Operation OVERLORD (1944)

The Free Lance-Star (July 6, 1944)

U.S. TROOP COLUMNS DRIVING IN FLANK ATTACKS AROUND LA HAYE
1st Army battles in streets of town

Allies hold fast against Germans

SHAEF, England (AP) –
Three more towns have fallen to Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley’s footslogging U.S. infantrymen flanking La Haye-du-Puits, the Germans’ wester anchor point in Normandy, Supreme Headquarters announced today, and the French underground army has liberated whole sections of France.

The Americans took Glatigny, four miles southwest of La Haye and Scorman, nearby, in the sector near the west coast, while six miles east of the besieged town, they captured La Butte, advancing their lines to their edge of the morass, the Marais de Gorges.

SHAEF, England (AP) –
Two hard-fighting columns of the U.S. 1st Army plunged southward beyond besieged La Haye-du-Puits today both to the east and west, outflanking this western anchor of the enemy’s Normandy line while other troops battled inside the town itself after capturing the railway station, nearly half a mile to the north.

The Americans forcing their way south on the Cherbourg Peninsula reached Las du Jardins, three miles southwest of La Haye, while on the east another spearhead penetrated the Forêt de Mont-Castre, three miles southeast of the town, and battled the German 17th Panzer Grenadiers for possession of vital high ground in the wooded region.

As the doughboys advanced virtually foot by foot against the stubborn Germans, a furious tank and infantry battle raged near Caen on the eastern flank of the Normandy battle area. The Allied communiqué said Canadian and British forces held firm against a strong German counterattack in the Carpiquet area, just west of Caen.

Troops closely packed

Headquarters announced that Nazi troops were more densely packed in defense positions in the Caen region than on any battle ground in this or the last war.

The Supreme Command said that the German troops there had reached a concentration of one division to slightly less than three miles of the front – a situation that leaves little room for maneuvering.

Allied troops are also closely packed, with little freedom of movement.

The German High Command was reported throwing tanks and infantry lavishly into the battle, and hand-to-hand fighting was going on for the airfields south of newly-captured Carpiquet.

The mile-long Carpiquet Airfield is no-man’s-land and an officer observer reporter to Supreme Headquarters that three sets of two huge hangars had been destroyed.

It was agreed here that a deluge of high explosives from the air and a mighty artillery barrage are needed to crack a hole in the German lines around Caen. Today’s clearing weather gave promise of the most intense air activity for three weeks.

Need air aid

On the American side of the front, Australian and New Zealand Mosquitos supported the advancing doughboys during the night. The pilots reported heavy artillery dueling along the 17 miles of the battlefront on the Cherbourg Peninsula.

The German Air Force took advantage of a cloud cover yesterday to challenge the Allied air supremacy in isolated sectors, but lost 35 planes in the air against 17 for the Allies. Four other German planes were destroyed on the ground.

Northwest Reich under air attack

Airfields in France are pounded by planes of Allies

London, England (AP) –
Around 1,000 U.S. heavy bombers attacked Northwest Germany, enemy airfields and flying bomb grounds in the Pas-de-Calais department today while medium and light bombers assaulted railroad lines leading to the Cherbourg front.

The RAF in great strength bombed the robot platforms on the Channel coast and a rail center of Dijon, 160 miles southeast of Paris.

Flying Fortress and Liberator targets were not immediately specified.

More than 300 Marauder and Havoc bombers, in one of the heaviest operations since D-Day, made 30 attacks on these railroad lines: Saint-Malo–Rennes, Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët–Fougères–Vitré, Argentan–Le Mans, Flers–Domfront–La Haute-Chapelle and Nogent-le-Rotrou.

Many are in the gap south of the battlefields between the Seine and Loire Rivers, over which most bridges have been destroyed. The assaults were a high-pressured continuation of the campaign started well before the invasion to isolate the Normandy theater.

Germany was possibly under coordinated attack from Italy and England, for Radio Berlin asserted that other U.S. bombers and fighters were approaching southern Germany and Austria. British blows at Dijon were aimed at checking enemy reinforcements and supplies moving to the Norman battlefields.

Fighters and fighter-bombers, flying with the Flying Fortresses and Liberators in the widespread daylight assaults, dive-bombed and strafed unspecified targets.

Better weather placed the aerial offensive on a round-the-clock basis again, even though Winston Churchill said “a considerable proportion of our flying power has been diverted” against the robot bomb launching platforms in the Pas-de-Calais department of France.

Berlin reports Yanks in France reinforced

London, England (AP) –
Berlin radio said today U.S. forces in Normandy had been reinforced with the 83rd Infantry Division landing from Britain. There was no Allied confirmation.

Völkischer Beobachter (July 7, 1944)

Die zehn langen Tage

Von Kriegsberichter Richard Oeder

SS-PK. Langsam weicht der bleischwere Druck von der Stirn des Erwachenden. Vorbei sind die spannend-folternden Träume, die in grausig verzerrten Bildern den ganzen Schrecken der überwundenen Gefahr noch einmal heraufbeschworen. Aber erst nachdem er eine Weile ungläubig blinzelnd in die Stube sah, erst nachdem seine Maschinenpistole und endlich das entspannt-zufriedene Bubengesicht seines noch schlafenden Fluchtgefährten von der fast unwirklich schönen Tatsache überzeugt, beginnt er zu glauben, daß es ihm, dem SS-Untersturmführer F. gelungen ist, nach zehntägigem Aufenthalt hinter den Feindlinien der Gefangenschaft zu entkommen. Immer wieder schüttelt er den Kopf, wenn er das Kalenderblatt an der Wand gegenübersieht: 20. Juni. Eine Weile später greift er nach seiner Pistole und zählt die Kerben, die er an jedem Abend in das Griffstück schnitt. Es sind tatsächlich zehn Einschnitte, es muß also stimmen.

Noch einmal erlebt er die nächtliche Fahrt seiner Aufklärungskompanie – auf­ gesessen auf „Panthern“ – in den Morgen des 9. Juni, auf der Suche nach dem Feind. Im ersten Gefecht werfen sie die Kanadier, kämpfen ein Mehrfaches ihrer eigenen Kopfzahl nieder, lassen als Schildwache über der Stätte ihres ersten Sieges ihre ersten Toten, darunter ihren Chef zurück. Sie rollen weiter unter dem Sternenhimmel der Normandie, dem nächsten Dorf entgegen. Ist es feindfrei? Mit einem Zug will sich der Untersturmführer Gewissheit holen. Vorsichtig pirschen sie von Haus zu Haus, sichern, geben Feuerschutz. Ungestört kommen sie bis zu einem Hohlweg, gebildet von einer Mauer zur Linken und einer undurchdringlichen Hecke zur Rechten. Vorn plötzlich ein lauter Schrei, ein deutscher Anruf: „Halt, oder wir schießen!“, danach des Untersturmführers Antwort: „Macht keinen Unsinn, wir sind Deutsche!“

Das Wort „Deutsche“ ist wie ein Signal. Sofort ein Zischen neben, zwischen und über ihnen, ein dutzendfaches Aufkrachen, schon unterbrochen vom Schrei Getroffener, eine Handgranatenwolke war über sie geregnet. In den Feuerschein der Detonationen fegen pfeifend die Geschoßgarben der Maschinengewehre und Maschinenpistolen, spritzen die Querschläger von der Wand. Das ist das Ende! Doch jetzt reißt sich der Untersturmführer hoch, steht, und seine Stimme übertönt den Lärm: „Alles voraus, Verwundete mitnehmen, erste Gruppe mir nach!“

