Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (June 23, 1944)
Operations against the fortress of CHERBOURG are proceeding satisfactorily. Offensive action and local attacks have effectively pinned down enemy formations in the eastern sectors.
In preparation for our ground operations, waves of fighter-bombers attacked the strongly fortified German positions encircling CHERBOURG during the day and again at dusk yesterday. They went in, often at pistol range, to bomb forts, concrete pillboxes, ammunition dumps, oil stores and troop concentrations. Medium bombers also took part. Our aircraft flew through intense ground fire.
Strong forces of heavy bombers attacked rail and road transport, barges, and oil containers between the coast and PARIS, and the rail junctions at LILLE and GHENT. During these operations, six enemy aircraft were destroyed. Ten of our bombers and nine fighters are missing.
Light and medium bombers destroyed a steel works near CAEN. Fighter-bombers attacked bridges northeast of PARIS.
In ALDERNEY, one of the Channel Isles, gun posts and barracks were the target for bombers and fighters. During the evening, other formations raided fuel dumps at FORÊT DE CONCHES and BAGNOLES-DE-L’ORNE, railway yards at SAINT-QUENTIN and ARMENTIÈRES and tracks and fuel tanks at DREUX and VERNEUIL.
After dark, heavies attacked the rail centers at RHEIMS and LAON in force thus completing the biggest air effort for some days. Seven bombers are missing.
Rail targets at LISIEUX, DREUX, and ÉVREUX were the night targets for our light bombers.
Last night, our fighters and intruders destroyed seven enemy aircraft over northern FRANCE.
The weather over the beachhead has moderated and unloading is proceeding.
Special Communiqué No. 2
Since the 10th June, 1944, the French Forces of the Interior, in association with the Allied plans, have continued to harass the Germans by increasing acts of warfare and sabotage in the rear of the German lines.
In many regions, fighting has reached such proportions that the enemy has been forced to send considerable forces against the Marquis, without succeeding in overcoming them. The enemy has attacked the Marquis of the VERCORS and the AIN with armored forces, artillery and aircraft. Resistance forces have been compelled to withdraw at various points after inflicting losses on the enemy.
In addition, numerous engagements are reported from the PYRENEES, the VOSGES, the MARNE, the ARDENNES, the AISNE and the CREUSE. Elements of several German divisions and a large number of local defense troops are estimated to have been contained inside FRANCE by the action of the resistance forces.
Many cuts on the railways, and numerous obstacles on the roads have effectively hindered the passage of German reinforcements to the beachhead. In this way, two armored divisions have been seriously delayed in Southwest France.
In the BORDEAUX region, the railway lines BORDEAUX-LA ROCHELLE, LA RÉOLE-PÉRIGUEUX, BAYONNE-ANGOULÊME have been sabotaged. A large number of small bridges of the route Nationale BORDEAUX-POITIERS have also been destroyed.
Railway cuts have also been reported throughout the RHÔNE Valley and in BRITTANY, the LOIRET, AISNE and the area north of PARIS. The railway depot at AMBÉRIEUX has been sabotaged for the second time.
Strong resistance groups have occupied several localities in the departments of the JURA, AIN and HAUTE-SAVOIE, and have taken over the administration and the supply of the civil population.
After four days of hard fighting, the Forces of Resistance were compelled to evacuate one of those towns, after blowing up the railway bridges, the locomotives and the telephone lines. German losses were heavy.
In many regions, the enemy telecommunication installations, both underground and overhead, have been cut.
Many canals, in particular in the CANAL DU NIVERNAIS, the lateral canal of the MARNE, have been made unusable.
This systematic disorganization of enemy transport by the FFI has contributed directly to the success of Allied operations in NORMANDY.