This day in the war in Europe 65 years ago

[syscom3]

7 OCTOBER 1944 SATURDAY

MEDITERRANEAN: USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack three targets in Vienna: 251 hit the Winterhafen oil storage facility, 88 hit Lobau oil refinery, and 24 bomb the Schwechat synthetic oil (benzine) facility; 15 aircraft are lost. One other bomber hits a target of opportunity. USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack ten targets: 157 bomb the Ersekujvar marshalling yard at Nove Zamky, 104 hit the marshalling yard at Komarom, 66 attack Gyor Airfield, 19 bomb the marshalling yard at Szombathely, seven hit the marshalling yard at Zalaegerszeg, three attacked the marshalling yard at Kormend, two bombed the railroad at Celldomolk and six aircraft bomb five targets of opportunity.

In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Armoured Division gets two companies of Frontier Force Rifles to the crest of Mt. Stanco, where they are out of communication with the main body and are forced back to Prada. In the IV Corps area, Task Force 92 tries in vain to reinforce troops driving on Mt. Cauala with tanks and tank destroyers, but the weapons are unable to cross swollen streams. In the II Corps area, the 133d Infantry Regiment of the 34th Infantry Division continues toward the Monterumici hill mass. An attack by 362d Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, on Mt. Castellari fails. The 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, takes Castelnuovo di Bisano but is still short of La Villa; the 337th Infantry Regiment is unable to advance from Hill 566. The 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, continues to their attack on Hill 587 and seizes the ridge below Il Falchetto Hill. In the British XIII Corps area, the 3d Brigade of the 1st Division maintains a weak hold on the slopes of Mt. Ceco. The 19th Brigade, Indian 8th Division, clears Mt. Cavallara.
In the British Eighth Army area, V Corps opens an attack across the Fiumicino River in the evening with a heavy volume of artillery support. The assault is preceded by light and fighter bomber strikes on German positions. The Indian 10th Division and the 46th Division make the attack while the 56th Division simulates an attack in the Savignano area. The 20th Brigade, Indian 10th Division, under heavy German pressure on Mt. Farneto, is unable to gain the initiative, but the 25th Brigade secures positions on the ridge between Roncofreddo and St. Lorenzo. The128th Brigade of the 46th Division seizes Montilgallo and pushes west toward Longiano and south toward St. Lorenzo.

Weather again grounds the medium bombers but USAAF Twelfth Air Force fighter-bombers hit guns and troop concentrations in the battle area, which extends over a wide front south of Bologna in the region of Monte Stanco, Monte Cauala, Monte Castellaro, and Monte Ceei, and communications to the north.

NORTHERN FRONT: The German 20.Gebirgsarmee (Generaloberst Lothar Rendulic) retreats in the face of strong Soviet attacks on the Carelian front. The Finnish Army starts an attack aimed to encircle and destroy the German troops in the town of Kemi, northern Finland.

WESTERN FRONT: In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the Germans strongly counterattack Company F of the 327th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Divsion, on the slag pile northwest of Maizia-res-les-Metz. While the Germans are thus engaged, Companies E and G bypass the slag pile and push into the town, clearing the northern half and gaining a foothold in the factory area. The Germans move up reinforcements at night. Wormeldange is captured by the 331st Infantry Regiment, 83d Infantry Division, and the region west of the Moselle River area is cleared. Task Force Warnock, employing the 1st Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, attacks to expand positions at Fort Driant, making limited progress at great cost; two platoons are cut off and destroyed. In the U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, Vagney falls to 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3d Infantry Division.

In the Canadian First Army"s II Corps area, the corps is now responsible for the first phase of operation to open Antwerp, Belgium, port, clearing Zuid Beveland as well as the Breskens Pocket south of the Schelde. The Canadian 3d Division gets reinforcements to north bank of Leopold Canal against strong resistance that prevents bridging.

During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 121 Lancasters and two Mosquitos to continue the attack on Walcheren Island and the sea walls which were breached near Flushing; 122 aircraft hit the target without loss.

HQ USAAF Ninth Air Force cancels previous instructions against bombing bridges and opens an attack on all bridges on the U.S. front, except those over the Rhine River. Three hundred plus B-26s and A-20s strike bridges at Arnhem, the Netherlands, and in Germany, bridges at Bullay and Dillingen, a supply depot at Euskirchen, and marshalling yard and warehouse at Hengelo and Trier; and fighters fly bomber escort, sweeps and armed reconnaissance in the forward areas, hitting railroads, barges, and troop concentrations, and support ground forces in eastern France and western Germany.

GERMANY: In the U.S. First Army's XIX Corps area, the 30th Infantry Division, assisted by Combat Command of the 2d Armored Divsion, makes substantial gains and takes about 1,000 prisoners: The 117th Infantry Regiment thrusts to Aldsdorf; Combat Command A reaches Baesweiler; the 119th Infantry Regiment, assisted by an air strike on Merkstein, reaches positions across the Wurm River from Kerkrade. This puts the 30th Infantry Division within about 3 miles of Wuerselen, where contact with the VII Corps is expected to be made.
In the VII Corps area, the 9th Infantry Division continues their attack in the Huertgen Forest toward Schmidt. Forward elements reach the edge of woods near Aermeter and Richelskaul, but the main body is held up far behind. In the V Corps area, the 28th and 4th Infantry Divisions advance to the line of departure for the West Wall offensive. In U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the 3d Battalion of the 329th Infantry Regiment, 83d Infantry Division, takes Echternach, on the west bank of the Sauer River, after nearly a week of fighting.

Mission 669: 1,422 B-17s and B-24s and 900 fighters are dispatched to hit oil installations and armored vehicle plants in Germany; with one exception, bombing is visual; 40 bombers and 11 fighters are lost; the escorting fighters claim 37-0-4 aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground. 153 hit the Henschel armored vehicle plant at Kassel, 141 hit the synthetic oil facility at Politz, 129 bomb the Zellerfeld explosive factory at Clausthal, 115 bomb the I. G. Farben synthetic oil refinery at Merseberg, 91 bomb the synthetic oil refinery at Lutzkendorf, 87 attack the Braunkohle synthetic oil refinery at Bohlen, 67 hit the Altenbauna aircraft engine factory at Kassel, 63 bomb the Buchau/Krupp armored vehicle factory at Magdeburg, 59 each bomb the Schwartzhelde synthetic oil refinery at Ruhland and the ordnance depot at Bielefeld, 47 hit the aviation repair facility at Zwickau while 35 bomb the motor vehicle factory at Zwickau, 30 hit the Friedrichstrasse industrial area in Dresden, 27 bomb the Nordhausen Airfield, 25 attack Schneeburg, 24 bomb the Freiburg marshalling yard, 13 each bomb Wurzen and an oil refinery at Rositz, 12 each bomb Roszla and marshalling yards at Altenburg and Gera, ten each attacked Munster Airfield and the Steinfort marshalling yard at Bergen, and six aircraft attacks individual targets.

During the day, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 351 aircraft, 251 Halifaxes, 90 Lancasters and ten Mosquitos, to bomb the small German town of Kleve which, together with Emmerich, stands on the approach routes by which German units could threaten the vulnerable Allied right flank near Nijmegen which had been left exposed by the failure of Operation Market Garden; 339 bomb the target with the loss of two Halifaxes.
Visibility was clear and the center and north of the town were heavily bombed, although some crews bombed too early and their loads actually fell in the Netherlands near Nijmegen. A second mission consisting of 340 Lancasters and ten Mosquitos carries out an even more accurate attack on Emmerich; 341 aircraft hit the target with the loss of three Lancasters.

Another target was the Kembs Dam. This was another No 617 Squadron special operation. The Kembs Dam on the Rhine, just north of Basle, held back a vast quantity of water and it was feared that the Germans would release this to flood the Rhine valley near Mulhouse, a few miles north, should the American and French troops in that area attempt an advance. The Squadron was asked to destroy the lock gates of the dam. Thirteen Lancasters were dispatched. Seven aircraft were to bomb from 8,000 feet and draw the flak, while the other six would come in below 1,000 feet and attempt to place their Tallboys, with delayed fuses, alongside the gates.
USAAF Eighth Air Force P-51s would attempt to suppress flak positions during the attack. The operation went according to plan with 12 Lancasters attacking the target. The gates were destroyed but two Lancasters from the low force were shot down by flak. Radio listening stations in England hear the German controllers plotting the supposed force "vigorously," but few night fighters are scrambled. Mosquito Intruders and Serrate aircraft, which are part of the No 100 Group force, then fly on towards Bremen and claim a Bf110 destroyed and a Ju 88 damaged.

One USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bomber attacks the marshalling yard at Pec.

 

[syscom3]

8 OCTOBER 1944 SUNDAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The Canadian minesweeper HMCS 'Mulgrave' (J 313) strikes a mine in the English Channel off Le Havre, France, and is heavily damaged. She is beached and later refloated and towed back to Portsmouth, England, but is never repaired.

NORTHERN FRONT: Fighting in both Kemi and Tornio comes to an end today as the Germans withdraw, leaving behind two encircled battalions. Some Germans manage to reach their own lines in groups and individually, but the rest are taken POWs. Kemi and Tornio are not the last areas held by the Germans in Finland -- there still are lots of stiff fighting to do. The last German forces didn't leave the Finnish territory until late April 1945.

WESTERN FRONT: In U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the 2d Battalion, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, fights from house to house within Metz for some time to come without clearing the rest of the town. Confused and bitter fighting continues at Fort Driant without much change in positions. In XII Corps area, after an hour of preparatory bombardment, corps begins a concerted drive toward the Seille River at 0615 hours.
The 6th Armored Division, making the main effort, takes Moivron, where it is relieved by the 80th Infantry Division; in conjunction with the 80th Infantry Division, they envelop and take Jeandelincourt, clear Bois de Chenicourt, though the Germans retain the town of Chenicourt, and seize Arraye-et-Han. To the left, 80th Infantry Division's 318th Infantry Regiment takes Manoncourt; the 319th Infantry seizes, Mt Toulon, and Sivry; and the 317th Infantry clears Mt St Jean. The 35th Infantry Division closes up the Seille River on its left flank, taking Ajoncourt and Fossieux; USAAF Ninth Air Force P-47s assist with attacks on the heights between Moivron and Jeandelincourt. In U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, the 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3d Infantry Division moves from Vagney northeast to Sapois. In the French First Army's II Corps area, the 3d Algerian Division gains the crest of Longegoutte heights after several days of bitter fighting.

A revision and elaboration (from 28 September-8 October) of the USAAF Ninth Air Force interdiction program against railroads connected with the Rhine River results in the issuance of a new interdiction program; it includes rail lines further to the east and requires attacks by all four Tactical Air Commands of the Ninth Air Force, plus aid from the British Second Tactical Air Force.
Meanwhile, 300+ Ninth Air Force B-26s and A-20s, with fighter escort, hit strong points and bridges over wide areas of eastern France and western Germany; and fighters support ground forces of the US VII, XV, XIX, and XX Corps in eastern France and western Germany, and attack airfields, railroads, and numerous military targets in forward areas.

