

Verbände der Luftwaffe versenkten: Einen Zerstörer, drei Schnellboote, ein Geleitboot, zwei Korvetten, eine große Anzahl von Landungsbooten. Sie beschädigten: Ein Schlachtschiff, mehrere Kreuzer, neun Zerstörer, eine Fähre und viele Landungsboote.

[NormanStewart]

Schlachtflugzeuge gegen Schiffsartillerie –
Die Abwehrerfolge in Sizilien

dnb. Berlin, 1. August –
In Sizilien versuchte der Feind am 31. Juli erneut im mittleren Abschnitt der Front einen Durchbruch zu erzwingen. Unsere Truppen vereitelten jedoch in elastischer Kampfführung, zum Teil durch Ausweichbewegungen und Gegenstöße, diese Pläne, die dem Gegner keine Erfolge, sondern nur schwere blutige und materielle Verluste einbrachten.

Entlang der Küstenstraße tasteten sich die nordamerikanischen Verbände auch im Laufe des 31. Juli nur zögernd vor. Die schweren und verlustreichen Kämpfe der vergangenen Woche haben dem Feind in diesem Abschnitt der sizilianischen Front notgedrungen zu seiner alten sehr vorsichtigen Taktik zurückkehren lassen.

Auch an der Südfront verlief der Tag im allgemeinen ohne besondere Ereignisse. Lediglich an einer Stelle flackerte die Kampftätigkeit in den Abendstunden des 31. Juli lebhafter auf. Ein örtlicher Einbruch, der dem Feinde hier in die Stellung einer deutschen Panzergrenadierdivision zunächst gelungen war, konnte sehr schnell aufgefangen und anschließend bereinigt werden.

An der Nordküste Siziliens beschoß ein feindlicher Kreuzer in den Morgenstunden des 31. Juli die deutschen Abwehrstellungen. Durch das sofortige Eingreifen deutscher Kampfflugzeuge wurde der Kreuzer zum Abdrehen gezwungen. Die Beschießung selbst hatte keinen wesentlichen Schaden anrichten können. Die Deckungsmöglichkeiten sind gerade an der sizilianischen Küste mit ihren felsigen Ufern ausnehmend gut. Bestehen doch die Befestigungsanlagen zum Teil aus natürlichen, zum Teil aus betonierten Höhlen und Bunkern, die selbst gegen die schweren Brocken der Schiffsgeschütze ausreichenden Schutz zu bieten vermögen. Somit gelang es dem Gegner nicht, unseren Panzergrenadieren an der Küste ernsthafte Verluste zuzufügen.

Weitere Versuche des Feindes, auch an der Ostküste unsere Truppen mit Schiffsartillerie zu bombardieren, wurden ebenfalls durch schnelle Gegenangriffe deutscher Schlachtflugzeuge nachdrücklich unterbunden. Die Treffer lagen so gut, daß mit der Beschädigung mehrerer feindlicher Kriegschiffeinheiten, darunter einem Zerstörer, gerechnet werden kann.

Über der Straße von Messina war im Gegensatz zu den Vortagen am 31. Juli ein schwächerer Einsatz der feindlichen Luftwaffe zu vermerken. Da die Meerenge ausgezeichnet durch Flak gesichert ist, wird der Feind in den meisten Fällen zu ungezieltem Bombenwurf gezwungen. Die Schäden sind infolgedessen nur gering. Über Sizilien selber fanden während des ganzen Tages lebhafte Luftkämpfe mit feindlichen Jagd- und Bomberverbänden statt.

In der Nacht zum 1. August griffen schwere deutsche Kampfflugzeuge feindliche Schiffsziele im Hafen und auf der Reede von Palermo an. Während der gleichen Zeit waren deutsche Nachtjäger zu Angriffen auf vom Feinde belegte Flugplätze Siziliens, unter anderen auf Comiso, angesetzt.

[NormanStewart]

Heftige Angriffe zurückgewiesen

dnb. Rom, 1. August –
Der italienische Wehrmachtbericht vom Sonntag lautet:

An der sizilianischen Front kam es auch am Samstag zu harten Kämpfen. Im Raum von Regalbuto wurden wiederholte heftige Angriffe des Gegners zurückgewiesen.

Feindliche Flottenverbände haben Ortschaften an der tyrrhenischen und der jonischen Seite Kalabriens beschossen, ohne nennenswerte Schäden anzurichten.