Im feindlichen Dorf

Was die Berechnung der Kanadier vergaß, erkannte er auf den ersten Blick: Ein Durchbruch nach vorn mußte den Gegner verwirren und so seinen Zug retten. Das kühne Wagnis gelingt, der Zug entkommt. Der SS-Führer aber ist mit vieren seiner Männer abgeschnitten inmitten des nun von Gegnern wimmelnden Dorfes. Dem Feuergürtel der Maschinengewehre waren sie entkommen, sich Wehrende hatten sie niedergemacht. 30 Männer. Die Verwundeten und das wichtige Aufklärungsergebnis waren gesichert, sich selbst aber hatten sie dafür aufgegeben. Noch schützt sie die Dunkelheit vor den streifenden Kanadiern, aber schon graut im Osten der junge Tag. Und wieder ist der Entschluss des Untersturmführers fertig: „Wir verstecken uns in den Häusern, bis das Dorf von den Unsern genommen wird.“ Von neuem beginnt das Schleichen und Kriechen, das Ducken und Lauern. Schrittweit sind manchmal nur die suchenden Gegner noch entfernt, die Herzen hämmern, die die Pistolen umklammernden Hände aber sind eiskalt ruhig. Endlich stehen sie vor einer Mauer. Ein Sprung über das letzte Hindernis, tastend wird eine knarrende Tür geöffnet. Das Erschrecken über die eigenen hallenden Schritte muß noch überstanden Werden – dann sind sie in „Sicherheit.“ Jeder kauert sich in einen Winkel des großen Gebäudes, aber die überspannten Nerven verweigern den Schlaf.

Stunden später leuchtet der Tag durch die Scheiben. Jetzt läßt sich ungestört das Treiben der Kanadier beobachten. Immer neue Kolonnen ziehen in das Dorf ein, Infanterie, Panzer, Artillerie und Lastkraftwagen. Sie brechen die Häuser auf, holen sich Matratzen und Kissen und beginnen ein wüstes Gelage. Überall sitzen sie in Gruppen, spielen und johlen – schon halb trunken. Noch ist die Lage der Lauernden nicht schlecht. Die noch im Ort verbliebenen Mädchen, der Wein und die Müdigkeit lassen bei den Feiernden kein Interesse an der nächsten Umgebung erwachen. Und doch kommt die Entdeckung.

Ehe die Sonne ihren höchsten Stand erreicht, öffnet sich die Tür zum Nebenraum. Ein Zivilist tritt ein und erstarrt nach wenigen Schritten, als er vor sich einen deutschen Untersturmführer sieht, der gerade durch die Fensterritzen auf den Vorplatz schaut. Ein erschreckter Ruf, dann verläßt er fluchtartig den Raum und alarmiert mit lautem Zuruf die Kanadier. Bevor sich diese aber noch den Schlaf aus den Augen gerieben haben, brechen die Deutschen aus ihrem Unterschlupf. Ihre Geschosse werfen die Auffahrenden um, bahnen den Weg bis zu einer Lücke in der nahen Hecke. Im Vorbeilaufen sehen sie ein offenes Kellerfenster. „Hinein alle Mann!“ bestimmt der Untersturmführer. Schon lassen sie sich durch die Öffnung fallen, landen in einem großen, düsteren Raum. Im Schein eines Zündholzes entschleiert sich das Versteck als ein Weinkeller mit großen Fässern, vollen Regalen und gehäuften Kisten. Das ist bei dem verfluchten Schnüffelsinn und Durst der Kanadier ein äußerst ungünstiges Versteck. Zur Wahl bleibt jedoch keine Zeit. Schon laufen draußen schreiend die ersten Verfolger vorbei, gleich wird das große Suchen losgehen.

Zwischen Weinfässern unter den Kanadiern

Der Zugführer hat einen seiner tollen Einfälle: „Unter die Fässer!“ zischt er. Wenn es noch eine Rettung gibt, ist es dieser Schlupfwinkel. Genau als er sich als letzter in den feuchten, vielleicht einen halben Meter tiefen Hohlraum unter den Rotwein- und Ziderfässern geschoben hat, öffnet sich die Tür und die Garbe einer Maschinenpistole fegt in halber Höhe gegen die Wände. Dahinter springen drei, vier baumlange Burschen mit aufgepflanztem Seitengewehr herein und stochern umher. Einer stößt sogar gegen die Fässer, gottlob zwischen den Männern hindurch. Die fünf haben bereits mit sich abgeschlossen, nicht einmal ihre Pistolen können helfen, keiner kann sich rühren. Jetzt stehen die Gegner einen Augenblick untätig. In die Stille, in der die Verfolgten glauben, ihre klopfenden Herzen würden sie verraten, rattern von draußen immer wieder die Feuerstöße; trotz ihrer Überzahl scheinen die Suchenden einen Heidenrespekt vor den Deutschen zu haben. Nach dieser gefährlichen Pause aber wird der Alkohol das Rettungsmittel. Der Lichtkegel der suchenden Taschenlampe streift über die Regale von den Fässern und trifft – goldglitzernde Köpfe von Sektflaschen. Dieser Fund beendet sofort den militärischen Eifer und Ehrgeiz der Kanadier, Korken knallen, leere Flaschen zerschellen. Jetzt öffnet sich auch die große Tür. Durch die helle Öffnung treten immer mehr Durstige ein, den Stahlhelm im Genick, lachend beim Anblick der Flaschen. So hat die verfluchte Invasion doch auch ihre an­ genehmen Seiten. Come, my boy, laß die verfluchten Germen laufen.

Die fünf warten. Inmitten der Orgie der Kanadier liegen sie, verzweifelnd und doch hoffend. Wenn nur die Betrunkenen nicht auf die Idee kommen, den Inhalt der Fässer zu untersuchen. Nach fünf qualvollen Stunden kommt endlich die Erlösung, ein Sergeant treibt seine volle Herde davon, nicht aber, ohne sich selbst einige Flaschen in die Tasche zu stecken.

Und dann folgt eine folternd lange Nacht, die erfüllt ist vom Geräusch der Kolonnen, von fern dröhnenden Feuer­überfällen deutscher Batterien und nahen Abschüssen der Briten. Der Untersturmführer prüft die Möglichkeit, sich zu den höchstens fünf bis sechs Kilometer entfernten deutschen Linien durchzuschlagen. Aber jeder Schritt auf die belebte Straße wäre das Verderben. Bleibt nur das Kellerfenster. Als der Zugführer vorsichtig seinen Kopf hinaussteckt, fährt er schnell wieder zurück. Kaum zehn Schritte absteht ein Doppelposten und beobachtet auf­merksam das Gelände. Wieder in der Höhle, zieht, er mit seinen Getreuen die Bilanz: fast ohne Munition, seit 24 Stunden nichts im Magen, ohne Fluchtmöglichkeiten, müssen sie auf einen Angriff der Ihren oder eine günstige Gelegenheit warten. Sie stellen einen Warnungsposten an das Fenster und bleiben auch jetzt noch ihrem Befehl getreu: jede neue Batterie, jeden Panzer und jede Kolonne registriert der Untersturmführer in einer Skizze, die bald unschätzbar wichtiges Material birgt.