GERMANY: In U.S. First Army's XIX Corps area, the 30th Infantry Division's hopes of making a speedy junction with the VII Corps at Wuerselen arc soon dashed by German opposition on the east flank. The 119th Infantry Regiment, following the Wurm River valley southward, gets 1.5 miles beyond Herzogenrath; the 120th Infantry, whose relief at Kerkrade has been completed by the 29th Infantry Division, is committed between the 119th and 117th Infantry Regiments and takes two hamlets; the 117th Infantry, upon reaching the railroad west of Mariadorf, is counterattacked strongly by fresh German forces from Mariadorf, part of whom push to Alsdorf, where they are halted. Both sides suffer heavy losses and the 117th Infantry pulls back to the edge of Alsdorf.
Combat Command A, 2d Armored Division, seizes Oidtweiler, northeast of Alsdorf. In the VII Corps area, the 1st Infantry Division begins an attack to encircle Aachen in conjunction with XIX Corps: while the 18th Infantry Regiment pushes northward through Verlautenheide, the 26th Infantry is getting into position to drive through the heart of the city from east; the 16th Infantry holds a defensive line near Eilendorf. Tanks and tank destroyers arrive by nightfall to help the assault regiments of the 9th Infantry Division to break out of the Huertgen Forest toward Schmidt. In the V Corps area, the 28th Infantry Division encounters outlying positions of the German's West Wall defenses.

MEDITERRANEAN: British forces from Araxos have reconnoitered along the north coast of the Peloponnesus to Corinth, which is free of Germans; elements of 9 Commando are in Nauplia, on the Gulf of Nauplia south of Corinth.

In the U.S. Fifth Army's IV Corps area, Task Force 92 reaches the slopes of Mt. Cauala but is forced back by German fire. In the II Corps area, the 34th Infantry Division continues their attack on the Monterumici hill mass, the 135th Infantry Regiment working slowly forward from the and the 133d from west. The 362d Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, gets elements to the crest of Mt. Castellari, during the night of 8/9 October; the 361st Infantry Regiment makes substantial progress to the east, clearing the villages east of Mt. Castellari, cutting Highway 65 at La Fortuna, and pushing to the edge of the Livergnano escarpment, a feature strongly favored by nature for defense. The 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, forces the Germans back to Mt. delle Formiche; the 337th Infantry is still unable to progress appreciably from Hill 566. The 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, upon reaching crest of Hill 587, finds it undefended and elements seize II Faichetto Hill. In the British XIII Corps area, the 3d Brigade of the 1st Division gains the summit of Mt. Ceco, but the Germans retains the heights nearby. On the right flank of the corps, the 6th Armoured Division thrusts along Highway 67 to the edge of Portico but cannot force an entrance; elements probe toward Tredozio. In the British Eighth Army's V Corps area, since the 20th Brigade of the Indian 10th Division is still held up on Mt. Farneto, the 10th Brigade is committed to outflank the Germans, some elements pressing toward Montecodruzzo on the left and others taking St. Paola on the right. The Indian 25th Brigade takes St. Lorenzo and drives toward Roncofreddo. The 46th Division is working toward Longiano.

Bad weather forces USAAF heavy and medium bombers to cancel missions; XII Fighter Command fighters are airborne to support ground forces over the battle area and abort all missions.

NORTH AMERICA: Wendell Lewis Willkie, the Republican candidate in the 1940 Presidential election, dies in New York City of complications from an August heart attack. He is 50-years-old.

 

[syscom3]

9 OCTOBER 1944 MONDAY

WESTERN FRONT: In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, it is decided to break off costly action against Fort Driant. Indecisive fighting continues within Metz. In XII Corps area, Combat Command A of the 6th Armored Division, attacking through Combat Command B attempts to take the final objective of the division, a plateau west of Latricourt; elements clear the woods southwest of Latricourt but the column to right comes under heavy fire from Chenicourt and cannot reach Latricourt. The Germans retain Latricourt and from time to time mount small, ineffective counterattacks. German force breaks into Fossieux, where it is engaged by the 35th Infantry Division. Corps front is largely quiet for rest of month and early days of November. Regrouping and rotation of front-line troops is thus possible. In the U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps area, the 79th Infantry Division makes all-out effort to clear the rest of Foret de Parroy, gaining the main road junction in center and thereby making the German positions untenable. The Germans withdraw from the forest after nightfall. In the French 1st Army's II Corps area, the 3d Algerian Division forces the Moselotte River in the Thiafosse-Saulxures region and takes the village of Trougemont.

In the Canadian First Army area, II Corps continues clearing the Breskens Pocket. An amphibious assault force of the Canadian 3rd Division lands at the east end of the pocket, taking the Germans by surprise and establishing a bridgehead; other elements of the division expand the holdings north of the Leopold Canal in the Maldegem area.

The 4th Armoured Division exerts pressure on German positions at the east end of the canal. The Germans continue a vigorous defense of the Zuid Beveland causeway, holding the 2d Division to slight gains in the Woensdrecht area.

GERMANY: In the U.S. First Army's XIX Corps area, the 119th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division drives through Bardenberg to North Wuerselen; the 120th is kept from Euchen and Beck, villages astride road to Bardenbcrg, by a German force crossing its front en route to Bardenberg; the 117th clears Schaufenberg and tries unsuccessfully to reach Mariadorf, then is authorized to go on the defensive in the Alsdorf-Schaufenberg region. At night, a German force reaches Bardenberg and routs the small holding force of the 119th Infantry, isolating the main body of that regiment in North Wuerselen; 119th Infantry Regiment reserves attempt to regain Bardenberg from the north but are stopped at the village. In VII Corps area, the 1st Infantry Division continues operations against Aachen. The 9th Infantry Division attacks to break out of Huertgen Forest; assisted by tanks, the forward battalion of the 60th Infantry Regiment emerges in the Richelskaul area and two platoons of the 39th Infantry Regiment at Wittscheidt. In the V Corps area, a planned attack on West Wall is postponed until 11 October.

The Soviet Army reaches the Baltic coast, encircling Memel, the northernmost city in Germany.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 670: 1,110 B-17s and B-24s and 878 fighters are dispatched to make pathfinder force attacks on industrial targets in southern and central Germany; one B-24 is lost:
- B-17 targets: (1) 329 B-17 hit the secondary target, ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt; one other hit a target of opportunity; escort is provided by 338 P-51 Mustangs. (2) 211 bomb the marshalling yard at Mainz and 148 hit the aircraft engine plant at Gustavsburg; escort is provided by 202 Ninth Air Force P-38s and P-47s.
- B-24 targets: 360 bomb the Moselhit marshalling yard at Koblenz and hits a target of opportunity; one B-24 is lost. Escort is provided by 271 P-51 Mustangs which claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground. Captain Ken L. Gilbert landed the 93d Bombardment Group (Heavy) B-24 "Missouri Sue," completing his 75th combat mission. He flew two consecutive combat tours in a six-month period, beginning his first tour on 12 April 44 and completing it on 12 July 44. This is an Eighth Air Force record that is believed to be unsurpassed in WW II.

During the night of 9/10 October, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 435 aircraft, 375 Halifaxes, 40 Lancasters and 20 Mosquitos, to bomb Bochum; 404 actually bomb the target with the loss of five aircraft, four Halifaxes and a Lancaster.. This raid is not successful. The target area is covered by cloud and the bombing is scattered. In a second mission, 46 Mosquitos bomb Wilhelmshaven without loss; other targets hit during the night by Mosquitos are four aircraft bombing Saarbrucken , three to Krefeld and three to Lohausen Airfield at Dusseldorf.

MEDITERRANEAN: Aircraft of the RAF's No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack three airfields in the Athens area during the night of 9/10 October without loss: ten bomb Kalamaki Airfield, six hit Tatoi Airfield and three attack Eleusis Airfield.

In the U.S. Fifth Army IV Corps area, Task Force 92 pushes to the top of Mt. Cauala without opposition but later in the day is forced to withdraw. The next two days are devoted to preparations for another assault. Regimental Combat Team 6 of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, pushing northward along the Serchio River, halts near Barga to avoid a possible German counterattack. In II Corps area, 34th Infantry Division continues to make slow progress against the Monterumici hill mass. The 91st Infantry Division repels a counterattack from Livergnano, mops up, and prepares for a co-ordinated effort against the formidable Livergnano escarpment: Company K of the 361st Infantry Regiment reconnoiters to the edge of Livergnano, where it is cut off from the main body; Companies E and G move to positions above Bigallo and are pinned down. The 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, now well ahead of 337th, prepares to attack Mt. delle Formiche in conjunction with attack of the 91st Infantry Division; 1st Battalion outflanks La Villa. The 337th Infantry Regiment prepares for a full-scale effort against Hill 578, the peak of Monterenzio hill mass. The 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, begins clearing ridge leading to Mt. delle Tombe; the 351st Infantry Regiment reaches the edge of Gesso. In the British XIII Corps area, the 78th Division, reinforced, takes responsibility for Mt. Battaglia and Mt. Cappello, on the left flank of the corps; the 1st Guards Brigade, 6th Armoured Division, remains on Mt. Battaglia. In the British Eighth Army area, X Corps, upon regrouping in connection with the arrival of 1st Armoured Division headquarters, pursues retreating Germans northward along Highway 71; reconnaissance elements find Mt. Castello and Mercato Saraceno clear. In the V Corps area, hard fighting develops at St. Paola as the Germans make an unsuccessful attempt to recover it.

Weather again grounds the USAAF heavy and medium bombers. USAAF Twelfth Air Force fighter-bombers, and fighters hit roads, rail crossing, transport and other targets in the Bologna and Sabbioso areas.

NORTH AMERICA: The Dumbarton Oaks Conference consisting of representatives from the United States, the British Commonwealth, and the Soviet Union, which began meeting in Washington, D.C. on 21 August, concludes.
The purpose of the conference is to plan for the establishment of the United Nations. The objective of the UN is to replace the League of Nations with a more effective organization to preserve world peace and security. The UN proposal is officially unveiled today.

EASTERN FRONT: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden arrive in Moscow to discuss the political future of Eastern Europe. The London based, exiled Polish government is present for some of the discussions. They achieve no concessions. Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin insists that Bulgaria and Romania are part of a Soviet sphere of influence, while Greece is in the British sphere. In Hungary and Yugoslavia influence is to be divided. This conference will last through 20 October.

 

[syscom3]

10 OCTOBER 1944 TUESDAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN: 'U-2331' (Type XXIII) sank near Hela, Poland, at approximate position 54.00N, 18.00E, in an accident. Four of the 19 crewmen survive. The boat is raised and towed to Gotenhafen, further details unknown.

NORTHERN FRONT: In retaliation for Finland's "ase and unhonourable acts, "German Colonel-General Lothar Rendulic, commander of the 20th Mountain Army, orders that all state owned buildings at Rovaniemi, the largest city of Finnish Lappland, be destroyed. This results in almost complete destruction of the center of the city. Even if the Germans cause widespread destruction in some parts of northern Finland, it has to be stressed that the civilian population (what is left of it after evacuations to Sweden) is spared. After the Finnish invasion of Tornio some hostages are taken, but they are not maltreated and are soon released.