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (August 2, 1943)

ALLIES OPEN DRIVE FOR KNOCKOUT IN SICILY
San Stefano falls in push along coast

10,000 prisoners, half of them Nazis, taken by Americans

Gains in air, on land and sea were scored by Allied forces in Sicily and Italy, with British and U.S. planes and warships striking at Italian cities and shelling the coasts. In Sicily, Americans captured San Stefano in the drive on Messina while the British 8th Army deepened its bridgehead before Catania. U.S. planes bombed Naples, and British warships struck at two places on the top of the Italian toe and one point on the sole (inset map).

Allied HQ, North Africa (UP) –
Allied armies have launched an offensive to crush Axis resistance in northeastern Sicily, smashing forward on the entire Messina bridgehead front of more than 60 miles despite strong enemy opposition.

An official announcement said that “Allied forces in Sicily have started an offensive,” with the U.S. 7th Army under Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr., capturing 10,000 more prisoners – half of them Germans – and driving 12 miles into the enemy’s northern flank. The north coastal town of San Stefano and the town of Mistretta, six miles south of San Stefano, fell to the Americans, as did Castel di Lucio, Castel di Tusa and Matta Pettino.

Reports steady progress

Today’s communiqué reported steady progress on all sectors despite strong counterattacks, which were repulsed.

The communiqué said:

Assoro, Nissoria, Nicosia, Mistretta and San Stefano are in our hands.

The network of roads in enemy hands was greatly reduced by the new advances and the remaining roads are being pounded day and night by Allied airplanes.

The latest bag of Axis prisoners increased to about 87,000 the number of Axis troops taken during the entire Sicilian campaign.

Crushes counterattack

The famous British 8th Army, veteran of El Alamein and Mareth in Africa, crushed a strong Axis counterattack on the southern side of the Mt. Etna Line, and Canadian troops pushed forward in heavy fighting to the south of the American columns.

Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, commander of the 8th Army, told his troops that “we will now drive the Germans out of Sicily,” and praised the Americans for seizing “more than half of the island in record time.”

Axis losses high

Axis losses on all fronts were reported heavy. The heaviest fighting was said to have taken place in the Assoro and Nissoria areas of central Sicily. There the Canadians faced the toughest German motorized elements in a difficult mountainous region where the Axis was contesting bitterly for every foot of ground.

The new American drive gave the 7th Army possession of the last important north-south road held by the Axis leading to the central part of the island. The road runs south from San Stefano through Mistretta and the Caronia Mountains to Nicosia.

The American advance of 12 miles brought the 7th Army within 70 miles of Messina along the north coastal road.

[NormanStewart]

Völkischer Beobachter (August 3, 1943)

Gescheiterte Durchbruchsversuche

dnb. Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 2. August –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

Der eigene Angriff an der Miusfront brachte weiteren Geländegewinn. Die beherrschende Höhenstellung wurde erreicht und im Sturm genommen. Die Sowjets erlitten hier besonders hohe Verluste an Menschen und Kriegsmaterial. Südöstlich von Orel sind die mit starkem Panzer- und Luftwaffeneinsatz geführten Angriffe der Bolschewisten unter Vernichtung von zahlreichen Panzern blutig abgewiesen worden. Die Luftwaffe griff an den Schwerpunkten der Kämpfe mit Kampf- und Nahkampffliegergeschwadern ein. Sechs Transportzüge und ein Panzerzug wurden getroffen. An der Kandalakschafront stellten deutsche Grenadiere im wegelosen Urwald zwei feindliche Bataillone und zersprengten sie.

An der sizilianischen Front setzten die Briten und Nordamerikaner besonders im Mittelabschnitt der Front ihre Angriffe fort. Alle Durchbruchsversuche scheiterten jedoch an der hartnäckigen Abwehr unserer Truppen unter schweren Verlusten für den Feind.

Ein überraschend geführter Gegenangriff brachte wichtiges Gebirgsgelände wieder in unsere Hand.

Schnelle deutsche Kampfflugzeuge versenkten im Hafen von Palermo einen Munitionsdampfer von 5000 BRT., acht weitere große Transporter wurden schwer getroffen. Im Hafengebiet selbst entstanden Brände.

Deutsche Jäger und Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe vernichteten gestern über der italienischen Küste sechs, Bordflak der Kriegsmarine ein feindliches Flugzeug.

Am 1. August versuchte ein amerikanisches Bombergeschwader von etwa 125 viermotorigen Flugzeugen, einen geschlossenen Angriff auf das rumänische Ölgebiet durchzuführen. Deutsch-rumänische Luftverteidigungskräfte traten ihnen rechtzeitig entgegen und zersprengten den feindlichen Verband so wirkungsvoll, daß nur 60 bis 70 Flugzeuge zu einem zersplitterten Angriff kamen. Von diesen wurden 36 viermotorige Bomber abgeschossen. Viele weitere erhielten so schwere Beschädigungen, daß auch von ihnen ein Teil auf dem langen Rückflug über See mit Sicherheit verlorengegangen ist. Die verursachten Schäden in den Angriffszielen sind nicht bedeutend.

