The Pittsburgh Press (December 23, 1945)
Remember last Christmas?
By Bertram Benedict
The world must never again have a wartime Christmas, said Franklin Delano Roosevelt, broadcasting from the White House lawn on Christmas Eve, 1944.
As he spoke, there was plenty of war for G.I. Joes all over the world. They were under heavy fire in eastern Belgium as they retreated in the Ardennes, in the surprise German counteroffensive (“Battle of the Bulge”) launched eight days before.
On other parts of the Western Front, the Allies celebrated Christmas along the Moselle and the Roer, still some distance from the Rhine, except in the extreme south. The Saar Basin was still in German hands.
In the Far East, there was heavy fighting on Leyte in the counter-invasion of the Philippines begun nine weeks previously. The American forces had cut the islands in two, but were not yet on Luzon.
On Christmas Day, American air forces heavily bombarded the Japanese positions on Iwo Jima.
In the dreary stalemate in Italy, the all but forgotten Allied soldiers still were south of the Arno.
Grecian civil war
The British were fighting Greeks in the Grecian civil war. Prime Minister Churchill and Foreign Minister Eden were spending Christmas in Athens, attempting to find a way to end the hostilities. Opposition to Mr. Churchill’s leadership was reported to be increasing among the British people.
V-bombs landed in northern England. In London, the “tubes” were shut down by a strike. British forces advanced in Burma on Christmas Day.
On the northern Russian front things were quiescent. On the southern Russian front, the Red Armies had reached the outskirts of Budapest.
The pope also broadcast on Christmas Eve. He called for an international organization to prevent future wars and future aggression. He warned that whole nations must not be punished for the sins of their leaders, and that no nation should be barred from any world organization.
Fifteen thousand American soldiers were among the 100,000 persons present when the pope celebrated Mass at midnight in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Big majority regained
In Washington, the 78th Congress had adjourned. The new Congress to convene after the first of the year would see a sizable Democratic majority restored in the House, where the alignment had been about 50-50. President Roosevelt was back, after resting for three weeks at Warm Springs from the rigors of the November election campaign.
The secretary of state was Edward R. Stettinius Jr.
The allocation of tires for passenger cars and trucks was to be reduced. Some foods which had been ration-free were to be rationed. some meats which had been taken off the ration list were to be re-rationed. In Arizona, 25 German prisoners of war celebrated Christmas Day by escaping.
The United States moved toward austerity in its wartime existence by banning horse-racing after the following January 3. Stock prices, after rising for a month, fell throughout the week before Christmas. Selective Service had announced that draft calls would be stepped up after the first of the year.