WESTERN FRONT: In the U.S. Third Army area's XII Corps area, the 35th Infantry Division captures Fossieux.
In the French First Army area, the II Corps expands the Moselotte bridgehead to Planois, on the east-west road to La Bresse. Hopes of a quick lateral thrust to secure that communications center are dashed when II Corps is asked to extend northward to the line Fougerolles-Remiremont-Le Tholy-Gerardmer, effective on 14 October, to relieve the southern flank units of U.S. Seventh Army. No further effort is made at this time to extend holdings along north bank of the Moselotte River.

First Lieutenant Charles "Chuck" Yeager, 363d Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, USAAF Eighth Air Force, downs five Bf 109s (bringing his total to 6.5) near Assen at about 1100 hours. Yeager ends the war with 11.5 kills.

GERMANY: In the U.S. First Army's XIX Corps area, after further efforts to clear Bardenberg, a reserve battalion of the 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, withdraws at night to permit the shelling of the Germans there; the 120th Infantry Regiment seizes the Birk crossroads, which controls the road to Bardenberg, thus jeopardizing German forces at Bardenberg; the 30th Infantry Division claims 20 German tanks during fighting yesterday and today. In the VII Corps area, so favorable do the prospects of closing the Aachen gap appear that 1st Infantry Division delivers an ultimatum calling for surrender of the city within 24 hours; the ultimatum states, "Surrender or retreat within 24 hours or the city will be blasted to bits."

In the Huertgen Forest, the Germans overrun the two forward platoons of the 39th Infantry Regiment of 9th Infantry Division in the Wittscheidt area early in day; the 39th Infantry Regiment later recovers lost ground and takes Germeter without opposition; the 60th Infantry Regiment units re-enter the woods and seize a road junction almost 1 mile southwest of Richelskaul.

During the night of 10/11 October, RAF Bomber Command sends Mosquitos to hit six targets: 47 bomb Cologne, six bomb the marshalling yard (M/Y) at Pforzheim, five each bomb Duisburg and the M/Y at Aschaffenburg, two bomb Lohausen Airfield at Dusseldorf, and one bombs the city of Aschaffenburg .

MEDITERRANEAN: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Armoured Division makes another futile attempt to take Mt. Stanco, getting almost to the crest before being driven back. The II Corps opens the third phase of an offensive toward Bologna. The 34th Infantry Division tries in vain to outflank the Monterumici hill mass. In the 91st Infantry Division zone, the 361st Infantry Regiment makes it's main effort against the Livergnano escarpment without appreciable gains. Efforts to relieve Company K in Livergnano fail; most of the company is captured by the Germans. The 2d Battalion of the 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division attacks lofty Mt. delle Formiche but, although strongly supported by air and artillery, is stopped short of the crest; The 337th, reinforced by the 1st Battalion of the 338th, makes some progress toward Hill 578 of Monterenzio hill mass.

In the British XIII Corps area, the Indian 8th Division gains positions near top of Mt. Casalino.
In the British Eighth Army's V Corps area, German opposition along the Fiumicino River collapses with the capture of Spaccato by the Indian 10th Division. The 46th Division takes Longiano and La Crocetta. The Canadian I Corps regroups for a drive across the Fiumicino River. Reconnaissance elements of the 1st Division cross at Savignano di Romagna without opposition; bridging is begun at the crossing site.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are again grounded due to weather; fighter-bombers, though also hampered by weather, manage to closely support ground forces, particularly at Monte delle Formiche and attack communications north of the battle area in the Northern Apennines. One hundred thirty five USAAF Fifteenth Air Forces B-17s and B-24s attack five transportation targets: 68 bomb the marshalling yard (M/Y) at Mestre, 33 attack the M/Y at Treviso, 31 hit the railroad bridge at Nervesa, 30 hit the railroad bridge at Piave Ponte di Piave, and one hits a target of opportunity. About 90 fighters provide support in the Treviso area. Over 350+ other B-17s and B-24s are forced to abort the mission because of weather.

During the night of 10/11 October, 33 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack the East marshalling yard at Verona.

EASTERN FRONT: The Soviet Army's First Baltic Front reaches the Baltic Sea near Memel and cuts off 26 German divisions in northern Lithuania and Latvia. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler refuses to evacuate the beleaguered army, which remains isolated until war's end.

Eight hundred Gypsy children, including more than 100 boys between 9 and 14 years old, are gassed at Auschwitz.

Forces of the Soviet Third Ukrainian Front cut the Nis-Belgrade railroad at Velika Plana.

 

[Njaco]

11 OCTOBER 1944 WEDNESDAY

MEDITERRANEAN: The 1st Canadian Infantry Division returns to active duty in Italy. The 5th Canadian Armoured Division in Italy is put into reserve. The US 91st Division of US 2nd Corps (part of US 5th Army) encounters heavy German resistance at Livergnano. Forces of the British 8th Army capture Lorenzo.

In Italy, despite bad weather US Twelfth Air Force medium bombers attack bridges and supply dumps in the Po Valley; fighter- bombers and fighters closely support ground forces in the Apennine Mountains between Florence and Bologna where fierce fighting rages on Monte delle Formiche, Livergnano escarpment, Monte delle Tombe, Gesso ridge, and Monte Battaglia; also hit are communications behind the battle area and as far W and N as Genoa, Turin, and Savona; the detachments of the 16th and 35th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 64th Troop Carrier Group, operating from Istres, France returns to base at Ciampino with C-47s.

GERMANY: German Colonel Baron Alexis von Roenne is executed by Nazi authorities for treason. He was the head of German intelligence, and had convinced Adolf Hitler that the Allied landing would be in the Pas de Calais.

46 RAF Mosquitos to Berlin, 8 to Wiesbaden and 4 to Heilbronn. 1 aircraft lost from the Berlin raid.

US Eighth Air Force: 2 missions are flown. Mission 672: 135 B-17s are dispatched to bomb the Wesseling synthetic oil plant (57); 73 others hit the secondary, the Koblenz marshalling yard; 4 B-17s are lost and 61 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 38 MIA. Escort is provided by 135 of 139 P-47s; 1 P-47 is lost. Mission 673: 9 aircraft drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

WESTERN FRONT: In the Scheldt estuary, Canadian 1st Army forces cut the causeway between the mainland and Beveland and Walcheren. The Canadian Highland Light Infantry reaches the village of Biervliet, Holland. German forces had vacated the town, heading south. Around Aachen, elements of US 19th Corps (part of US 1st Army) capture Bardenburg. Around Metz, forces of US 3rd Army capture Parroy after clear the nearby Foret de Parroy.

160 RAF Lancasters and 20 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups attacked the Fort Frederik Hendrik battery position at Breskens, on the south bank of the Scheldt, and 115 Lancasters of No 5 Group attacked guns near Flushing on the north bank. Both attacks started well but more than half of the Breskens force had to abandon the raid because their target was covered by smoke and dust. Two large explosions were seen at Flushing. 1 Lancaster lost from the Breskens raid.

61 RAF Lancasters and 2 Mosquitos of No 5 Group attempted to breach the sea walls at Veere on the northern coast of Walcheren Island but were not successful. No aircraft lost.

US Ninth Air Force: In France, 99 B-26s and A-20s, with fighter escort, sent to bomb the Camp-de-Bitche military camp are recalled when Pathfinder equipment malfunctions and weather prevents visual bombing. In Germany, fighters fly armed reconnaissance, cut rail lines in the Aachen- Rhine area, and support the US VII and XIX Corps in the Aachen area, and US XII, XV, and XX Corps in the Metz-Saarlautern area. In Luxembourg, the 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Montrevil, France to Sandweiler with F-6s.

EASTERN FRONT: In Hungary, troops of the Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front cross the Tisza River around Szeged and capture the town. To the east, there is heavy fighting around Debrecen and Cluj is captured during the day.

In Austria, about 180 US Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escort, bomb Vienna S ordnance depot, Graz motor works, S and SW areas of Vienna, the towns of Hirtenberg and Enzesfeld, the marshalling yard at Zeltweg, the Dravograd, Yugoslavia railroad bridge on the Yugoslav-Hungarian boundary, and in Italy, railroad and highway bridges at Cesara, and Trieste harbor; 250+ heavy bombers fail to complete missions because of bad weather; 18 P-51s strafe targets in the Bratislava, Czechoslovakia and Budapest, Hungary areas, including supply dumps, and trains and destroy 17 airplanes at Esztergom landing ground, Hungary; 37 other P-51s strafe Prostejov Airfield, Czechoslovakia and targets of opportunity in the surrounding area, destroying nearly 30 aircraft and trucks, locomotives, and railroad cars.

 

[Njaco]

12 OCTOBER 1944 THURSDAY

GERMANY: US Eighth Air Force: 2 missions are flown. Mission 674: 552 bombers and 514 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany; they claim 18-3-1 aircraft; 3 bombers and 5 fighters are lost: 1. Weather prevents the 290 B-24s dispatched to hit the primaries at Vechta, Achmer, Rheine and Varrelbusch; PFF means were used to hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Osnabruck (267); 5 others hit Diepholz Airfield, a target of opportunity; 2 B-24s are lost and 67 damaged; 19 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 210 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-1-0 aircraft in the air. 2. 262 B-17s are dispatched to aviation industries at Bremen (267) bombing visually; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 59 damaged. 7 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 273 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 17-2-1 aircraft; 5 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA). Mission 675: 8 aircraft are dispatched to drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night; 2 B-24s are lost.

Adolf Hitler orders that London be the sole British target of V-2 rockets.

111 RAF Halifaxes and 26 Lancasters of Nos 6 and 8 Groups attacked the oil plant at Wanne-Eickel. A direct hit on a storage tank early in the raid produced dense cloud and smoke which hindered later bombing. A German report says that the refinery itself was not seriously damaged but that the GAVEG chemical factory was destroyed; it is possible that the bombers were aiming at the wrong target.

86 RAF Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups attacked a gun battery near Breskens and destroyed 2 of the 4 gun positions. No aircraft lost.

Mosquitos went to bomb the following targets: Hamburg, 52 aircraft; Düsseldorf and Wiesbaden, 6 aircraft each; Koblenz, 4 aircraft; Schweinfurt, 2 aircraft. 1 aircraft lost from the Hamburg raid.

The jets of Kommando Nowotny are scrambled from Achmer with the new 'long-nose' Fw 190Ds of JG 54's "Wurger Staffel", flying cover. Six Focke-Wulfs are shot down but Oblt. Bley and Lt. Lennartz each claim a USAAF P-51 with their Me 262s. Upon returning to base, the machines of both pilots are damaged in forced landings, reducing the number of available fighters.

WESTERN FRONT: US Ninth Air Force: HQ Ninth AF is delegated administrative (in addition to operational) control over HQ XII Tactical Air Command hitherto assumed by US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF). Advanced HQ XIX Tactical Air Command arrives at Nancy, France, following the advance of the US Third Army. Almost 250 B-26s and A-20s bomb Camp-de-Bitche, France military camp, rail bridges at Grevenbroich and Ahrweiler, Germany, city areas of Langerwehe and Aldenhoven, Germany, and Venraij, the Netherlands, and various targets of opportunity; escorting fighters also fly armed reconnaissance and rail cutting in the Dusseldorf and Aachen, Germany and Belfort, France areas, and support the VIII, XII, XV, and XX Corps in E France and W Germany. In France, the 14th Liaison Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command (attached to Third Army), moves from Gussainville to Nancy with L-5s; the 365th, 366th and 367th Fighter Squadrons, 358th Fighter Group, based at Vitry-le-Francois, begins operating from St Dizier with P-47s; the 586th and 587th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 394th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Bricy to Cambrai/Niergnies with B-26s.