Über dem Reichsgebiet fanden keine Kampfhandlungen statt.

Über dem Atlantik wurde ein feindliches Großflugboot im Luftkampf weit auf See zum Absturz gebracht.

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (August 3, 1943)

AXIS ROLLED BACK IN SICILY
Foe forced out of 3 important towns by drive

Yanks push toward Mt. Etna; Canadians threaten enemy flank at Catania; 8th Army smashes ahead
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer

Allied HQ, North Africa –
Allied troops captured three more important towns in a general advance on a 65-mile front in northeastern Sicily today and fought fiercely over rough mountain country for the knockout punch against the wavering Axis armies.

Americans of the 7th Army, who conquered the entire western half of the island in a lightning campaign, captured the important Axis defense point at Troina after a 12-mile drive from Nicosia and pushed eastward toward Bronte at the base of Mt. Etna.

Canadian forces to the south of the Americans drove forward seven miles and took Regalbuto from the German 15th Panzer Division and provided a good wedge for the Allied attack on the Axis flank at the western end of the Catania plain.

8th Army attacks

The British 8th Army, attacking the length of the southern front, captured Centuripe, six miles southeast of Regalbuto.

The Americans also took Capizzi and Cerami while racing up the winding road to Troina, and a headquarters announcement said they had cleaned up at least 12 small villages.

Units of Lt. Gen. George S. Patton’s 7th Army that captured San Stefano on the northern coast were moving eastward along the coastal road and were reported within 60 airline miles of Messina, nearing San Stefano.

Capture bridgehead

The Canadians and the British had driven a large bridgehead into the Catenanuova sector, just southwest of Regalbuto and north of Ramacca, from which they could start rolling down the Catania plain.

The American advance threatened to tear apart the Axis defense around Mt. Etna. From Bronte, they would be able to branch out north and south on the road encircling Etna.

U.S. troops had reached a densely-wooded district. Resistance by the Germans and Italians had stiffened and most of the Allied gains were made by infantry, because of the rugged terrain and the fact that the retreating Axis had blown up toads and bridges.

Feel out Axis strength

The British 8th Army carried out a series of artillery engagements and were advancing from Ramacca, feeling out the enemy’s strength.

Capture of Troina and Centuripe was first announced by Prime Minister Churchill in the House of Commons. Military observers in London said that the Allied offensive threatened to crush all Axis resistance in Sicily within a few days.

Allied air fleets increased their direct support of land troops with attacks on harbors, communications and front positions.

The British were engaged in patrol activity and artillery shelling in the Catania area along the east coast of the island.

Allied troops were fighting their way uphill at many points and were sweltering from the hot sun and intense humidity. The battle was one of foot-slogging and slugging at close quarters after artillery had laid down barrages.

British Wellingtons took over the offensive against Italy’s big supply and reinforcement port of Naples, blasting its docks, railway yards, harbor installations with hundreds and blockbusters, while medium and fighter bombers strafed and bombed troop concentrations and supply roads.

Blow up dumps

A dispatch from an advanced Allied airdrome said the Germans were blowing up the remaining forward dumps in the Mt. Etna region, an indication that they do not hold out much hope of prolonged resistance. An unusually large number of Axis ship was also reported gathering in Messina Strait, but there was no immediate sign of whether these were to be used for an escape attempt or to reinforce the faltering armies in their last stand.

Relays of Kittyhawk bombers with escorts of Spitfires attacked the ships in the narrow strait and it was believed likely that Allied motor torpedo boats would also join in the raids.

Blast enemy harbors

The Allied air forces concentrated on enemy harbors in Sicily through which supplies have been reaching the Axis, road and rail transport in the northeastern part of the island and against enemy trenches and gun emplacements.

U.S. medium bombers blasting at Adrano, 18 miles northwest of Catania while other planes dumped explosives on Randazzo, 27 miles northwest of Catania. Both are important Axis communication centers. U.S. fighter-bombers made low-level attacks on the docks at Milazzo, Messina and Reggio Calabria, the latter across the Messina Strait in Italy.

In all yesterday’s air operations, six enemy planes were destroyed and seven Allied planes were missing.

[NormanStewart]

Yanks capture key hill from Nazis in Sicily

Americans forced to rout German soldiers individually
By Richard Mowrer

Northern Sicily, Italy –
The Americans late yesterday took another hill. It was a hard one to take, a long ridge nearly 1,000 feet high that drops sharply to the sea on Sicily’s northern coast.