In den folgenden Tagen und Nächten werden sie immer wieder gestört durch Plünderer, die nach Alkohol forschen. Einer vergisst den Hahn eines großen Rotweinfasses zu schließen. Als er endlich geht, ist der ganze Boden mit Weinpfützen bedeckt. Am schlimmsten setzt den Männern die quälende Ungewissheit und der Hunger zu.

Flucht durch deutsche Minenfelder

Am vierten Tag heulen die Geschosse deutscher Werfer gegen den anderen Dorfausgang. Von der Wucht der Einschläge stürzen die Flaschen von den Bordbrettern. Am Abend des sechsten Tages beschließt der Untersturmführer, zu handeln. Wenn er noch weiter wartet, wird ihr Kräftezustand eine Flucht unmöglich machen. Seit zwei Tagen ist der Unterscharführer krank. Mit ihm darf er nicht rechnen. Der kleine Sturmmann Sch. bleibt freiwillig bei ihm. In einer der beiden nächsten Nächte sollen die beiden nachkommen. Der Untersturmführer aber muß mit seinem Wissen über den sich vorbereitenden Feindangriff zurück, koste es, was es wolle. Eine List hilft. „Zufällig“ liegen am Abend, als die Posten aufziehen, ein paar Sektflaschen im Gras. Das Weitere überlässt er der Dienstauffassung der Posten, und er wird nicht enttäuscht. Zwei Stunden später klettert er mit zweien seiner Grenadiere aus dem Loch. Nach abenteuerlichem Marsch erreicht er sein Ziel. Das Grauen überfällt ihn erst, als man ihm auf der Karte die neuen Minenfelder zeigt, durch die er ahnungslos schritt.

Die Zurückgebliebenen werden trotz weiterer Besuche der Feinde im Keller nicht behelligt. Am Abend des zehnten Tages endlich wagt der Unterscharführer den Versuch. Am Mittag zuvor sollten sie jedoch noch einmal durch die Hölle schreiten. Das Dorf, eine wichtige Aufmarschbasis des Gegners, wird auf Grund der Meldungen ihres Führers mit Wirkungsfeuer belegt. Aus unmittelbarer Nähe erleben sie die fürchterliche Wirkung deutscher Geschosse. Einem Tornado gleich jagt der Granatschauer zwischen die dicht belegten Straßen und Häuser. Von wohlgezielten Schüssen getroffen, bricht ein Turm, der Sitz dreier feindlicher Artilleriebeobachter, vor ihren Augen zusammen. Explodierend gehen Munitionsstapel und Benzinlager hoch, Panzer brennen aus und Geschütze werden zerschlagen. Auf den Weinkeller schlägt ein Volltreffer, reißt das Haus auf. Nur die schützenden Fässer retten die beiden Flüchtlinge. Das sind ihre letzten Stunden im Versteck. Das Chaos beim Feind ausnützend, verlassen sie es in den Abendstunden. Zwei Doppelposten müssen umgangen werden, ein anderer wird unschädlich gemacht. Fünf Stunden brauchen sie, um fünf Kilometer zu schaffen. Dann aber sind sie durch.

In den Morgenstunden des 19. Juni laufen zwei total erschöpfte, unkenntlich verdreckte Gestalten winkend und rufend auf die deutschen Stellungen zu. So kehrten der SS-Unterscharführer F. und der Sturmmann Sch. heim in die große Front.

Innsbrucker Nachrichten (July 7, 1944)

Ein Kreuzer und sechs vollbeladene Transporter versenkt

Alle Feindangriffe in der Normandie und in Italien abgewiesen – Weiter schweres Vergeltungsfeuer auf London

dnb. Aus dem Führerhauptquartier, 7. Juli –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

Im normannischen Landekopf lag der Schwerpunkt der Kämpfe gestern wieder im Raum südwestlich Carentan bis zur Westküste der Halbinsel Cherbourg. In dem unübersichtlichen Wald- und Buschgelände kam es oft zu erbitterten Nahkämpfen, in denen unsere Truppen alle feindlichen Angriffe, die durch starke Luftangriffe unterstützt waren, abweisen konnten. Bei Le Plessis und südlich Montgardon wurde der eingebrochene Gegner im Gegenstoß geworfen. Die Säuberung des Waldgeländes östlich La Haye-du-Puits von dem dort eingedrungenen Feind ist noch im Gange.

Im französischen Raum wurden 157 Terroristen und mit Fallschirm abgesetzte britische Sabotagetrupps im Kampf niedergemacht.

Über dem Landekopf und den besetzten Westgebieten wurden 22 feindliche Flugzeuge zum Absturz gebracht.

Durch Kampfmittel der Kriegsmarine wurden im Seegebiet der Invasionsfront erneut ein Kreuzer, drei Zerstörer und sechs beladene Transporter mit 32.000 BRT versenkt und ein weiterer Kreuzer schwer beschädigt.

Nördlich der Seinebucht versenkten Sicherungsfahrzeuge in der letzten Nacht ein britisches Artillerieschnellboot und beschädigten mehrere andere.

Im Seegebiet von Brest kam es in der Nacht zum 6. Juli zum Gefecht zwischen vier deutschen Vorpostenbooten und vier feindlichen Zerstörern. Zwei Zerstörer wurden in Brand geschossen. Ein eigenes Boot ging nach heldenhaftem Kampf verloren. Teile seiner Besatzung wurden gerettet.

Schweres Vergeltungsfeuer liegt weiter auf dem Raum von London.

In Italien griff der Feind gestern, von zahlreichen Panzern unterstützt, fast auf der gesamten Front an. Nach harten Kämpfen an der ligurischen Küste, bei Volterra, nordwestlich Siena, im Raum von Arezzo, beiderseits Umbertide und an der Adriaküste wurde der Gegner bis auf geringe örtliche Einbrüche verlustreich abgewiesen. An der adriatischen Küste sind die Kämpfe noch im Gange.

Nachtschlachtflugzeuge griffen in der letzten Nacht wieder den feindlichen Nachschubverkehr an der adriatischen Küste mit guter Wirkung an.

In den Kämpfen der vergangenen Wochen hat sich eine Flakbrigade unter Oberst Müller im Erdkampf besonders ausgezeichnet. Im Süden der Ostfront führte der Feind zwischen dem oberen Dnjestr und Kowel mehrere vergebliche Angriffe. Im Mittelabschnitt dauern die schweren Kämpfe an den bisherigen Brennpunkten der großen Abwehrschlacht an. An der Landenge von Baranowicze wurden feindliche, von Panzern unterstützte Angriffe östlich der Stadt aufgefangen. Auch im Raum westlich Molodeczno wird erbittert gekämpft. Nördlich davon sind feindliche Angriffsgruppen im Vorgehen auf Wilna. Nordwestlich des Naroczsees, wo zahlreiche Angriffe der Sowjets scheiterten, hat sich die bayerische 212. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Sensfuß besonders bewährt.

Nördlich und nordwestlich Polozk führten die Bolschewisten gestern nur schwächere Angriffe, die vor unseren Stellungen zusammenbrachen.

Schlachtfliegerverbände griffen wirksam in die Erdkämpfe ein und zersprengten zahlreiche feindliche Kolonnen.

Schwere Kampfflugzeuge setzten den Kampf gegen den sowjetischen Nachschub bei Nacht durch Angriffe auf Bahnhöfe und Eisenbahnlinien mit guter Wirkung fort.

Nordamerikanische Bomber führten gestern einen Terrorangriff gegen die Stadt Kiel.