The Canadian 8th Brigade crosses the Scheldt, landing south-east of Hoofdplaat, then advances south to create a land route for a supply line.

MEDITERRANEAN: US Fifteenth Air Force:Around 700 B-17s and B-24s, with fighter support, pound ammunition and fuel dumps and depots, bivouac area, barracks, vehicle repair shop, munitions factory and targets of opportunity in the Bologna, Italy area (Operation PANCAKE) supporting the US Fifth Army offensive in that sector. 160 P-51s strafe the mainline railroad and Danube River traffic in the Vienna, Austria-Gyor, Hungary-Budapest, Hungary areas and strafe Seregelyes Airfield, Hungary, disrupting traffic and destroying many enemy airplanes.

US Twelfth Air Force: In Italy, medium bombers, supporting the US Fifth Army, attack communications, supply dumps, and bivouac and barracks areas S of Bologna; fighter-bombers and XII Fighter Command fighters, mainly in support of the US Fifth Army, blast supply dumps, gun positions, troop concentrations, and communications in the high country S of of Bologna while the Desert Air Force (DAF) gives similar support to the British Eighth Army in the Rimini area.

In Greece Allied paratroops land at Athens airfield. Other British forces land on Corfu. German forces evacuate the Piraeus.

EASTERN FRONT: In Hungary, Oradea is captured by Soviet forces of 2nd Ukrainian Front. The battle for Debrecen continues. South of Szeged, Yugoslavian partisans and Soviet forces capture Subotica in a joint attack.

 

[Njaco]

13 OCTOBER 1944 FRIDAY

WESTERN FRONT: The Canadian North Novas take Hoofdplatt, after two days fighting with heavy casualties. Elements of British 8th Corps (part of British 2nd Army) launch attacks toward Venlo from Nymegen. Around Aachen, US 1st Division of US 19th Corps (part of US 1st Army) enters the city from the east and is engaged in street fighting.

The first German V1 and V2 attacks land on the port of Antwerp.

(US Ninth Air Force): 9th Bombardment Division bombers hit bridges at Saarlouis, France, Roermond and Venlo, the Netherlands, and Euskirchen and Mayen, Germany, plus several targets of opportunity. Escorting fighters also fly armed reconnaissance over the areas of Metz, France and extensively over W Germany, attacking railroads and other targets, and support the US First, Third, and Seventh Armies. In France, HQ 323d Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 453d, 454th, 455th and 456th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Chartres to Laon/Athies with B-26s; the 425th Night Fighter Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command, moves from Coulommiers to Prosnes with P-61s.

French Forces of the Interior become part of the regular French army.

MEDITERRANEAN: To the west, forces of US 5th Army continue fighting south of Bologna. In the east, the British 46th Division, part of British 5th Corps (part of British 8th Army), captures Carpineta.

In Greece, Advance elements of a joint British-Greek force land at Piraeus. British forces occupy Athens and the island of Corfu in the Adriatic.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather cancels all medium bomber operations except for attacks on 4 targets (bridges and supply dumps) in the battle area S of Bologna; fighter-bombers support US Fifth Army operations more successfully in the area, hitting gun emplacements, troop concentrations, supply dumps, bridges, and vehicles; the 23d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group [attached to 3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance)] moves from Valence, France to Malignano with F-5s.

EASTERN FRONT: In Latvia, elements of the Soviet 2nd and 3rd Baltic Fronts break through the German defensive positions around Riga, the capital city. During the day, Soviet forces reach the outskirts of the city. German troops evacuate Riga and form what was to become known as the Kurland pocket.

(US Fifteenth Air Force):650+ fighter escorted B-17s and B-24s bomb oil refineries at Blechhammer, Germany and Vienna/Floridsdorf, Austria; motor works, locomotive shops, and marshalling yard at Vienna and Graz, Austria; Banhida, Szekesfehervar and Papa, Hungary; and Hranice and Mezirici, Czechoslovakia; some of the escorting fighters strafe railroads, roads, and an airfield in the areas of Balaton Lake, Hungary; Neusiedler Lake and Vienna, Austria; and Prostejov, Czechoslovakia; other fighters strafe roads, railroads, and Danube River traffic in the Vienna-Gyor, Hungary- Budapest, Hungary areas.

GERMANY: 57 RAF Mosquitos to Cologne and 4 to Stuttgart. No aircraft lost. A report from Cologne shows that bombs were scattered across the city, causing mostly minor damage.

Two more Me 262s of Kommando Nowotny are destroyed, again decreasing the available machines at Achmer. Because of this and recent losses, Major Nowotny imposes a two week ban on operational flying until Messerschmitt representatives can evaluate the problems of the fighter jet.

 

[Njaco]

14 OCTOBER 1944 SATURDAY

WESTERN FRONT: Lead elements of Canadian 2nd Corps (part of Canadian 1st Army) link up with the landing forces at Breskens.

(US Ninth Air Force): Bad weather grounds the A-20s and B-26s; fighters escort a leaflet mission, fly sweeps and rail cutting operations, armed reconnaissance over E France and W Germany, and support the US Third Army.

MEDITERRANEAN: In Greece Allied forces occupy Athens and the Piraeus. Further British forces land on Corfu. The British 3rd Corps is about to land at Piraeus. 55 P-38s escort MATAF C-47s carrying airborne forces to Megara Airfield, Greece.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather cancels all medium bomber operations; 100+ fighters and fighter-bombers pound troop concentrations, gun positions, supplies, bridges, roads, and rail lines S, of Bologna where hard fighting is taking place in the Monterumici, Livergnano, and Gesso ridge areas.

EASTERN FRONT: (US Fifteenth Air Force):317 B-17s and B-24s hampered by bad weather, bomb oil refineries at Blechhammer and Odertal, Germany, and several targets of opportunity including marshalling yards at Bratislava and Nove Zamky, Czechoslovakia, and in Hungary, Komarom and the Nove Zamky railroad bridges, Borzavar industrial area, and Ugod military garrison; escorting fighters strafe airfields, rail and road traffic and other targets of opportunity in the target areas; 52 B-24s bomb a railroad bridge and marshalling yard at Maribor, Yugoslavia; 54 P-51s on a strafing mission in the Balaton Lake area of Hungary attack airfields at Szekesfehervar and Seregelyes.

GERMANY: Feldmarschall Erwin Rommel is visited at home by Nazi government representatives. He is suspected of complicity in the July 20th plot to assassinate Hitler. Rommel is given the choice of a People's Court trial, or taking poison. Feldmarschall Rommel commits suicide to save his family from disgrace. His death is publicly announced as resulting from wounds.

OPERATION HURRICANE. This raid was part of a special operation which has received little mention in the history books. On 13 October, Sir Arthur Harris received the directive for Operation Hurricane: 'In order to demonstrate to the enemy in Germany generally the overwhelming superiority of the Allied Air Forces in this theatre ... the intention is to apply within the shortest practical period the maximum effort of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command and the VIIIth United States Bomber Command against objectives in the densely populated Ruhr.' Bomber Command had probably been forewarned of the directive because it was able to mount the first part of the operation soon after first light on 14 October. No heavy bombers had flown on operations for 48 hours and 1,013 aircraft - 519 Lancasters, 474 Halifaxes and 20 Mosquitos - were dispatched to Duisburg with RAF fighters providing an escort. 957 bombers dropped 3,574 tons of high explosive and 820 tons of incendiaries on Duisburg. 14 aircraft were lost - 13 Lancasters and 1 Halifax; it is probable that the Lancasters provided the early waves of the raid and drew the attention of the German flak before the flak positions were overwhelmed by the bombing. For their part in Operation Hurricane, the American Eighth Air Force dispatched 1,251 heavy bombers escorted by 749 fighters. More than 1,000 of the American heavies bombed targets in the Cologne area. American casualties were 5 heavy bombers and 1 fighter. No Luftwaffe aircraft were seen.

During the night, Bomber Command continued Operation Hurricane by dispatching 1,005 aircraft - 498 Lancasters, 468 Halifaxes, 39 Mosquitos - to attack Duisburg again in 2 forces 2 hours apart. 941 aircraft dropped 4,040 tons of high explosive and 500 tons of incendiaries during the night. 5 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes were lost. Nearly 9,000 tons of bombs had thus fallen on Duisburg in less than 48 hours. Local reports are difficult to obtain. The Duisburg Stadtarchiv does not have the important Endbericht - the final report. Small comments are available: 'Heavy casualties must be expected.' 'Very serious property damage. A large number of people buried.' 'Thyssen Mines III and IV: About 8 days loss of production.' 'Duisburg-Hamborn: All mines and coke ovens lay silent.' Not only could Bomber Command dispatch more than 2,000 sorties to Duisburg in less than 24 hours, but there was still effort to spare for No 5 Group to attack Brunswick with 233 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos. The various diversions and fighter support operations laid on by Bomber Command were so successful that only 1 Lancaster was lost from this raid. Bomber Command had attempted to destroy Brunswick 4 times so far in 1944 and No 5 Group finally achieved that aim on this night, using their own marking methods. It was Brunswick's worst raid of the war and the old centre was completely destroyed. A local report says 'the whole town, even the smaller districts, was particularly hard hit'. It was estimated by the local officials that 1,000 bombers had carried out the raid. Total effort for the 24 hours: 2,589 sorties, 24 aircraft (0.9 per cent) lost. Total tonnage of bombs dropped in 24 hours: approximately 10,050 tons. These record totals would never be exceeded in the war.

141 RAF training aircraft on a diversionary sweep to Heligoland, 20 Mosquitos to Hamburg, 16 to Berlin, 8 to Mannheim and 2 to Düsseldorf, 132 aircraft of 100 Group on RCM, Serrate and Intruder flights (no sub-totals are available), 8 aircraft on Resistance operations. 1 Halifax was lost on the diversionary sweep - it was seen to dive into the sea in flames - and 1 Mosquito was lost from the Berlin raid.

(US Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown. Mission 676: 211 bombers and 258 fighters make GH attacks on 2 targets in Germany: 1 fighter is lost: 1. 90 of 94 B-17s hit a marshalling yard at Saarbrucken; 8 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 105 of 107 P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair. 2. 117 of 117 B-24s hit Kaiserslautern; 8 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 148 of 151 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA). Mission 677: 1,040 bombers and 491 fighters are dispatched to make PFF attacks on Cologne, Germany; 5 bombers are lost: 1. 434 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Gereon marshalling yard (326); 1 hits a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 93 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 141 of 153 P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair. 2. 318 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Gremberg (127) and Eifelter (121) marshalling yards; 9 others hit Euskirchen; 3 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 137 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 177 of 184 P-47s and P-51s without loss. 3. 314 of 379 B-17s hit the secondary target, the Gereon marshalling yard; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 123 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 3 WIA. Escort is provided by 151 of 154 P-47s and P-51s without loss.

NORTH AMERICA: In the St. Lawrence seaway off Pointe-des-Monts, Quebec, Canada, German submarine 'U-1223' torpedoes Canadian frigate HMCS 'Magog'. The ship survives, but does not re-enter active service.