Our fellows call it Lucky Ridge because in the seesaw fighting of control of the heights preceding our final attack yesterday, our artillery observation post up there had to clear out five different times and never lost a man in the process.

Yesterday’s attack, though, was different. The Americans were up against Germans and had to climb a steep hill under fire. Fortunately, our artillery gave them good support and now we hold Lucky Ridge, which had given the Germans a wonderful view of our territory along the coast and which now gives us a view of still more hills that we are going to have to take.

Ferret out Nazis

This is mountain warfare. The fighting consists of sniping with every arm from pistols to big 155s. The Germans have to be ferreted out almost individually from caves and rocks.

The only good road is the coast road from Palermo to Messina and, as the Germans retreat, they blow up bridges, cause rockslides to block the road, or blow up the road where it winds along the steep cliff’s edge to the sea.

This morning, we climbed Lucky Ridge. It is stony and steep, even if you follow a rocky mile trail part of the way up, but at least we did not have to crawl to the top under enemy fire the way our fellows did yesterday.

Find trouser leg

Getting on toward the town, we came upon somebody’s trouser leg with somebody’s leg was that of an American drab uniform. It had been cut off, presumably in order to bandage a leg wound.

A few yards farther up, we saw what had happened. An American rifle was leaning against an olive tree. Another one was on the ground at the foot of a steep sort of bluff about eight feet high. At the foot of the bluff, we found the remnants of an American first-aid kit. Near the remnants of the first-aid kit was an empty container for American hand grenades.

We climbed up to the top of a six-foot high bluff and saw the rest of the story – a dead German. Apparently, the hand grenade had got him.

Come upon grave

Farther up Lucky Ridge, we found a shallow hole, dug under an olive tree. In the hole were a bloodstained German-Italian dictionary and a Mauser rifle and ammunition but no German. But then, five yards off, we found his grave: A mound of earth with stones on top of it, and a piece of shingle marked “German soldier.”

Nearby, in the shade, some of our fellows were getting ready to move forward. Then we saw the German prisoner. He was stripped to the waist and bareheaded. He had been burying the German dead of Lucky Ridge. He said he was 18 and had been in the German Army since the age of 16, in the Polish, French and Romanian campaigns and at Stalingrad.

This was worse than Stalingrad, he said.

[NormanStewart]

G.I. shoes and dog tags identify bomber survivor

Otherwise Ohio sergeant looks like native after passing through enemy lines in 15-day trek
By C. R. Cunningham, United Press staff writer

Mistretta, Sicily, Italy – (July 31, delayed)
The slender fellow was a blond, wore G.I. shoes and dog tags but the rest of him looked native Sicilian, including the green-checked shirt.

He told Capt. Paul Gale as the officer came out of his headquarters here:

Honest, captain. I’m an American. Here, see my dog tags. I’m in the Air Corps.

Capt. Gale took the fellow to a casualty clearing station. He identified himself as Sgt. Arthur P. Rohr, 21, of Lewisville, Ohio, and downed five plates of sauerkraut, a whole chicken and a bottle of wine.

Then he said:

Boy, I was lonely. For 15 days, I was lonely.

Only survivor

He had lived with Sicilians, slept on hillsides and moved through enemy lines for 15 days before he met the advancing Americans.

He is the only survivor of a bomber lost near Mt. Etna, and he doesn’t know how he managed to get out. The plane caught fire.

He said:

I ran to escape through the trap and pulled the release but it wouldn’t open. I jumped on the hatch, which you aren’t supposed to do because if you go out that way you might get caught in the slipstream. I guess that’s what happened to me.

Head aches

He must have struck his head on the fuselage because he remembered nothing more until he awoke with the sun high in the sky. He was on a mountain slope. His head ached, was cut and bloody. Near him was his tangled parachute. How it opened he doesn’t know.

He said:

I started out to find my ship, but the Italians beat me to it. I finally saw it. It had crashed all night, but a lot of Italian soldiers were around it and some more were digging a big hole a little distance away. I looked around and then decided to get the hell out of there.

Starts south

St. Rohr started south toward the British line. Unable to speak Italian, he tried a single word on a native he met. It was “aqua.” He got both food and water and that night, he slept on a hillside.

He said:

I tried to sleep but it was cold. I was lonely, boy, I was lonely and I thought about back home on the farm and my girl, Martha Owen, down at Hastings, West Virginia. You may not think there’s a God, but I’m telling you, I thought about Him plenty.