In der Nacht warfen einzelne britische Flugzeuge Bomben im rheinisch-westfälischen Gebiet. Außerdem griff ein schwacher feindlicher Bomberverband den Raum von Wien an. Durch Nachtjäger wurden zwölf feindliche Flugzeuge abgeschossen.

Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 7, 1944)

Communiqué No. 63

The battle for LA HAYE-DU-PUITS continues. East of the CARENTAN-PERIERS road, we have advanced towards SAINTENY.

There is no change in the CAEN sector.

The enemy’s supply system was again the principal target for our air forces, which operated in strength throughout yesterday afternoon and evening. The attacks were mainly between PARIS and VIERZON in the east reaching west and northwest into BRITTANY and towards the battle area.

Heavy bombers, escorted by fighters, bombed railway bridges over the LOIRE, while medium and light bombers struck at other rail targets west of PARIS.

Fighter-bombers and fighters continued their armed reconnaissance, medium bombers joining them in attacks on fuel dumps and rail facilities.

Preliminary reports show that 12 enemy aircraft were shot down. Six of ours are missing.

During the night, light bombers attacked rail targets behind the enemy line and in the neighborhood of LE MANS.


Communiqué No. 64

Allied forces have made some progress southwest along the CARENTAN–PÉRIERS road.

West of AIREL, our troops have captured a small bridgehead over the River VIRE.

Air activity over the beaches and battle area up to noon today was confined to reconnaissance patrols.

The Pittsburgh Press (July 7, 1944)

Yanks capture key junction in third drive

Arc around La Haye almost complete

map.070744.up
New American offensive has been opened in France in the Saint-Lô area (2), where U.S. troops smashed across the Vire River above the town. To the west, U.S. troops drove back into La Haye-du-Puits (1) after being driven out and smashed around the town in an attempt to encircle it. On the British front (3), the Allies widened the base of the salient southwest of Caen, while the Canadians repelled two counterattacks on Carpiquet.

SHAEF, England (UP) –
Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley started a new American offensive on the mid-Normandy front north of Saint-Lô today where his assault forces captured the rail junction of Airel and stormed across the Vire River for advances of more than a mile.

Other U.S. forces to the northwest almost completed the encirclement of La Haye-du-Puits, narrowing to two and a half miles the gap between the prongs of an enveloping arc, and a headquarters spokesman said it is “now only a matter of time” until the town falls.

A front dispatch said U.S. infantry patrols fought back into La Haye late today and there were indications that a majority of the German garrison had left the town to escape the closing trap.

Caen dock area deserted

At the eastern end of the French battlefront, British patrols thrust into the dock area of Caen and found it deserted, giving rise to speculation that the Germans might be withdrawing from the great inland port, the most stubbornly defended objective of the Normandy campaign.

The new U.S. offensive some six to eight miles above Saint-Lô was aimed squarely at the highway hub of Saint-Jean-de-Daye, some two miles west of the Vire. Front dispatches reported violent fighting at close quarters near the town.

Great artillery barrage

Henry T. Gorrell, United Press correspondent on the newly-opened front, said the offensive was launched at dawn after the greatest artillery barrage of the French campaign had dazed the Germans and eased the job of doughboys who swarmed across the river in collapsible boats.

Mr. Gorrell said the troops were “making good progress in the region of Saint-Jean” at midafternoon. They were supported strongly by Allied planes and artillery hammering the German positions in their path.

Headquarters here reported that U.S. forces had advanced some 2,000 yards – well over a mile – across the Vire and consolidated their gains. They seized the town of Airel, highway and railroad center, and an intact bridge across the Vire, and engineers swiftly threw additional bridges over the stream.

‘Important’ action forecast

The American drive across the Vire “may portend some important action,” a headquarters spokesman said, but no amplification of the hint was permitted.

Mr. Gorrell reported that the weather had cleared, the mud was drying up, and a summer sun facilitated the task of the Americans slicing into the network of communications below the Cotentin Peninsula.

The only reverse suffered by the U.S. 1st Army was the loss of a few hundred yards along the Carentan–Périers road, where the Germans struck back viciously.

Gain on most fronts

U.S. forces closing in on La Haye-du-Puits, hotly contested transport center in western Normandy, scored gains on all sides of the town except due south and appeared to have doomed the stand by the Nazi garrison which had driven out advanced American elements a number of times.

The spearhead thrusting southeast of La Haye made substantial advances in the forest of Mr. Castre, most of which was now in U.S. hands. The wooded heights command the whole area, and protracted resistance in La Haye was regarded as impossible after the high ground was won.

Gen. Bradley’s men captured the height known as Point 122 in the Mt. Castre forest and pushed on a mile and a half west-southwest to take a subsidiary height three miles south of La Haye.

The extreme American advance on the west wing had reached a point a mile and a quarter south of La Haye, almost cutting the highway south to Lessay, which was under artillery fire. The village of La Surelliere, a half-mile north-northeast of Lemont, which lies a mile southwest of La Haye, was captured.

Many Nazi planes downed

On the other prong of the arc around La Haye, the village of Nauventrie au Rou, two-and-three-quarters miles southeast of La Haye, was taken.

Headquarters announced that an average of 250 German planes had been shot down each week in the

The Allied penetration of the Caen dock area, disclosed at Supreme Headquarters, appeared to have been made from positions northeast of the key German defense bastion where British and Canadian troops were dug in across the Orne River a mile and a half from the town.

Nazi move expected

Observers emphasized that it was still too early to draw conclusions on the absence of the Germans from the Caen waterfront, but one suggested it would be no surprise to see the Germans withdrawing from the city in view of the increased pressure and intensified artillery fire against it.

Unofficial speculation at headquarters centered around the likelihood that if the Germans were driven out or pulled out of Caen, they probably would fall back to a line running roughly through Troarn and Falaise, seven miles east and 22 miles south-southeast of Caen.

Caen bridges demolished

An Exchange Telegraph dispatch from Normandy said Allied bombers knocked out of commission three bridges spanning the Orne River in Caen during the night, leaving the German garrison with only one single-pontoon bridge and a railway bridge in the city.

The new drive came as other elements of the 1st Army were fighting their way back into the streets of La Haye-du-Puits with Tommy guns, bayonets and grenades and outflanking columns were threatening to surround the embattled town.

The American offensive was believed designed to eliminate the German salient between the Carentan–Périers and Carentan–Saint-Lô highways, from which the Germans have been shelling the narrow coastal corridor between the Cherbourg Peninsula and Bayeux–Caen sectors of the 1,313-square-mile Allied beachhead.

The drive put the Americans on the offensive along almost the entire length of their sector of the front from the west coast beyond La Haye through a point some five miles southwest of Carentan to the Vire River above Saint-Lô.

12 more towns seized

The first of the coordinated offensives began on an arc above La Haye-du-Puits Monday dawn and the second came soon afterward along the Carentan–Périers road.

Allied headquarters disclosed that the Americans have captured 12 more villages and hamlets in the siege arc around La Haye, on the adjacent Saint-Jores–Périers road and along the Carentan–Périers highway.

The Germans, newly-reinforced, were resisting fiercely all along the 25-mile American offensive front in an attempt to prevent a breakthrough that would outflank Caen and pave the way for a drive toward Paris, 120 miles east of Caen, or southward into Brittany.

Yanks regain initiative

Spurred by their new commander, Field Marshal Günther von Kluge, the Germans won back some territory around La Haye and along the Carentan–Périers road yesterday, but latest reports reaching Allied headquarters indicated that the Americans had regained the initiative, wiped out the enemy gains and were still advancing.