 

[Njaco]

15 OCTOBER 1944 SUNDAY

WESTERN FRONT: (US Eighth Air Force): Mission 679: 5 B-17s and 4 B-24s fly a night leaflet mission over the Netherlands, France and Germany without loss.

(US Ninth Air Force): Weather prevents bomber operations; fighters fly rail cutting missions and support elements of the US First, Third, Seventh, and Ninth Armies in E France and W Germany.

German battleship 'Tirpitz' leaves Kaafjord, Norway, heading for a final resting place near Tromsö.

Forces of Canadian 1st Army (British 21st Army Group) continue the battle for the Scheldt estuary. Around Aachen, elements of US 5th Army (part of US 12th Army Group) continue efforts to capture the city. To the south, the US 6th Corps, part of US 7th Army (part of US 12th Army Group), begins an offensive to the west of Epinal.

MEDITERRANEAN: (US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s bomb bridges in the W Po Valley; B-26s hit bridges in the E part of the Valley, and have excellent success bombing a railway fill at Ossenigo, trapping 300+ railway cars N of the target; fighters and fighter-bombers concentrate their efforts toward support of ground forces along a wide front in the mountains S of Bologna; HQ 63d Fighter Wing moves from Bastia, Corsica to San Pietro.

In Italy elements of US 5th Army gain ground near Livergnano and Grizzana. In the east, forces of British 8th Army also make progress. The Polish 2nd Division (part of Polish 2nd Corps) captures Gambettola.

EASTERN FRONT: In Budapest Admiral Horthy, the prime minister and regent, asks for an armistice with the USSR in a radio broadcast. Shortly after announcing Hungary's withdrawal from the war against the USSR, Admiral Horthy is taken prisoner by a commando unit led by SS major Otto Skorzeny. A new government under Ferenc Szalasi vows to continue the alliance with Germany.

In Finland the Soviet 14th Army occupies Petsamo in the far north. In Latvia, Soviet forces of 2nd and 3rd Baltic Fronts capture Riga.

Lt. Anton "Toni" Hafner of JG 51 downs five Russian fighters bringing his victory total past 200 to 203 victories.

The Red Army and Yugoslav partisans under the command of Josip Broz Tito liberate Belgrade. The Red Army forces are also in East Prussia.

GERMANY: (US Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown. Mission 677: 754 bombers and 464 fighters are dispatched to hit industrial, oil and rail targets in the Cologne, Germany area; all but 1 force bombs by PFF methods; 7 bombers and 3 fighters are lost: 1. 454 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Geron (141), Nippes (127) and Kalk (111) marshalling yards; 11 others hit the Koblenz/Lutzel marshalling yard; 4 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 293 damaged; 14 airmen are KIA, 15 WIA and 40 MIA. Escort is provided by 146 of 151 P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair. 2. 385 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Eifeltor (148) and Imbert (24) marshalling yards; secondary targets are the Kalk (117) and Gereon (50) marshalling yards; other targets are Wester marshalling yard (11) and other (1); 2 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 230 damaged; 10 airmen are KIA, 19 WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 150 of 154 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair. 3. 369 B-24s are dispatched to hit oil facilities at Monheim/Rhenania (64) and Reisholz (61) visually; secondary targets are Cologne/Gereon marshalling yard (185) and Dormigeon (13); targets of opportunity are Worringen (12), Cologne Airfield (12) and Limburg marshalling yard (6); 1 B-24 is lost and 106 damaged; 3 B-24s are lost and 106 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 131 of 141 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair. Mission 678A: 2 of 9 B-17s make an APHRODITE attack on naval installations on Heligoland Island, Germany; 23 of 24 B-17s fly a cover mission to the same targets. Escort is provided by 15 of 16 P-51s and 2 P-38s without loss.

18 RAF Lancasters of No 9 Squadron to attack the dam at the Sorpe reservoir, the second most important supply of water for the Ruhr and one of the targets for the original Dams Raid by No 617 Squadron in 1943. 16 aircraft dropped Tallboys or other bombs from 15,000ft and hits were seen on the face of the earth dam but no breach was made. No aircraft lost.

506 RAF aircraft - 257 Halifaxes, 241 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitos - from all groups except No 5 Group on the last of 14 major Bomber Command raids on Wilhelmshaven that began in early 1941. Bomber Command claimed 'severe damage' to the business and residential areas. 44 Mosquitos to Hamburg, 6 to Saarbrücken and 2 each to Düsseldorf and Kassel, 33 RCM sorties, 42 Mosquito patrols, 22 Halifaxes and 15 Lancasters minelaying off Denmark, 2 aircraft on Resistance operations. 2 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters lost from the minelaying operation.

 

[syscom3]

16 OCTOBER 1944 MONDAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Outward bound from her base at Bergen, Norway,German submarine 'U-1006' (Type VIIC41) is sunk about 83 nautical miles southeast of Torshavn, Faroe Islands, in position 60.59N, 04.49W, by depth charges from the Canadian frigate HMCS 'Annan' (K 297). Forty four of the 50 man U-boat crew survive.

GERMANY: USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators, with fighter escort, bomb marshalling yards (M/Ys) and aircraft factories in Austria: 64 each attack a tank factory in St. Valentin and an aircraft assembly plant at Graz Neudorf: 40 hit the M/Y at Spittal: 37 bomb the Diamler-Puch aircraft assembly plant at Steyr: 36 attack the Main M/Y at Linz: 34 hit the Hermann Goering benzine synthetic oil refinery at Linz: 28 each bomb the Main M/Y at Graz, the Walziagerwerke aircraft assembly plant at Steyr and an ordnance depot at Linz; 17 hit a railroad bridge at Villach; 12 bomb a M/Y at Klagenfurt, nine attack the Tribin M/Y; three hit Zeltweg Airfield, and five bomb miscellaneous targets.

Soviet forces of the Third White Russian Front launch an offensive to break into East Prussia, which the Germans are prepared to defend. Thousands of German civilians in the area flee in panic.

In the U.S. First Army area, the army closes the ring about Aachen as patrols of XIX and VII Corps establish contact on Ravels Hill at 1615 hours. In the XIX Corps area, the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division continues to batter Wuerselen, the 30th Infantry Division attacks southward astride the Wurm River with the 119th Infantry Regiment; a patrol makes contact with a patrol of the 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, VII Corps. In the VII Corps area, the Germans react promptly and vigorously to the closing of Aachen gap, attempting to overrun a roadblock on the Aachen-Wuerselen highway, during the night of 16/17 October. The 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, stabilizes positions in the Eilendorf area.
15th AF: The USAAF Fifteenth Air Force attacks four targets: 32 bomb the Main marshalling yard and 18 hit a railroad bridge at Salzburg and 18 attack the industrial area and a railroad bridge at Liezen.

NORTH AMERICA: In Ottawa, Ontario, Lieutenant General Henry Crerar, General Officer Commanding First Canadian Army in the Netherlands, is promoted to the rank of General; he is the first Canadian to hold that rank in the field.

NORTHERN FRONT: Finnish troops reach the ruins of Rovaniemi which had been destroyed by the Germans on 10 October.

WESTERN FRONT: In the U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, the 45th and 36 Infantry Divisions, against firm opposition, close in on Bruyres, a column from the south pushing through Laval. In the French First Army's II Corps area, the 3d Algerian Division and the French1st Armored Division begin an attack to pierce German's winter line in the Vosges mountain range, pressing toward heights east of the Moselotte River against violent opposition.

In the Canadian First Army's II Corps area, Zuid Beveland Isthmus is virtually sealed off with the capture of Woensdrecht by the Canadian 2d Division. Canadian The 3d Division continues to reduce the Breskens Pocket south of the Schelde River. The pocket is about half its original size. In the British Second Army's VIII Corps area, the 3d Division reaches the outskirts of Venray. Combat Command B, U.S. 7th Armored Division, establishes a bridgehead across the canal on the Deurne-Venray road.

Sergeant George Harold Eardley (b.1912), King's Shropshire Light Infantry, wipes out three machine-gun posts, allowing the capture of a key position.

All USAAF Ninth Air Force operations are cancelled due to weather. During the night of 16/17 October, the USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 680: two B-17s and seven B-24s drop leaflets over the country without loss.

EASTERN FRONT: The Hungarian government is arrested in Budapest and sent to Germany.

One USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bomber hits marshalling yard at Hereny.

MEDITERRANEAN: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the 6th South African Armoured Division, in conjunction with the II Corps to right, renews their northward attack between the Reno and Setta Rivers. II Corps begins the final phase of attack toward Bologna, making the main effort in center; the left flank is still held up below the Monterumici hill mass. The 34th Infantry Division attacks with two regiments abreastn the left, the 133d Infantry Regiment drives through the 91st Infantry Division on a narrow front toward Mt. Belmonte, target for artillery and aerial bombardment. Searchlights provide illumination for night action. At this time the use of artificial moonlight is still in the experimental stage. The 85th Infantry Division's 339th Infantry Regiment attacks toward a ridge above Monterenzio, taking Hill 622. 88th Infantry Division drives toward the Mt. Cuccoli-Mt. Grande ridge on the right flank of corps: the 349th Infantry Regiemnt takes Mt. delle Tombe and reaches St. Clemente. In the British XIII Corps area, the 78th Division completes relief of U.S. forces on Gesso ridge. In the British Eighth Army area, the V Corps clears Mt. Romano and Mt. Reale, during the night of 16/17 October. Elements of the 20th Brigade, Indian 10th Divsion, establish a small bridgehead across the Savio River near its confluence with the Borello River on the south flank of the corps. In the Canadian I Corps area, the Canadian 1st Division advances quickly toward Cesena, elements crossing Pisciatello River. Orders are issued for a concerted attack on Cesena by the Canadian I and British V Corps. The New Zealand 2d Division takes Bulgarno without opposition.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bomber operations are cancelled by bad weather while A-20s and fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations, bridges, gun positions, road, rail lines, and vehicles in the battle area, particularly in the Monte Belmonte vicinity. Eight USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers hit transportation targets of opportunity. RAF No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group sends 69 bombers to attack the marshalling yard at Zagrab.

Soviet and Yugoslav forces are fighting side by side in the streets of Belgrade. Nis, on the Sofia-Belgrade railroad line, is captured by Soviet forces.

UNITED KINGDOM: Private Salter of the Pioneer Corps is the first British soldier to be demobilized, and given a regulation "demob suit".

 

[syscom3]

17 OCTOBER 1944 TUESDAY

GERMANY: The USAAF Fifteenth Air Force attacks targets in the Vienna area: 62 bomb the industrial area, 26 bomb the Saurerwerke armament factory, 22 bomb the marshalling yard and 16 bomb the city. Other targets hit are: 25 bomb the railroad at Furstenfeld, six bomb the marshalling yard at Strauss, and individual aircraft bomb four targets. Twelve bombers are lost. Seven USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombs hit two targets of opportunity with six bombing Ostrava Moravaska. One hundred fifteen USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers attack the I.G. Farben South synthetic oil refinery at Blechhammer with the loss of five aircraft; two other aircraft hit targets of opportunity.

During the day, the USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 681: 1,338 bombers and 811 fighters are dispatched on Pathfinder Force (PFF) attacks on three marshalling yards (M/Y) in the Cologne area; four B-17 Flying Fortresses and a P-51 Mustang are lost: 514 bombers hit the Kalk M/Y, 503 bomb the Gereon M/Y and 217 attack the Eifeltor M/Y. Four other aircraft hit targets of opportunity.