He stayed there for seven days and the Italian who first had fed him, continued to feed him. Hearing guns in the distance, he started off toward them. An Italian shepherd gave him the clothes he reached Mistretta in – “and the pants were so dirty they could stand by themselves.”

Meets deserters

He said:

I cruised around in the mountains and met two Italian deserters heading for the American lines. We made a three-day hike and those Italians like to have walked hell out of me. They were going too fast.

One day he ran into a family of Sicilians who helped him.

The father of the family heard about the Americans reaching Mistretta and brought Sgt. Rohr in on a mule.

[NormanStewart]

Völkischer Beobachter (August 4, 1943)

Neuer Terrorangriff auf Hamburg

dnb. Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 3. August –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

Am Kubanbrückenkopf wurden mehrere Angriffe der Sowjets blutig abgewiesen. Der eigene Angriff nördlich Kuibyschewo wurde erfolgreich fortgesetzt. An der Donezfront brachen mehrere mit schwächeren Kräften geführte feindliche Angriffe zusammen. Im mittleren Frontabschnitt, vor allem südwestlich Orel, setzte der Feind seine Durchbruchsversuche unter Einsatz neuer starker Infanterie-, Panzer- und Fliegerkräfte fort. Unsere heldenhaft kämpfenden Truppen wehrten alle feindlichen Angriffe ab und gewannen, von der Luftwaffe unterstützt, vorübergehend verlorengegangenes Gelände im Gegenangriff zurück. Abermals wurde eine große Zahl von Sowjetpanzern vernichtet.

Auch südlich des Ladogasees traten die Sowjets nach heftiger Artillerievorbereitung mit starker Fliegerunterstützung erneut zum Angriff an. Sie wurden in harten Nahkämpfen und zum Teil im Gegenstoß unter schweren Verlusten abgewiesen.

An der Ostfront verloren die Sowjets am 1. und 2. August in Luftkämpfen und durch Flakabwehr 227 Flugzeuge.

Auf Sizilien standen unsere Truppen besonders im mittleren Abschnitt der Front in schweren Abwehrkämpfen. Unter sehr hohen blutigen Verlusten und erheblichem Materialausfall brachen die Angriffe zum Teil in Nahkämpfen zusammen. Eine vorübergehend in eine Höhenstellung eingebrochene feindliche Kampfgruppe wurde im Gegenstoß zurückgeworfen.

Auch im südlichen Abschnitt der Front hat die Kampftätigkeit wieder erheblich zugenommen. Schnelle deutsche Kampfflugzeuge griffen in die Erdkämpfe ein und bombardierten Panzer- und Kraftfahrzeugansammlungen des Feindes im Raume von Nicosia.

Der Feind verlor gestern im Mittelmeerraum 21 Flugzeuge.

Nach vereinzelten Tagesvorstößen feindlicher Luftstreitkräfte in die besetzten Westgebiete und an die norwegische Küste bombardierten die Briten in der vergangenen Nacht erneut das Stadtgebiet von Hamburg und die weitere Umgebung. Wieder entstanden Verluste unter der Bevölkerung und erhebliche Zerstörungen. Nach bisher vorliegenden Meldungen wurden bei diesen Angriffen 27 feindliche Flugzeuge abgeschossen.

Bei einem überfall britischer Torpedo- und Bombenflieger auf ein deutsches Geleit schossen Sicherungsfahrzeuge und die Bordflak von Handelsschiffen zehn Flugzeuge ab. Weitere vier feindliche Flugzeuge wurden von Einheiten der Kriegsmarine über dem westeuropäischen Küstengebiet vernichtet.

Der am 2. August gemeldete feindliche Luftangriff auf das rumänische Ölgebiet erweist sich mehr und mehr als ein schwerer Mißerfolg. Die Verluste des Feindes haben sich bisher auf 52 gezählte Abschüsse erhöht. 15 feindliche Bomber sind nach Auslandsmeldungen auf neutralem Gebiet notgelandet. Damit ist nach unseren Feststellungen allein über die Hälfte des gestarteten Verbandes nicht zurückgekehrt. Der wirkliche Verlust des amerikanischen Bombergeschwaders wird aber noch weit darüber liegen.

[NormanStewart]

Gescheiterte Durchbruchsversuche auf Sizilien

dnb. Berlin, 3. August –
In Sizilien entwickelten sich neue örtliche Kämpfe auf der ganzen Front zwischen Catania und San Stefano. Am nördlichen Küstenstreifen tasteten sich die nordamerikanischen Verbände nur mit großer Vorsicht weiter vor. Sie stehen immer noch im Vorfeld der deutschen Widerstandslinie und haben die Gefechtsberührung mit ihr noch nicht herstellen können. Trotz Einsatz von Minensuchtrupps hatten die vorfühlenden Nordamerikaner empfindliche Verluste durch hochgehende Sprengladungen.