German sources reported that the Allies had launched a frontal assault down the Cherbourg–Paris road near Caen, but this could not be confirmed here.

Screenshot 2022-06-20 213810

Simms: Allies, French cooperate well

Invasion chiefs aid in liberated areas
By William Philip Simms, Scripps-Howard foreign editor

Cherbourg, France –
Despite dire predictions of critics of Anglo-American policy, the collaboration between the Allies and Gen. Charles de Gaulle’s representatives in France is working out very well.

The appointment of Paul Renault as mayor of Cherbourg was in line with de Gaullist procedure. Article III of the Algiers ordinance regulating such matters calls for the Vichyites and the installation in their stead of officials appointed or elected prior to September 1939.

Similarly, Vichy’s subprefect here has been supplanted by a local engineer, M. le Viandier, a leader of the Committee of Liberation. He was put in officer by the de Gaullist regional commissioner, Francois Coulet. The subprefect at Bayeux, likewise appointed by M. Coulet, has a similar political background. Apparently, this procedure will be followed throughout the rest of France.

Allies approve

Meanwhile, far from offering objections, the civil affairs branch of the Allied General Staff is looking on with approval. Instead of elbowing the French out of the way and insisting on bossing things, it is making itself helpful but unobtrusive. It neither seeks nor wants political power. On the contrary, it wants only non-interference with Allied military operations. That, of course, presupposes reasonable law and order behind the lines, and as long as these few requirements are met its main job will be to facilitate the task of the French civil authorities in charge.

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and everybody under him are leaning backward in their desire to leave practically everything but the fighting to the French. To conserve the local food supply for the French, towns behind the front are “out of bounds” for soldiers. The purchase of anything except nonessentials is taboo. The armies of liberation are not living off the land; they are bringing everything with them.

Sleeps on floor

An icy drizzle was falling when I arrived in Cherbourg. I was badly in need of a dry place to sleep. At headquarters in a furnitureless house, I asked if they could direct me to a hotel. The answer was a polite reminder that we were not supposed to discommode the inhabitants.

“We sleep on the floor right here,” I was told. I spent the night on a filthy mattress left by the Germans in a wrecked house through the roof of which a cold rain trickled and turned to mud the dust and plaster which littered the floor.

Tales about Washington trying to ram Vichyites or Fascists down the unwilling throats of liberated Frenchmen and otherwise meddle in France’s affairs seem ridiculous here. So far, the French and the Allies are getting along well.

But a good word on behalf of his Allies from Gen. de Gaulle to the people of France, just now beginning to emerge from four years of Nazi blackout, would go a long way towards a still better understanding.

Patriot raids replace Allied plane attacks

French disrupt Nazi communications

SHAEF, England (UP) –
Lt. Gen. Joseph-Pierre Kœnig ’s French Forces of the Interior, estimated at 500,000 armed men, have sabotaged German communications in France so completely that the Allied air force is now concentrating on fewer targets and the Nazis are forced to channelize their movements into the battle zone, an Allied headquarters spokesman disclosed today.

Paying tribute to the FFI, a Supreme Headquarters special communiqué said that the Vercors, and part of the department of Gers, in the southwest, Doubs and Ain, near the Swiss frontier, and Ardèche, in the southeastern Rhône Valley, had been liberated.

A spokesman interpreted this to mean that the sectors were under Maquis control and that no enemy movements through these areas were possible unless heavily escorted.

A French spokesman added that traffic was stalled entirely in Brittany in northern France, in the Pyrenees–Lyon areas, and on nine main routes, including the Calais–Reich and Paris–Belfort lines which are being cut an average of two to five times daily.

General fired for criticizing Hitler speech

Von Rundstedt ouster shows Nazi power
By Nat A. Barrows

Stockholm, Sweden –
Field Marshal Karl Gerd von Rundstedt dared to criticize Hitler’s latest speech. That was an affront to Der Führer and, combined with the High Command’s dissatisfaction over the poor German defense against the Allied push in Normandy, was sufficient to cause the German decision to remove von Rundstedt as their Western Front commander.

This change in top command on the Western Front is only a thinly disguised symptom of the crisis in Nazi leadership, proving again that Hitler still retains powerful control over his political and military subordinates, according to the interpretation given to the move here.

Ouster termed political move

Bern, Switzerland –
Politics once more appear to have the upper hand over military exigencies in Nazi Germany.

On July 3, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and simultaneously received a press accolade for his military “merits.” Der Führer even wrote him a personal letter of appreciation.

Today, four days later, von Rundstedt “for reasons of heath” is out as commander-in-chief of Germany’s Western Front, replaced by Marshal Günther von Kluge.

It is, of course, obvious, that “reasons of health” have nothing to do with von Rundstedt’s removal. His departure comes at the very moment when Nazi propagandists are playing up the cruelties of war. And he is a man known for his moderate Nazi sympathies and relative leniency in suppressing French patriots.

No doubt, now that the Gestapo are arresting French hostages by the thousands, he is considered too moderate to rule over divided France.

Casey: Yanks’ barrage a war ‘for keeps’

By Robert J. Casey

On the U.S. front in Normandy. France –
The American southward push in Normandy took a new turn this morning with a successful attack across the Vire River.

This widens the previous front considerably and gives the Germans new worries in the Saint-Jean-de-Daye area which is six or seven miles from Saint-Lô.

If any observer had thought that the American drive was a mere token performance, the operations since yesterday afternoon certainly should show their error.

There have been few artillery barrages in anybody’s war thicker, more continuous, or noisier than that which has blasted this ever-widening front for the last 18 hours. It started yesterday and is still going on with a din such as the world has probably not heard since the last war’s Battle of Verdun.

You wonder, as you hear these guns firing in such masses and so close together that their echoes blend in one continuous roar that shakes your diaphragm, how do much ammunition could have been hauled across the Channel in such a short time.

If you never realized before that this is a war for keeps, you realize it now and so undoubtedly do the Germans.

It surely sounds like one.

U.S. flier bags record of 6 Nazis in one fight

U.S. 8th Air Force fighter base, England (UP) –
Capt. Fred Christensen of Watertown, Massachusetts, set a record for the number of enemy planes destroyed in a single action today, shooting down six Ju 52s – Germany’s biggest transport plane.

Capt. Christensen was leading a flight in Col. Hubert Zemke’s famed Thunderbolt group when they sighted 12 Junkers circling prior to landing over an airfield in Germany.

In a few seconds, the Americans had shot down ten of the transports.

Six fell before Capt. Christensen’s guns, bringing his total of planes downed in combat to 22 and putting him among the upper brackets of fighter aces in the European Theater.

Völkischer Beobachter (July 8, 1944)

Generalfeldmarschall von Kluge Oberbefehlshaber im Westen

dnb. Führerhauptquartier, 7. Juli –
An Stelle des gesundheitlich behinderten Generalfeldmarschalls von Rundstedt hat Generalfeldmarschall von Kluge den Oberbefehl im Westen übernommen.

Der Führer hat in einem herzlich gehaltenen Handschreiben dem in den schwierigsten Lagen hochbewährten Feldmarschall von Rundstedt seinen besonderen Dank ausgesprochen und seine Verwendung für Sonderaufgaben in Aussicht genommen.