The USAAF Fifteenth Air Force attack targets in Hungary: 15 bombers hit the marshalling yard at Nagykanizsa, six bomb the marshalling yard at Szombathely, and 14 aircraft hit targets of opportunity.

WESTERN FRONT: The French War Ministry and the national Council for the Resistance agree on how to integrate the French Interior Forces (Forces Francaises de l'Interieur or FFI), i.e., resistance fighters, into the regular army. Political loyalties of the various resistance groups have caused many problems with this process.

In U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps area, the 44th Infantry Division, untried in combat, closes in the Lunévile area. In the VI Corps area, the 45th and 36th Infantry Divisions are slowed by strong opposition as they continue to close in on Bruyéres. In the French First Army's II Corps area, the 3d Algerian Division and French 1st Armored Division make limited gains but at such high cost that General Jean de Lattre, Commanding General of the French First Army, calls a halt and the corps goes on the defensive. The Army commander decides to drive on Belfort in the I Corps zone. In the British Second Army's VIII Corps area, Venray falls to the 3d Division.

The USAAF Ninth Air Force clears all Rhine River rail and road bridges for attack; two days later Advance HQ prescribes bridges as having priority on the target list second only to rail lines. In Germany, 35 B-26s hit rail bridge at Euskirchen; fighters escort the bombers, fly armed reconnaissance in the Strasbourg-Colmar- Mulhouse area, attack railroads in the Allendorf an der Lahn-Gemunden area, and marshalling yard at Dielkirchen.

MEDITERRANEAN: Rival partisans, i.e., the moderate EDES and the Communist ELAS, begin to fight each other and a bomb explodes during a victory parade.

General Mark Clark's Fifth Army is making a last effort to take Bologna and northern Italy but the offensive is crippled by torrential rains and manpower and ammunition shortages. In the U.S. Fifth Army's IV Corps area, a patrol of Task Force 92 reaches the crest of Mt. Cauala, during the night of 17/18 October. In II Corps area, a coordinated attack by Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division, and the 135th Infantry Regiment against the Monterumici hill mass makes little progress. The 91st Infantry Division takes Lucca and improves positions to the east. Particularly heavy German fire is directed against the Livergnano area. The 34th Infantry Division is clearing the slopes of Mt. Belmonte and takes the crest of Mt. della Vigna. In the British XIII Corps area, the 21st Brigade of the Indian 8th Division begins an assault on Mt. Pianoreno. The 1st Division's 66th Brigade attacks in the Mt. Ceco area. In the British Eighth Army area, the Polish II Corps opens an offensive toward Forli in the evening, although all its forces have not yet assembled. The 5th Kresowa Division leads off, pushing toward Galeata from St. Piero in the Bagno area, its right flank protected by the British 1st Armoured Division. V Corps is meeting strong opposition at Acquarola and Celincordia.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force fighter bombers flew limited sorties in the battle area south of Bologna, hitting roads, rail lines and bridges. A-20s bomb targets over the Po Valley area and cause explosions on the north edge of Revenna. During the night of 17/18 October, A-20s on armed reconnaissance bomb lights and vehicles east of Bologna.

The British Military L I a I s o n Headquarters, Greece begins arriving in Athens to distribute relief supplies.

USAAF Fifteenth Air Force P-51 Mustangs escort several C-47s transporting personnel to Araxos Airfield south of Araxos.

EASTERN FRONT: German forces successfully repulse heavy Soviet attacks near Debrecen.

USAAF Fifteenth Air Force P-51s escort a B-17 carrying a photo crew to Romania to photograph Ploesti.

The USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombs four targets: 17 aircraft bomb the Southwest Marshalling Yard at Maribor and 17 hit the railroad bridge in the same city; two other aircraft hit targets of opportunity. Additionally, P-51 Mustangs escort a C-47 Skytrain picking up personnel at Valjevo Airfield.

During the night of 17/18 October, 74 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the marshalling yard at Vinkovci.

 

[Njaco]

18 OCTOBER 1944 WEDNESDAY

EASTERN FRONT: In Moscow it is announced that the 4th Ukrainian Front (Petrov) has entered Czechoslovakia. German forces from Greece and southern Yugoslavia are rapidly falling back to avoid being cut off by advancing Soviet forces. German forces in Slovakia begin a counter-offensive against the Slovak insurgency.

GERMANY: All able-bodies males between the ages of 16 and 60 are now liable for conscription into the Volkssturm (the home defense force).

Bonn. This was the first major operation by RAF No 3 Group in the new independent role which its commander, Air Vice-Marshal R Harrison, had been granted. Approximately one third of the group's Lancasters were now fitted with the G-H blind-bombing device and No 3 Group were to operate on days when the ground was concealed by cloud but when the cloud tops did not exceed 18,000ft. Aircraft with G-H had their tail fins painted with a prominent design; aircraft without G-H found a G-H 'leader' to follow into the target area and bombed when that aircraft bombed. G-H was a relatively accurate, easy-to-operate and very useful device and No 3 Group were to make good use of it in the remaining months of the war. The device had been used before, but not by a large force. Air Vice-Marshal Harrison requested that the almost unbombed and unimportant town of Bonn should be the target for this first operation, possibly so that post raid reconnaissance photographs could show the results of the first G-H raid without the effects of other bombing confusing the interpretation of the photographs. 128 Lancasters were dispatched; the raid appeared to go well and only 1 aircraft was lost. The attack was a complete success. The heart of old Bonn was destroyed, with its university, many cultural and public buildings and a large residential area being burnt out. The local report says that the home in which Beethoven lived was saved 'by the courageous actions of its caretakers'. 700 buildings were destroyed and 1,000 were seriously damaged.

19 RAF Mosquitos to Hannover, 18 to Mannheim, 8 to Düsseldorf, 5 to Pforzheim and 4 to Wiesbaden. 1 aircraft lost from the Pforzheim raid.

US Eighth Air Force: Mission 682: 567 bombers and 604 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany; 5 bombers and 5 fighters are lost: 1. 337 B-17s are dispatched to make a PFF attack on Kassel/Mittefeld (300); targets of opportunity are Cologne (1) and other (2); 2 B-17s are lost; 1 airman is WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 388 P-47s and P-51s; 4 P-51s are lost. 2. 118 B-17s are dispatched to make a GH attack on the Ford Plant at Cologne (79); 30 others hit Cologne/Nippes marshalling yard; 22 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 2 WIA. Escort is provided by 38 of 45 P-47s without loss. 3. 112 B-24s are dispatched to make a GH attack on the industrial complex at Leverkusen (39); 30 others hit the Cologne/Nippes marshalling yard; 3 B-24s are lost and 26 damaged; 27 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 139 of 146 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost.

US Ninth Air Force: Weather prevents operations of all commands (including the 9th Bombardment Division) except IX Tactical Air Command fighters which fly sweeps, rail cutting missions, and night patrols, and provide air cover for the US 1st Infantry Division in the Aachen, Germany area.

MEDITERRANEAN: The Greek government in exile returns. British forces occupy Santorini and Scarpanto. The port of Patras becomes operational.

US Fifteenth Air Force:38 P-38s dive-bomb Vinkovci, Yugoslavia. 41 P-51s escort C-47s to Greece.

US Twelfth Air Force: In Italy, most medium bomber missions are aborted because of weather, but B-26s effectively hit Castel San Pietro dell'Emilia warehouses and a railroad bridge at Padua; fighters and fighter-bombers, operating on restricted schedule due to weather, offer effective close support to ground forces in the mountains S of Bologna and hit communications targets in the Bologna and Modena areas; during the night of 17/18 Oct A-20s on armed reconnaissance bomb lights and vehicles E of Bologna.

Motor torpedo boat PT-558 is damaged in engagement with two German R-boats west of Portofino; while retiring to Leghorn, Italy, PT-561 is damaged by heavy seas. Tank landing ship LST-906 drags anchor and is damaged when driven ashore by heavy sea, Leghorn.

WESTERN FRONT: General McClain takes command of the US 1st Army on the western front. He replaces General Corlett.

Naval Advanced Base, La Havre, France, is established.

NORTH AMERICA: Canadian Defence Minister James Ralston returns to Canada after touring Canadian forces in Europe. He urges the prime minister to impose conscription to help supply properly trained replacement soldiers on the battlefield. Ralston reports that a further 16,000 trained infantry are required.

 

[Njaco]

19 OCTOBER 1944 THURSDAY

WESTERN FRONT: American attacks on Aachen continue. Farther south, forces of the US 7th Army capture Bruyeres. Nearby, other units prepare to assault St. Die.

US Ninth Air Force: Weather prevents bomber operations; fighters attack a tank concentration E of Luneville, France, strafe targets NW of Kaiserslautern, Germany, fly reconnaissance in W Germany, and provide cover for US Third and Seventh Army forces in E France.

Spain closes the frontier with France.

MEDITERRANEAN: Troops of the British 10th Indian Division, part of British 5th Corps (an element of British 8th Army) attack across the Savio River.

US Twelfth Air Force: Twelfth AF redesignates HQ XII Fighter Command as HQ XXII Tactical Air Command following a reorganization period during which the XXII Tactical Air Command was temporarily referred to as "X" Tactical Air Command and "X-Ray" Tactical Air Command, to distinguish it from HQ XII Fighter Command around which it was formed. In Italy, B-26s attack the Mantua causeway, a railway fill at Ossenigo, and bridges at Calcinato and Peschiera del Garda; a Luftwaffe fighter attack NW of Mantua accounts for 2 B-26s lost and 1 missing; at least 2 of the attacking fighters are destroyed; B-25s attack bridges in the Milan area at Lonate Pozzolo, Cameri, and Magenta; fighter-bombers of the XXII Tactical Air Command hit targets in support of ground forces, concentrating on the Monte Grande area, and attack rail lines and bridges N of the battle zone. On the night of 18/19 Oct A-20s hit targets of opportunity during armed reconnaissance in the Genoa and Bologna areas.

GERMANY: Stuttgart: 565 RAF Lancasters and 18 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups in 2 forces, 4½ hours apart. 6 Lancasters lost. The bombing was not concentrated but serious damage was caused to the central and eastern districts of Stuttgart and in some of the suburban towns. Among individual buildings hit were the important Bosch factory.

263 RAF Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos of No 5 Group dispatched to Nuremburg. 2 Lancasters lost. This was only a partial success for the No 5 Group method and the knock-out blow on Nuremberg, which had eluded Bomber Command for so long, was not achieved. The target area was found to be almost completely cloud-covered. The aiming point is believed to have been the centre of the city but the local report says that the bombing fell almost entirely in the southern districts, but this was the industrial area of Nuremberg.

48 RAF Mosquitos to Wiesbaden and 6 to Düsseldorf, 49 RCM sorties, 82 Mosquito patrols. 1 Mosquito Intruder was lost but other Mosquitos claimed 2 Ju 88s, 1 Ju 188 and 1 Me 110 destroyed and 3 other night fighters damaged, a better-than-average night's success.

Total effort for the night: 1,038 sorties, 9 aircraft (0.9 per cent) lost.