Auch südlich Catania waren die Briten wieder aktiver, ohne jedoch an unsere günstigen Verteidigungsstellungen herankommen zu können. Unsere Artillerie brachte die Vorstöße schon im Vorfeld der deutsch-italienischen Linien zum Scheitern. Die heftigsten Kämpfe spielten sich am mittleren Abschnitt im Raum nordöstlich von Enna ab. Den wiederholten, vom Feind gerade hier mit starken Kräften unternommenen Durchbruchsversuchen traten unsere Truppen in energischen Gegenstößen wirksam entgegen. Am Vortage hatten sich hier Kanadier durch Einsatz erheblicher Kräfte und unter Hinnahme beträchtlicher Verluste einer Höhe bemächtigen können. Am 1. August traten jedoch unsere Verbände überraschend zum Gegenstoß an und warfen den Feind aus der Bergstellung wieder heraus. In den harten, durch die ungewöhnliche Hitze erschwerten Kämpfen hatten die Kanadier sehr hohe Ausfälle.

Der Feind hat aber seine Absichten, unsere Front nordöstlich von Enna zu durchstoßen, um dadurch die unangreifbaren Stellungen am Nordrand der Ebene von Catania in der Flanke und im Rücken zu fassen, noch keineswegs aufgegeben. Im Laufe des Nachmittags griff er daher mit frischen Infanterie- und Panzerverbänden, die durch starkes Artilleriefeuer und zahlreiche Fliegerstaffeln unterstützt wurden, den langgestreckten Bergrücken hart nördlich der Linie Gerbini – Enna an verschiedenen Punkten an. In mehrstündigen erbitterten Kämpfen, die auch die Nacht über andauerten, schlugen unsere Truppen, denen Luftwaffenverbände helfend zur Seite standen, den Feind immer wieder blutig zurück.

20 Flugzeuge abgeschossen

Der italienische Wehrmachtbericht vom Dienstag lautet:

In Sizilien dehnte der Feind seine Angriffe auf den Südabschnitt der Front aus, wo heftige Kämpfe im Gange sind.

In den Gewässern Südkalabriens kam es zu einem Gefecht zwischen unseren Schnellbooten und feindlichen Einheiten, die abgewiesen wurden.

Die Stadt Neapel und Umgebung sowie zahlreiche Ortschaften auf Sizilien und Sardinien waren das Ziel feindlicher Luftangriffe. Sechs feindliche Bomber wurden von der Bodenabwehr abgeschossen, darunter zwei über Neapel, zwei über Messina und zwei über Cagliari. Zwei „Spitfires“ wurden von deutschen Jägern über Sizilien zum Absturz gebracht.

Zwölf zweimotorige Flugzeuge wurden über Sardinien im Verlauf von wiederholten Luftkämpfen von den tapferen Jägern unseres 51. Sturms vernichtet.

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (August 4, 1943)

Axis lines ripped apart, collapse in Sicily near

Yanks seize another city, drive within 55 miles of Messina
By the United Press

Two major Allied victories appeared to be ripe for the plucking today – the smashing of diehard Axis resistance in Sicily and the capture of the key German defense bastion of Orel on the Russian front.

Land, sea and air assaults in Sicily were rolling back the Etna Line and ripping apart the defenses of the Messina apex of the big Italian island. Military sources believed the end of the campaign was near, and said it would probably be as sudden as the Axis collapse in Tunisia.

Russia reported that a German army, estimated at 250,000, was in general retreat from the Orel salient, and a gloom-laden Nazi communiqué told of powerful Red Army attacks all along the southern front. It barely mentioned Orel, but clearly intimated that more bad news was brewing on the Eastern Front.

---

By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer

Allied troops push ahead in Sicily, with Americans capturing Caronia, near San Stefano on the north coast, and driving on westward towards Messina, only 60 air miles away, and British Imperial forces now occupying Agira and Catenanuova on the Mt. Etna front. There were indications the Axis might seek to make a stand on a line from San Agata on the north coast to Cesarò, 16 miles to the south. Allied warships were pounding enemy attempts to reinforce their lines.

Allied HQ, North Africa –
A terrific Allied land, air and sea bombardment was levelled today against the receding Axis defenses on the northeastern tip of Sicily as American doughboys captured Caronia on the northern coast and drove six miles beyond it to within 55 miles of Messina.