Führer HQ (July 8, 1944)

Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

Der Feind setzte seinen Großangriff gegen den Westflügel des Landekopfes mit zusammengefassten Kräften fort und dehnte ihn auf die Abschnitte bis zur Vire aus. Südwestlich Airel und südwestlich Carentan konnte er nach starker Artillerievorbereitung in unsere Abwehrfront eindringen und geringfügig Boden gewinnen. Zwischen Le Plessis und La Haye-du-Pults wurde der Gegner unter besonders hohen Verlusten abgewiesen.

Bei der Säuberung des Waldgeländes östlich La Haye-du-Puits verlor der Feind in erbitterten Nahkämpfen über 300 Tote und 270 Gefangene. Vorübergehend in La Haye-du-Puits eingedrungener Feind wurde nach schweren Straßenkämpfen wieder geworfen.

Im französischen Raum wurden 213 Terroristen und mit Fallschirm abgesetzte feindliche Saboteure im Kampf vernichtet.

Kampf- und Schlachtflugzeuge griffen belegte Ortschaften und Flugplätze im Landekopf mit guter Wirkung an.

Über den besetzten Westgebieten und dem Landekopf wurden gestern 96 feindliche Flugzeuge, darunter 73 viermotorige Bomber, abgeschossen. Schnellboote torpedierten im Ostteil der Seinebucht einen feindlichen Zerstörer, der mit einer starken Explosion in die Luft flog. Ferner vernichteten sie ein feindliches Torpedoschnellboot und beschädigten ein weiteres schwer. Im gleichen Seegebiet schossen Sicherungsfahszeuge zwei britische Schnellboote in Brand und brachten einen Jagdbomber zum Absturz.

Truppen des Heeres und der Waffen-SS vernichteten im ersten Monat der Invasionskämpfe 1059 feindliche Panzer und schossen 237 Flugzeuge ab. In Luftkämpfen und durch Flakartillerie wurden außerdem 1.418 feindliche Flugzeuge zum Absturz gebracht.

Im gleichen Zeitraum wurden durch Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Heeres- und Marineküstenbatterien 56 Handels- und Transportschiffe mit 348.600 BRT. und zahlreiche kleinere Nachschubschiffe und Landungsboote versenkt. Weitere 45 Handels- und Transportschiffe mit 269.000 BRT. wurden schwer beschädigt. An feindlichen Kriegsschiffen wurden 2 schwere Kreuzer, 4 weitere Kreuzer, 26 Zerstörer, eine Fregatte und 10 Schnellboote versenkt. Mehrere Schlachtschiffe, 22 Kreuzer, 25 Zerstörer, 13 Schnellboote und 28 Landungsspezialschiffe erhielten schwere Beschädigungen. Nicht eingerechnet sind die durch Minentreffer verursachten feindlichen Schiffsverluste.

Das schwere Feuer der „V1“ liegt unablässig auf dem Raum von London.

In Italien lag das Schwergewicht der feindlichen Angriffe gestern im Raum nordwestlich Siena, wo der Gegner trotz Einsatzes starker Infanterie- und Panzerkräfte keinen nennenswerten Erfolg erreichen konnte. Im westlichen Küstenabschnitt, im Raum südwestlich Arezzo, bei Mentone und Gubbio sowie an der Adriaküste führte der Feind ebenfalls starke, von Panzern unterstützte Angriffe, die von unseren Divisionen in harten Abwehrkämpfen bis auf geringe örtliche Einbrüche abgewiesen wurden.

Im Südabschnitt der Ostfront petzten die Sowjets ihre örtlichen Angriffe zwischen dem oberen Dnjestr und Kowel mit stärkeren Verbänden fort. Sie wurden blutig abgewiesen. Im Mittelabschnitt leisten unsere Soldaten den überlegenen feindlichen Kräften an allen Stellen verbissenen Widerstand. Im Verlauf der Abwehrschlacht wurden den Bolschewisten hohe Menschen- und Materialverluste zugefügt. Auch die eigenen Ausfälle sind beträchtlich.

Beiderseits Baranowicze dauern die Kämpfe in unverminderter Heftigkeit an. Die Trümmer des Ortes wurden dem Feinde kampflos überlassen. Nördlich Baranowicze wiesen unsere Truppen zusammengefasste Angriffe der Bolschewisten im Nahkampf ab. Der feindliche Druck auf Wilna verstärkt sich weiter. Südöstlich der Stadt sind erbitterte Kämpfe im Gange. Am Ostrand scheiterten von Panzern unterstützte Angriffe der Sowjets. An der Eisenbahn zwischen Wilna und Dünaburg wurden feindliche Angriffsspitzen in harten Kämpfen aufgefangen. Südöstlich Dünaburg und an der Düna nordwestlich Dzisna führte der Feind mehrere erfolglose Vorstöße. Nördlich Polozk brachen stärkere, von Panzern unterstützte Angriffe der Bolschewisten zusammen.

Kampf- und Schlachtfliegerverbände griffen laufend sowjetische Kolonnen an und vernichteten über 250 feindliche Fahrzeuge. In der Nacht wurde der Kampf gegen den feindlichen Nachschubverkehr fortgesetzt.

Ein starker nordamerikanischer Bomberverband flog gestern Vormittag nach Mitteldeutschland ein und warf Bomben auf mehrere Orte. Besonders im Stadtgebiet von Leipzig entstanden Gebäudeschäden und Personenverluste.

Weitere nordamerikanische Bomber griffen von Süden einfliegend einige Orte in Oberschlesien an.

Luftverteidigungskräfte vernichteten bei diesen Angriffen 92 feindliche Flugzeuge, darunter 71 viermotorige Bomber.

Die unter persönlicher Führung ihres Geschwaderkommodore Major Dahl kämpfende IV. Sturmgruppe, Jagdgeschwader 3, mit ihrem Kommandeur Hauptmann Moritz zeichnete sich durch Abschuß von 30 viermotorigen Bombern besonders aus.

In der Nacht warfen einzelne britische Flugzeuge Bomben auf Berlin und im rheinisch-westfälischen Raum. Zwei feindliche Flugzeuge wurden zum Absturz gebracht.

Damit verlor der Feind gestern über dem Reichsgebiet und den besetzten Westgebieten insgesamt 188 Flugzeuge, darunter 144 viermotorige Bomber.

Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 8, 1944)

Communiqué No. 65

In the CARENTAN sector, our troops advancing from the east have extended the bridgehead over the River VIRE. Further north other Allied units have pushed down the road from CARENTAN towards SAINT-JEAN-DE-DAYE. These two converging forces are now within two miles of the town.

Our air forces were active in close support of the land fighting yesterday afternoon and evening. Machine-gun nests and road junctions were under intermittent dive-bombing attacks throughout the period.

A strong force of heavy bombers effectively attacked a concentration of troops, tanks, guns, and strongpoints north of CAEN before darkness last night. Two thousand three hundred tons of explosives hit the target area.

Further damage was inflicted on the enemy’s transport system from SAINTES and ANGOULÊME, 200 miles south of NORMANDY, to MEAUX, east of PARIS. The TOURS LA RICHE railway bridge over the LOIRE was attacked by medium bombers, and fighter-bombers struck at railway yards, tracks, and motor convoys. An ammunition trains on the NIORT–SAUMUR Line exploded after a dive attack.

Early this morning, heavy night bombers attacked railway yards at VAIRES in the eastern outskirts of PARIS.