US Eighth Air Force: 2 missions are flown. Mission 683: 1,022 bombers and 753 fighters attack targets in Germany using PFF or GH; 6 bombers and 2 fighters are lost: 1. 381 B-24s are dispatched to hit the diesel engine and armored vehicle plant at Gustavsburg (50) and the Mainz marshalling yard (280) the secondary target; 5 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 148 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA and 49 MIA. Escort is provided by 195 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair. 2. 217 of 267 B-17s hit the secondary target, Mannheim; 34 others hit a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost and 97 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 286 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA). 3. 374 B-17s are dispatched to hit an artillery tractor plant at Mannheim (25); 257 hit the secondary, Mannheim; targets of opportunity are Karlsruhe (32), Kreuznach (10), Rudesheim (9), Bad Kreuznach (8), Steyer (2) and other (21); 182 B-17s are damaged; 2 airmen are KIA and 4 WIA. Escort is provided by 226 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair. Mission 684: 5 B-17s and 5 B-24s are dispatched to drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

EASTERN FRONT: Hitler orders the annihilation of Warsaw.

German troops evacuate Belgrade.

 

[syscom3]

20 OCTOBER 1944 FRIDAY

GERMANY: Forty one USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators hit the Main marshalling yard at Innsbruck; one aircraft is lost. USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s bomb six targets: 95 bombers hit the marshalling yard at Rosenheim; 77 B-17s bomb two targets in Regensburg, 34 hitting an oil storage facility and 33 bombing the industrial area; 11 B-24s attack the airfield at Bad Arling; and three aircraft bomb targets of opportunity.

In the U.S. First Army's VII Corps area, the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division, which is being assisted by elements of 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, forces the Germans to the western and southwestern suburbs of Aachen.

WESTERN FRONT: An offensive towards the north beginning northeast of Antwerp begins involving the British I Corps and the 1st Canadian Army. In the Canadian First Army area, British I Corps, protecting the right flank of II Corps, opens a drive toward the Bergen-op-Zoom-Tilburg highway with the Canadian 4th Armoured Division on the left, the 49th Division in the center, and the Polish 1st Armored Division on the right.

The USAAF Ninth Air Force's 9th Bombardment Division hits the Parenboom rail bridge at Geertruidenberg and the Moerdijke rail bridge; attacks on other targets are aborted because of bad weather. USAAF Ninth Air Force fighters fly armed reconnaissance over eastern France and widespread areas of western Germany, attack railroads and various military targets, and support US Third and Seventh Armies' elements in E France.

In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the Germans heavily shell 90th Infantry Division elements at Maizières-lès-Metz. In the XII Corps area, USAAF Ninth Air Force P-47s breach a dam at Dieuze because the Germans are getting ready to flood the Seille River valley. The destruction of this dam releases the waters of the Etang de Lindre (Pond of Lindre) in the rear of German lines which the II Corps is attacking. In the U.S. Seventh Army area, two fresh U.S. infantry divisions (100th and 103d) arrive at Marseille. In the VI Corps area the 179th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division attacks for Brouvelieures after preparatory fire and gains the heights commanding the town; the 180th Infantry Regiment, which has been pushing toward the Mortagne River from the Freinifontaine area, tries in vain to break through the German defenses along the river. The 3d Infantry Division begins a drive on St Die, employing the 7th Infantry Regiment, which heads for Vervezelle, northeast of Bruyères.

EASTERN FRONT: One hundred thirty one USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17s bomb a synthetic oil plant at Brux with the loss of three aircraft. Two other B-17s bomb the Skoda armaments factory at Pilsen and a target of opportunity.

Soviet units liberate Debrecen.

During the night of 20/21 October, 59 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the airfield at Szombathely with the loss of five aircraft.

MEDITERRANEAN: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Armoured Division maintains positions on Mt. Salvaro under repeated German counterattacks and gains the slopes of Mt. Alcino. In the II Corps area, the 88th Infantry Division continues the offensive on the right flank of the corps, the 350th Infantry Regiment reaching the top of Mt. Cuccoli and taking Farneto. To forestall German counterattacks against the Mt. Grande hill mass, aircraft and artillery interdict all approaches. The rest of the corps front is virtually static. In the British XIII Corps area, the Germans recapture Mt. Spadura from the 78th Division. The 21st Brigade, Indian 8th Division, begins a drive on Mt. Romano. In the British Eighth Army's V Corps area, the Germans destroy a bridge in Cesano as the 4th Division reaches it, but elements of the 12th Brigade wade the river near the bridge site. The 25th Brigade, Indian 10th Division, strengthens the bridgehead in the Castiglione area and takes St. Carlo; to the south, elements of the 20th Brigade secretly cross the Borello River. In the Canadian I Corps area, the Canadian 1st Division attacks across the Savio River with two companies but cannot hold the bridgehead. In the coastal sector, Cesenatico is occupied after the Germans withdraw.

USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers attack five targets: 102 attack three targets in Milan, 38 bombing the Isotta Fraschini industrial area, 35 hitting the Breda armaments factory and 29 attacking the Alfa Romeo truck factory; and three other aircraft hit targets of opportunity. During the night of 20/21 October, USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-20s bomb targets of opportunity during intruder missions north of battle area.

Nine RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group hit a pontoon bridge at San Benedetto.

Tito's partisans and Soviet units complete the liberation of Belgrade. . Dubrovnik on the Adratic is liberated by partisans. Actually, the "Soviet" units involved are primarily the Romanian 2nd and 3rd Mountain Divisions, plus the Tudor Vladimirescu Division (the latter organized and equipped like a standard Soviet rifle division but made up entirely of Romanian volunteers recruited from POW camps in the Soviet Union: many joined simply to escape the virtual death sentence of harsh Soviet captivity). These three units, comprising the "Soviet" 27th Army, are of course under Soviet command and, the Tudor Vladimirescu division nominally commanded by a Romanian colonel, is in reality controlled by its Soviet "advisors."

 

[syscom3]

21 OCTOBER 1944 SATURDAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German patrol boat F 631 attacked 'U-245' in the North Sea by error.

GERMANY: Aachen finally surrenders to US forces. The extended battle by elite German formations including paratroopers, and ten day siege leaves much of it in ruins. The city was taken only after close-quarter battles fought from house to house. Five brave attempts to break the siege line were made last night, all broken by American fire-power. This morning the garrison commander, Col. Gerhardt Wilck, sent two US captives as messengers to negotiate surrender. With about 400 men he marched to the headquarters of Lt-Col. John Cortez to insist upon proper treatment for his defeated soldiers. From the back of a US Jeep he told his men: "I believe further fighting is useless. I have acted against my orders, to fight to the last man. The American commander says I cannot give you 'Sieg Heil' or 'Heil Hitler', but we say it in our hearts." The garrison, totaling 1,626 men, had run out of food, ammunition and water. Most of the town's ancient streets had become impassable because of debris. In the centre only the mediaeval cathedral was still basically intact. The civilian population demanded a surrender ten days ago.

Once again Grand Admiral Donitz has shown himself to be a formidable opponent. The Royal Navy hoped that the war at sea would be virtually over as soon as the Allied forces captured the heavily-armoured French bases which have harboured the U-boats for most of the war. Donitz was ahead of them. He moved the main U-boat fleet out to bases in Norway and has been rapidly refitting the fleet with a newer and more sophisticated Schnorkel. Yet despite the new device, the Allies managed to sink 19 U-boats last month. The advantages of the Schnorkel were demonstrated by Count von Matuschka in 'U-482'. He did a round voyage from Norway of 2,729 miles, over 90% of which was under water. He preyed undetected on the main sea route north of Ireland and sank the corvette HMS 'HURST CASTLE' and four ships. The Germans first started experimenting with Schnorkel devices as early as 1940. Donitz started to fit them in large numbers as soon as he realized that British aircraft were decimating the U-boats. The Schnorkel not only allows them to stay submerged but also enables them to pick up long-range wireless signals undetected by the British. It does tend to slow a U-boat by several knots. So far German successes have been small in number. But the presence of the Schnorkel boats is still tying up a large number of Royal Navy ships in escort duties for merchant ships.

MEDITERRANEAN: The British V and Canadian I Corps continue crossing the Savio River. Pte. Ernest Alvia Smith (b.1914), Canadian Army, destroyed two tanks and two self-propelled guns and routed a number of German troops.

NORTH AMERICA: Major General Clayton L. Bissell becomes Assistant Chief/Air Staff, Intelligence (A-2) in Washington, DC. He was formerly CG of the US 10th Air Force.

 

[syscom3]

22 OCTOBER 1944 SUNDAY

NORTHERN FRONT: Advance units of the Soviet 14th Army reach the Norwegian border in the far north of Finland.

WESTERN FRONT: French General Charles de Gaulle's administration is recognized by the Allies as the "de jure" Provisional Government of France.

In the U.S. Third Army's XII Corps area, the 26th Infantry Division, untried in combat as a unit, makes a limited attack to gain experience and to improve positions east of Arracourt, securing ground west of Moncourt with support of troops from 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. In the U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps area, the 79th Infantry Division finishes clearing the high ground east of Forêt de Parroy. In the VI Corps area, the 3d Infantry Division advances steadily northeast along the Mortagne River toward St Die. The 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, completes the mop up of Brouvelieures; the 180th forces the Mortagne River east of Fremifontaine but falls back under German fire.

Elements of Company E, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, accompanied by two forward observer teams of the 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion, crossed the Lower Rhine east of Arnhem in British small boats. They bring back 125 members of the British 1st Airborne Division, ten Dutch resistance fighters and five USAAF pilots from the German occupied north side of the river. These men have been hiding out since the night of 26 September when 2,163 survivors of the 1st Airborne Division had been withdrawn across the river. The Germans are unaware of the operation and not a round is fired. This is the end of the Battle of Arnhem.

In the Canadian First Army's II Corps area, Breskens falls to the Canadian 3d Division. The Breskens Pocket is now less than half its original size. In the British I Corps area, the Canadian 4th Armoured Division reaches Esschen.

In the British Second Army area, XII Corps begins a westward offensive to clear the region west of the Maas River. The 15th Division heads for Tilburg and the 7th Armoured and 53d Divisions, followed by the 51st Division, towards Hertogenbosch.

Advance Headquarters of the USAAF Ninth Air Force's XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) and HQ 84th and 303d Fighter Wings move from Arlon, Belgium to Maastricht to maintain close association with the US Ninth Army. Weather prohibits USAAF Ninth Air Force bomber operations; fighter sweeps and armed reconnaissance support US Third and Seventh Army elements in eastern France and western Germany.

GERMANY: In East Prussia, Soviet forces stop short of Insterburg, 45 miles from Chancellor Adolf Hitler's Rastenburg headquarters.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 685: 1,131 bombers and 785 fighters are dispatched on PFF attacks on targets in western Germany; two bombers and a fighter are lost. Two marshalling yards (M/Ys) are hit: 353 bombers attack the M/Y at Munster and 343 bomb the M/Y at Hamm and two armored vehicle factories are hit: 171 aircraft attack the Hannomag factory at Hannover and 149 hit the NAG plant at Brunswick. Targets of opportunity are: 35 aircraft bombing the industrial area at Bielefeld, ten hit the industrial area at Recklinghausen and 13 aircraft hit miscellaneous targets.