U.S. and British warships up to cruisers shelled enemy reinforcements and supplies moving up to the front along the northern and eastern coasts, while heavy concentrations of land artillery hammered at German and Italian defense positions. Allied planes kept up unrelenting attacks on the whole Axis-held area.

British forces on the central front have smashed a German tank thrust and resumed their advance, it was announced. British, U.S. and Canadian troops were driving hard through the mountains toward the foot of Mt. Etna, threatening to dissolve the enemy’s defense line around the volcano.

Naples bombed again

Meanwhile, British Wellington bombers subjected Naples, Italy’s biggest port, to its third raid in 36 hours Monday night to give added weight to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s warning that Italy’s failure to capitulate would bring death and destruction to its cities.

Ground forces made “very satisfactory progress” yesterday, Gen. Eisenhower’s communiqué reported and front dispatches said that fighting along the British-Canadian front south and southwest of Mt. Etna was so intense that the Germans for the first time have abandoned their dead in the battlefield as they fell back under relentless pressure.

A Berlin communiqué today said that German and Italian troops in Sicily were “outnumbered several times,” and their “big defensive successes” were scored in difficult terrain and unfavorable weather.

Americans advance

Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr’s U.S. 7th Army rolled up advances yesterday of up to six miles through hills and valleys, driving before them German and Italian forces believed preparing for a major stand along a line stretching from San Agata on the north coast, 11 miles east of Caronia, to Cesarò, 16 miles to the south.

The advances engulfed both Caronia Marina on the coast and Caronia itself, one mile inland.

A German communiqué broadcast by Berlin radio said that U.S. divisions attempted “again and again” to break through the Axis central front, but were thrown back each time with heavy losses.

U.S. cruisers and destroyers aided the American coastal drive by bombarding enemy defenses and roads, over which reinforcements and supplies were being rushed to the front.

Catenanuova, 21 miles west of Catania, fell to the Canadians yesterday after being bypassed by a column that captured Centuripe, five miles to the northeast, 24 hours earlier.

Nazi tanks smashed

German tanks from the Hermann Göring Division lashed out in a counterattack a few miles southeast of Catenanuova, but were repulsed by British infantry who destroyed three of them, including one 60-ton “Tiger.”

Agira, 11 miles northwest of Catenanuova, changed hands several times in dingdong fighting yesterday before the Canadians finally consolidated their positions in the city and pushed on well beyond it.

The communiqué said:

Bitter fighting has taken place in this sector, and the enemy has had heavy casualties inflicted on it.

Patrol activity increased on the plain just south of Catania as the opposing forces tested each other’s defenses while further inland other British forces pushed forward in some cases several miles.

Navy is big help in Sicily drive

Allied HQ, North Africa –
The complete coordination between the three breaches of the Allied services which has especially marked the Sicilian campaign, has been well illustrated by naval activities since start of the big offensive here on Sunday.

Along the northern coast of Sicily, as the Americans steadily fight their way eastward, the U.S. Navy has been bombarding the coastal road along which the enemy is retreating. Our fleet’s guns are shelling the enemy’s positions constantly.

Up in the triangle still held by the Axis, the enemy’s supply position is being made more difficult by PT-boat operations between Sicily and the mainland.

On Saturday night, before our offensive started, British light coastal craft met Axis E-boats off Cape Armi – at the toe of Italy – and engaged them in brisk battle. At least one E-boat was damaged before low visibility caused our boats to break off contact.

The pattern of air bombing continued yesterday as on Monday, with medium and light bombers making return visits to Adrano, Nazi communications center, to enemy positions around the town, and to roads leading to it.

[NormanStewart]

Lone American captures city, ‘saves bullets’

Private walks through Yank artillery barrage to get to area
By C. R. Cunningham, United Press staff writer

With a U.S. reconnaissance platoon, Cerami, Sicily, Italy – (Aug. 1, delayed)
One man walked through the American artillery barrage and captured this town Friday. He wanted to “save the division some ammunition.”

He is tall, blond Pvt. Edmund Wheeler, former New York City bank clerk, from Old Chatham, New York. He belongs to this super reconnaissance outfit which goes in ahead of regular reconnaissance units.

Pvt. Wheeler was on a reconnaissance mission about three miles from Cerami when “I went forward and got lost.”

He said:

Our mission was to locate a German self-propelled artillery piece on our right flank, but the damned thing must have been moved. We kept getting higher and higher in the mountain and when I got lost, I remembered the division’s objective was Cerami.