The Pittsburgh Press (July 8, 1944)

BRITISH ADVANCE INTO CAEN
Defenses cracking under all-out push

Americans also lunge forward in center of Normandy front
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer

SHAEF, London, England –
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery hurled the full weight of the British 2nd Army at Caen along a seven-mile assault arc today and by evening his shock troops had advanced an average of one mile through at least seven outlying villages to within one-and-a-half miles of the heart of the city.

Front dispatches reported even more impressive gains in the new offensive aimed at blasting open the 120-mile road westward to Paris. They said advanced elements were within half a mile of the center of Caen and named two villages captured in addition to the seven announced at headquarters plus parts of two more.

Reports reached headquarters that the Germans were moving big guns and armor south and southeast of Caen and vehicular traffic was heavy along the only two of 14 roads radiating from the city which were still in Nazi hands.

The headquarters report of German movements, not amplified, appeared to hit at a Nazi flight from Caen under the drubbing impact of Gen. Montgomery’s full dress offensive to escape the threat of entrapment in the partially encircled city.

Zero hour at 4:20

Zero hour was 4:20 a.m. today. British and Canadian troops went over the top after the heaviest artillery bombardment of the Normandy campaign had softened the German positions in and around the great inland port of Caen. This evening, a headquarters spokesman said the day’s advances were “highly satisfactory.”

Officially reported overrun in the converging assault on Caen were the villages of Gruchy, Buron, Saint-Contest and Épron, while parts of Lébisey and Hérouville were in Allied hands. Other reports added Galamanche and La Bijude to the list of captured villages.

Headquarters spokesmen also announced the capture, in addition to the tight little knot of villages in suburban Caen, of Malon, four miles northwest of the center of the town; Bitot, three miles north-northwest, and Colombelles on the Caen Canal, two-and-three-quarters northeast.

Capture Saint-Jean

U.S. forces driving forward on the central front in Normandy captured the town of Saint-Jean-de-Daye, eight miles north of Saint-Lô, and the nearby village of Goucherie.

Driving on beyond Saint-Jean, U.S. forces who smashed across the Vire River joined another column pushing down from the north, and both forces are now well over six miles southwestward of Isigny, the hinge position at the southwest corner of the Seine Bay.

The Americans probably hold an important crossroad south og Saint-Jean, headquarters sources reported in describing the expansion of the bridgehead west of the Vire.

Seize high ground

Farther westward other U.S. forces seized all high ground southwest and southeast of La Haye-du-Puits, sealing the doom of that western anchor of the German defense line.

Making a small but important advance southwest of La Haye, the Americans reached the village of Lemont. A like advance in the Mont-Castre forest carried almost to the village of Gerville.

Headquarters reports indicated that Caen was under a grave threat from the north. British units battering through the thick-set defenses had advanced up to a mile-and-a-half to a point a quarter-mile below the Couvrelles–Cher rail station, about halfway from the takeoff line to the center of the city.

Canadians gain

At the same time, Canadian troops were attacking from the northwest with like success.

A commentator said that if the Germans resist strongly the battle of Caen might conceivably prove one of the decisive battles of the war.

Striking in the wake of a 2,300-ton aerial attack and one of the heaviest artillery barrages of the Normandy campaign, British and Canadian troops plunged into the burning suburbs of Caen on a broad front and began a showdown battle that may determine the length of the war in the west.

Battle hand-to-hand

Ronald Clark, United Press staff writer, reported from the front that fierce hand-to-hand fighting was raging at key points deep inside the enemy’s so-called Byron Line of fortified villages on the approaches to Caen, the Germans’ eastern anchor athwart the Cherbourg–Paris highway and railroad.

Mr. Clark said:

Progress was made in the first stages of the attack and a number of the enemy were wiped out. Our troops are sure and confident of the results.

Face 1,400 tanks

Gen. Montgomery unleased his climatic offensive against the strongest-held sector of the whole Normandy front, defended by nearly seven crack enemy panzer divisions, 1,400 tanks and 84,000 men at full strength.

But Gen. Montgomery never makes a full-scale effort unless he believes he has a better-than-even chance of success, and he has had nearly five weeks in which to build up his forces.

More than 450 huge four-engined Halifax and Lancaster bombers of the RAF struck the first blow of the long-expected offensive at dusk last night when they roared over the frontlines

Like at El Alamein

Flame and smoke still belched from Caen and its northern defenses early today as massed British artillery began a bombardment reminiscent of the mighty barrages that cleared the way for Gen. Montgomery’s breakthroughs at El Alamein and the Mareth Line in Africa.

United Press staff writer Samuel D. Hales reported from Normandy:

No cannonading like that during the first half-hour had been heard on this front since the assault on the beaches D-Day.

The barrage shifted to provide a creeping curtain of protective shells bursting a few hundred yards in advance as the infantry rose from their trenches and moved toward the German lines with Tommy guns, bayonets and grenades.

Dock area empty

Lt. Gen. Sir Miles C. Dempsey’s 2nd Army held positions two to four miles east, north, west and southwest of Caen, but the disclosure that the mighty RAF bomber force struck principally north of the town indicated the main weight of the attack was also concentrated there.

British patrols thrust into the dock area of Caen yesterday and found it empty of Germans, but Allied authorities were cautious about interpreting this as a sign that the enemy has decided to pull out of the town without a finish fight.

Nevertheless, German broadcasts belittling the importance of Caen and contending that the Allies, if they capture the town, will find only ruins was taken as a sign that they will not make a costly or protracted defense before they fall back to less exposed defenses.

The new offensive put the Allies on the march along the entire 111-mile front in Normandy.

Powerful U.S. outflanking columns were approaching the enemy’s only escape road south of La Haye, however, and the garrison soon must choose between abandoning the town or encirclement.

Advancing along the 363-foot wooded Mont-Castre plateau on the eastern flank, one column reached a point two-and-a-quarter miles southeast of La Haye, while the western force seized the village of Biémont, two-and-a-half miles southwest of La Haye.

U.S. columns converging on Périers, nine miles southeast of La Haye and 11 miles southwest of Carentan, advanced to points only five-and-a-half miles away from the north and northeast.

Gain high ground

One, advancing along the Carentan–Périers road, captured high ground 800 yards east of Sainteny, while the other pushed down the Saint-Jores road to the village of Le Plessis, two miles south of Saint-Jores.

The Americans were encountering increased German artillery and mortar fire, as well as extensive minefields and inundations in their advances along the two highways but pressed on without pause.

U.S. fliers lash enemy at Caen

U.S. heavies hammer Vienna oil plants
By Walter Cronkite, United Press staff writer

London, England –
U.S. heavy and medium bombers pounded German troop concentrations and gun batteries at Caen and robot bomb installations in the Pas-de-Calais area today as more than 500 Italy-based Fortresses and Liberators fought their way through heavy flak and fighter opposition to hit oil refineries at Vienna and targets in Hungary.

The fleet of 500 bombers, escorted by Lightnings and Mustangs, struck at three oil refineries in the Vienna basin, three fighter fields covering Vienna, and a Hungarian airdrome at Veszprem, 65 miles southwest of Budapest.

Refineries hit

Among the targets was the Floridsdorf oil refinery in the northern suburbs of Vienna, which is Austria’s largest crude oil distillation plant. The Creditul Minier refinery at Korneuburg, seven miles north of Vienna, and the Fanto Vösendorf refinery six miles south of Vienna, were also hit.

Meanwhile, 8th Fighter Command Mustangs, Thunderbolts and Lightnings stalked the Luftwaffe on airdromes throughout France and dive-bombed railroad targets during the day.

Wreck 21 planes

At least 21 German planes were destroyed on the ground by bombing and strafing fighters.

The Lightning group shot up 11 locomotives, 50 railroad cars and a flak tower. While these attacks were carried out, more than 250 Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the 8th Air Force attacked enemy robot bomb installations in the Pas-de-Calais area, and U.S. medium bombers joined the furious fight for Caen.

Escorted by Thunderbolt fighters, the flying artillery laid a barrage before Caen with the loss of one Marauder from flak. They encountered no enemy aircraft over the immediate battle area.

Stream over straits

The attack in support of ground troops came as Southeast England coastal observers reported a steady procession of heavy and medium bombers crossing the straits toward the continent. Their destination was not known immediately.

RAF heavy bombers just before dawn today laid 2,300 long tons of bombs on the defenders of Caen, and the U.S. mediums continued the pressure by daylight. The tonnage dropped on the embattled Germans in the first eight hours of the offensive was probably already near the 3,000 figure.

Other Marauders during the morning corked two more German transportation bottlenecks. They reached inland to smash one railway bridge at Nogent-le-Roi, which crosses the Eure 70 miles southwest of Paris, and another over the Loire River at Saumur.

Today’s attack on the robot bomb installations near Pas-de-Calais came after it was revealed that Lancaster bombers had smashed one of the enemy’s largest flying bomb supply depots, at Saint-Leu-d’Esserent, near Paris, and that RAF Mosquito bombers hit Berlin and a synthetic oil plant in Germany’s Ruhr Valley with two-ton blockbusters.

Strong forces of Thunderbolts, Mustangs and Lightnings escorted the heavy U.S. bombers as they pounced at least seven bomb sites in northern France. Most of the targets were visible, although some formations encountered bad weather over the area.

Meet strong opposition

The British bombers, which carried out the night raid on robot bomb bases at Saint-Leu-d’Esserent, north of Paris, encountered strong aerial opposition from German fighters and intense ground fire.

Although the individual losses were not listed, the Air Ministry announced that 33 bombers were missing from the raids on Saint-Leu-d’Esserent, the Ruhr and Berlin.

As the weather cleared over the Channel, more than 1,000 planes headed across the coast after hundreds of four-engined Lancasters struck into the outskirts of Paris before dawn in another attack on German communication lines.

Hit railyard

The railyard at Vaires in the eastern outskirts of Paris was singled out by the Lancasters for the pre-dawn operations and returning pilots said the whole target area was covered with thick smoke.

Another RAF contingent hit flying bomb installations in northern France last night, as the Germans continued sending the robot weapons into southern England. Although Allied aerial attacks on the bomb bases have been reported in northern France, the Daily Herald reported the Germans were also launching the pilotless planes from Belgium.

1,100 heavies attack

The U.S. Strategic Air Force disclosed that more than 1,100 Flying Fortresses and Liberators were used in the raids on synthetic oil plants, aircraft factories and other important targets in 11 localities in the Leipzig area yesterday.

The heavy bombs and escorting fighters shot down 114 German planes during the attacks, the largest bag of enemy aircraft since May 19 when 125 were downed over Berlin. The Americans lost 36 bombers and six fighters.

It was announced at Rome that 51 German planes were shot down yesterday by Italian-based heavy bombers and fighters during raids on synthetic oil refineries at Blechhammer and Silesia.

Other Allied planes also hit the railyards at Zagreb, in Yugoslavia, and carried out widespread raids throughout northern Italy. In all the operations yesterday, 24 Allied bombers and three other planes were lost.

Nazi general reported arrested

London, England (UP) –
Marshal Karl Gerd von Rundstedt, former commander-in-chief of the German anti-invasion forces in the West, has been placed “under house arrest” at Adolf Hitler’s orders, a Radio Moscow broadcast said today.

Von Rundstedt was recently relieved of his command and was succeeded by Marshal Günther von Kluge.

Weather more of problem than enemy in invasion

If D-Day had been delayed two weeks, Allied fleet would have faced disaster
By Edward V. Roberts, United Press staff writer

Allied advanced command post, France – (July 7, delayed)
The weather is still more of a problem to the Allied navies in the invasion operations than enemy activities, a high naval sources indicated today.

He disclosed that if D-Day had been postponed two weeks, which would have been necessary if the June 6 plan had not functioned, Allied initial heavy landings would have been caught in a gale and almost certainly would have faced destruction.

The four-day gale came at a high-tide period and carried some craft so high on the beaches that refloating was a major problem, he said.

Some lost in storm

He revealed that a large number of Thames River barges, equipped with motors, were sent to the beaches for unloading tasks and a few of them were lost in the storm.

He said German naval units were no longer a threat in the invasion area, pointing out that the “Germans have only a few destroyers left. They have had a pretty shattering time.

After D-Day, he said, the Germans made no effort to send naval reinforcements to the Atlantic area, other than E-boats for harassing attacks.

Threat reduced

The torpedo boats have caused some trouble, he acknowledged, but Allied anti-E-boat activities have gradually reduced this threat. However, he stressed the threat was by no means gone, but pointed out that the situation was aided materially by the capture of Cherbourg.

Naval officials expect to have the Cherbourg Harbor, which the Nazis blasted, mined and booby-trapped, in service at an early date.

It was disclosed that repairs to the French port were going forward under the direction of Cdr. William A. Sullivan, naval salvage expert, who reconstructed the ports at Bizerte and Naples.

The project at Cherbourg is “almost 100% American,” the source said, with the British contributing only certain salvage gear.

Six Yanks given British medals

Brigadier of 29th Division decorated with DSO

U.S. 1st Army HQ, France (UP) – (July 7)
Over the hill where the guns were rumbling in battle, the sergeant was “otherwise occupied” and unable to be present when Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery pinned high British decorations on the chests of six Americans ranging from sergeant to major general.

But he arrived out of breath at the last minute and a special ceremony was staged in his honor before a battery of news cameras. The sergeant was Asa C. Ricks of Pharr, Texas, and he received the Military Medal of gallantry on D-Day, when he took command of his company after all officers had been killed or wounded, and defended a bridge.

Brigadier gets medal

Gen. Montgomery had already pinned the Military Medal on Sgt. Philip Streczyk of New Brunswick, New Jersey, who received the Distinguished Service Order the other day from Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower for this single-handed capture of a German machine-gun nest, an officer and 21 men on June 6.

Others and their decorations were: Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor (101st Airborne Division) of Arlington, Virginia, DSO for “fearless leadership” in the river crossing which outflanked Carentan.

A brigadier general of the 29th Infantry Division, DSO for personally leading a division in assault near Vierville.

A colonel, DSO for leading the assault at Vierville-sur-Mer inland beyond the beach under heavy fire.

Others unable to appear

Another colonel, DSO for total disregard of his own safety and calmness in the face of heavy enemy fire near Fréville.

Capt. Sam H. Ball Jr., of Texarkana, Texas, for leadership of a combat engineer battalion which cleared underwater obstacles near Vierville with heavy casualties, DSO.

These also received decorations but were unable to appear for the ceremony: Sgt. Leonard G. Lomell of Point Pleasant, New Jersey (who captured a machine-gun nest on D-Day, Military Medal), Infantry Capt. Richard J. O’Malley (Military Cross for assault on Montebourg) and Sgt. Norman Day (Distinguished Service Medal for great courage in getting vehicles ashore).