Sights patrol

Our artillery was working ahead of me and I wanted to save them some ammunition if possible. As I got closer to the town on the southeast flank, I saw a man folding a blanket. I knew he must have been a soldier because no civilian would fold a blanket. Then I saw a four-man patrol going into the town to the east.

By now, it was getting dark and I saw a house about the three-quarters of a mile outside the town and when I approached it, I heard a lot of kids talking. I went to the house and the Italian family gave me a royal reception, shouting “Americano, Americano.”

I shivered in my boots because I knew there were Heinies about and I thought the shouts would give me away.

There was one old guy there who was drunk. He spoke English and yelled “Hello, American soldier,” and I had trouble quieting him down.

This family kept talking to me and fed me eggs, cheese and goat’s milk and then asked me if I wanted to sleep there. I agreed if they promised to wake me at 4 a.m. But shortly after midnight, I was awakened by the roar of our artillery which had started again.

I grabbed my gun and made for the door, where a man and a woman had been on guard. They suddenly lighted a lamp which lighted me up like a Christmas tree. I dropped to the floor and scooted to a dark corner like a woodchuck, where I quit shaking and slept another couple hours.

Then again, the artillery started up and the old people told me it was American. The people just lay in bed whimpering but being a soldier, I started looking for a foxhole. They gave me a sort of hood – I must have looked like the shadow – and I found a hole and crawled in.

Captures town

Early in the morning, I heard a heavy explosion followed by the noise of trucks and figured the Heinies were pulling out, so I went back to the house. The old guy had sobered up and I sent them into town to look around.

He came back and said the Heinies had gone, but the Americans still were shelling. I started for town. I figured maybe I could send a message back saying I was in the town and that the shelling should be stopped and reinforcements sent in.

The only German in the town was a straggler. I made him a prisoner and as I started out of the town with him, I ran into the 9th Division. I stopped at the house and they were tickled to see my prisoner. Then I started hitchhiking back to my outfit.

I sure had a lot of fun.

[NormanStewart]

Launching of Sicily drive from Malta base revealed

Tense moment for Eisenhower as ‘strongest wings’ endangered airborne forces is described
By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer

Allied HQ, North Africa –
On the night that Allied armies invaded Sicily, an American staff car marked with the four stars of a general stopped beside a road on the island of Malta.

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower stepped out in the moonlight and gazed up at the sky where engines of a great airborne assault fleet thundered defiance to the strongest winds of the Mediterranean summer.

It was the tensest moment of an unprecedented invasion. Unexpected winds threatened disaster to glider and parachute troops; kicked up big waves that dangerously rocked the naval invasion forces already at sea. There may have been a time that night when a postponement was considered by the high command, which officials announced today was based on the bomb-battered island of Malta.

Invaders soar away

But Gen. Eisenhower, looking up into the moonlit sky, saluted the paratroopers smartly and turned back to his car. The invasion army soared on under direction of the American commander-in-chief, Gen. Sir Harold Alexander, Adm. Sir Andrew Browne Cunningham and Air Mshl. Sir Arthur Tedder.

It was revealed that Gen. Eisenhower carefully checked the wind velocity during those first tense hours of the campaign, aware that too much speed would case the paratroopers and gliders to overshoot their marks, confronting them with many additional hazards.

American-made windmills, imported years ago, served as a gage for the American commander and those who stood with him that night told today how he smiled reassuringly when the velocity of the wind died down as the hours wore on.

Seasickness too

Members of the Allied staff told correspondents that the winds which endangered the glider and paratroop operations also caused havoc with the stomachs of both soldiers and sailors, whipping the Mediterranean into a heaving sea. As a result, many results went ashore in landing barges, seasick. But they carried on with their job.

In a message to Air Vice Mshl. Sir Keith Park, commanding officer of the RAF on Malta, Gen. Eisenhower paid high tribute to the aid given to the Allied campaign in Sicily by the Malta Air Force.

The morning after the invasion, the Allied commanders watched cheering throngs of war-toughened island citizens parade. To them, it meant the end of prolonged, persistent day-and-night bombings by planes based in Sicily and Italy.

Malta praised

Gen. Eisenhower was said to have been visibly impressed with Malta’s stand, first on the receiving end of Axis bombings which drove many of the island’s 270,000 inhabitants to live in rock-robbed caves which once held galley slaves, and finally as the taking-off place and headquarters for operations against Sicily.

In a statement on Malta’s role in the war, Gen. Eisenhower said:

Malta is symbolic of the experience of the United Nations in this war. Malta has passed through successive stages of woeful unpreparedness, tenacious endurance, intensive preparations, and the initiation of a fierce offensive. It is resolutely destined to maintain the rising crescendo of the attack until the whole task is complete.