During the day, 97 RAF Bomber Command Lancasters bomb Neuss; none lost. This G-H raid is not as concentrated as the recent Bonn raid and bombing is scattered. The local report says that 94 houses and three industrial buildings are destroyed and 545 houses, 18 industrial buildings and a public building are seriously damaged.

During the night of 22/23 October, 44 RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos bomb Hamburg, four hit Wiesbaden and two each attack Düsseldorf and Cologne. Meanwhile, 38 Lancasters and Halfaxes lay mines in the Kattegat.

MEDITERRANEAN: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Armoured Division continues toward the crest of Mt. Salvaro in a drenching rain. The II Corps receives verbal orders to continue their offensive on the right flank to a line Ribano Hill-Mt. Castelazzo, then to Highway 9. Accordingly, the 88th and 85th Infantry Divisions jump off, on the night of 22/23 October, and get about a mile (1,6 kilometers) beyond Mt. Grande by dawn, taking Hill 568, Mt. Castellaro, and Hill 459. The British XIII Corps is ordered to take Mt. Spadura and continue northward between Imola and Castel San Pietro roads. The 78th Division places fire on Mt. Spadura. The German withdrawal to the east permits other units of the corps to advance. The 21st Brigade, the Indian 8th Division, takes Mt. Romano without opposition. In the British Eighth Army's V Corps area, the Indian 10th Division expands its Savio River bridgeheads westward, the 20th Brigade pushing almost to the crest of Mt. Cavallo. The 4th Division is unable to progress from its bridgehead until heavy equipment can be crossed to it. In the Canadian I Corps area, the Canadian 1st Division is handicapped by the swollen Savio River and is unable to cross supporting weapons into the bridgehead. On the Savio River, Seaforth Highlanders Private Ernest Alva 'Smoky' Smith shows conspicuous heroism, holding the Savio River crossing against German counter-attacks and destroying at least two German tanks; awarded the Victoria Cross.

Bad weather grounds all USAAF Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force bombers; Twelfth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers, flying less than 20 sorties, hitting rail lines and trains in northern Italy.

EASTERN FRONT: With the fall of Sombor, southwest of Subotica, Soviet forces control most of the east bank of the Danube as far north as the Hungarian town of Baja.

 

[syscom3]

23 OCTOBER 1944 MONDAY

EASTERN FRONT: One hundred twenty five USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17s bomb the Skoda armament factory at Pilsen. Two aircraft are lost.

NORTHERN FRONT: Russian units clear the area around Petsamo.

An international Jewish conference held at Stockholm thanks the Finnish government and people for their attitude towards the Jews during the war.

WESTERN FRONT: General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Forces, in a personal letter to Lieutenant General Jacob Devers, Commanding General 6th Army Group, order the Group to protect the southern flank of 12th Army Group in a coming offensive toward the Rhine River.

In U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, the 3d Infantry Division is meeting stronger resistance as it approaches Les Rouges Eaux, on the road to St Die. To the corps' left, the180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, succeeds in establishing a bridgehead across the Mortagne River east of Fremifontaine, from which they will push northeast toward Raon-l'Etape. On the right flank, the 36th Infantry Division extends positions east of Bruyres to Biffontaine; a battalion of the 141st Infantry Regiment, attempting to secure the heights north of La Houssière, becomes isolated in Forêt Domaniale de Champ.

In the Canadian First Army's British I Corps area, the U.S. 104th Infantry Division, inexperienced in combat, begins moving into line along the Antwerp-Breda highway between the 49th Division and the Polish 1st Armored Division. On the left flank of the corps, the Canadian 4th Armoured Division swings west from Esschen toward Bergen-op-Zoom to seal off the Beveland Isthmus, along which the Canadian 2d Division of II Corps is preparing to drive.

Sicherheitsdienst (S.D. or security service of the SS) officer Herbert Oelschagel is murdered by the Dutch resistance in Amsterdam and the German reprisal is swift and severe. The next day, 29 civilians are arrested and pedestrians on the Apolloaan are forced at gunpoint to witness their execution. At the same time, several buildings are deliberately set on fire.

Weather prevents all USAAF Ninth Air Force commands, including the 9th Bombardment Division, from flight operations.

During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 112 Lancasters to attack the Flushing battery positions; 92 bomb but visibility is poor and the bombing is scattered. Four Lancasters are lost.

During the night of 23/24 October, the USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 686: three B-17s and six B-24s drop leaflets over the country.

GERMANY: USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers hit five targets: 79 bomb the M.A.N. diesel engine factory at Augsburg; 67 bomb the BMW aircraft engine factory at Munich; 63 attack the Winterhafen oil storage facility at Regensburg; 34 bomb the industrial area at Plauen; and 32 bomb the marshalling yard at Rosenheim.

During the night of 23/24 October, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 1,055 aircraft, 561 Lancasters, 463 Halifaxes and 31 Mosquitos, to bomb to Essen; 955 bomb the city. This is the heaviest raid on this target so far in the war and the number of aircraft dispatched is also the greatest number to any target so far; five Lancasters and three Halifaxes are lost. The aircraft drop 4,538 tons (4 117 metric tonnes) of bombs. More than 90 per cent of this tonnage is high explosive and includes five hundred nine 4,000-pound bombs because it is now considered that most of the burnable buildings in Essen have been destroyed in earlier raids. The greater proportion of high explosive, against all the trends in earlier area-bombing raids, is now quite common in attacks on targets which has suffered major fire damage in 1943. Mosquitos are also sent to various targets: 32 hit Berlin, ten bomb Wiesbaden and two bomb Aschaffenburg

MEDITERRANEAN: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Division, attacking in force toward Mt. Salvaro, drives to the summit; elements to the right begin assault on Mt. Termine. In the II Corps area, the Germans counterattack and recover Hill 459 from the 85th Infantry Division. Elsewhere on the right flank of corps, counterattacks are repulsed and bypassed pockets cleared. At night, the 2d Battalion of the 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, attacks toward Vedriano and takes Vedriano by dawn of 24 October. The 133d Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, seizes Mt. Belmonte. In British XIII Corps area, 78th Division, renewing their assault on Mt. Spadura with the 11th and 38th Brigades, clears this feature. The 1st Division takes Mt. Cornazzano without opposition and gains ground north of Mt. Ceco. The 21st Brigade, Indian 8th Division, seizes Mt. Giro and pushes on toward Mt. Colombo; the 17th Brigade takes Mt. Casalino.

In the British Eighth Army's V Corps area, the Indian 10th Division reaches the crest of Mt. Cavallo ridge, which extends northward to Bertinoro, commanding Highway 9; the Germans begin to pull back. The Savio River is subsiding and reinforcements are crossed into the 4th Division's bridgehead. In the Canadian I Corps area, the Canadian 1st Division maintains a bridgehead across the Savio River but is unable to strengthen it. The 11th Brigade, Canadian 5th Armoured Division, reaches the Savio River.

USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers hit various targets: 27 bomb the railroad in the Brenner Pass; 19 hit the industrial area of Trieste; 12 attack a railroad bridge at Casarsa; two hit the railroad bridge at Latisana; one attacks the railroad at Treviso; and 28 bomb targets of opportunity.

During the night of 23/24 October, USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-20s attack targets of opportunity in the Po Valley. Bad weather grounds USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers; fighters and fighter-bombers, although cancelling many operations, cause much damage to transportation, destroying or damaging numerous locomotives, railroad cars, and motor transport, and damaging vessels in the Savona, Turin, Padua, and Genoa areas.

 

[syscom3]

ATLANTIC OCEAN: In the North Sea: German submarine U-673 is sunk at 0115 hours about 22 nautical miles N of Stavanger, Norway, after running aground near Smaaskjär following a collision with U-382. The boat is raised on 9 November 1944 and moved to Stavanger and is surrendered to Norway at the end of the war.

FRANCE: French automaker and accused German collaborator Louis Renault dies on this day in a Paris military prison hospital of undetermined causes. During World War I, Renault served his nation with the "Taxis de la Marne," a troop-transport vehicle, and in 1918, with the Renault tank. With the German occupation of France during World War II, the industrialist, who had served his country so well during World War I, mysteriously offered his Renault tank factory and his services to the Germans, perhaps believing that the Allies' cause is hopeless. The liberation of France in 1944 saw the arrest of Louis Renault as a collaborator, and the Renault company is nationalized. The 67-year-old Renault, who likely suffered torture during his post-liberation detainment, died soon after his arrest and before he is tried.
In the U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, the 3d Infantry Division commits its full strength to a drive on St Die as the 30th Infantry Regiment, having moved north, joins in an attack to right of 7th Infantry Regiment. The 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, takes the town of Mortagne, on the German side of the Mortagne River.
In the French 1stArmy area, General Jean de Lattre, commander of the 1st Army, issues secret instructions to I Corps for an offensive toward Belfort, Operation INDEPENDENCE. I Corps is to be strongly reinforced for the operation. Extensive deceptive measures are taken to conceal the place of projected attack and take the Germans by surprise.

GERMANY:
8th AF: The USAAF Eighth Air Force dispatches 415 P-47s and P-51s to attack aircraft and ground targets in the Hannover-Kassel area; 73 bomb flak positions at Elburg, a factory near Nienburg, and miscellaneous ground targets; bad weather causes other fighter-bombers to jettison bombs in the English Channel and Zuider Zee in the Netherlands; the fighter-bombers strafe transportation and other ground targets with good results.
9th AF: Bad weather cancels all USAAF Ninth Air Force operations except fighter patrols by the IX and XXIX Tactical Air Commands over western Germany; the fighters attack rail targets.
RAF: During the night of 24/25 October, RAF Bomber Command sends 57 Mosquitos to bomb Hannover; 54 bomb the city without loss. Other Mosquito targets are: four bomb Oberhausen, three hit Aschaffenburg, two hit the marshalling yard at Aschaffenburg and one bombs Rheine; there are no losses. Lancasters and Halifaxes lay mines in the Kattegat.

GREECE: British units enter Lamia, about 95 miles NW of Athens.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, Mt Termine falls to the South African 6th Armoured Division. In the II Corps area, the Germans regain Vedriano and capture most of Company G, 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division. The 88th and 85th Infantry Divisions continue an attack the on right flank of corps during the night of 24/25 October but make little headway. In the British XIII Corps area, the 78th Division consolidates positions on Mt. Spadura while the 61st Brigade, 6th Armoured Division, pushes toward Mt. Taverna, reaching Orsara.
In the British Eighth Army's V Corps area, the Indian 10th Division drives quickly toward the Ronco River on the south flank of the corps; the 4th Division advances its left flank to a road junction of Madonna di Cerbiano and its right, along Highway 9, to Castellaccio. The Canadian I Corps pursues retreating Germans toward the Ronco River.
12th AF: Weather grounds USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers but 300+ XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers attack targets in support of the U.S. Fifth Army south of Bologna and hit communications and shipping in the Turin-Genoa and eastern Po Valley areas, destroying 14 locomotives and 100+ railroad cars.

NETHERLANDS: When S.D. (Sicherheitsdienst, the security service of the SS) officer Herbert Oelschagel is murdered by the Dutch resistance on 23 October in Amsterdam, the German reprisal is swift and severe. Today, 29 civilians are arrested and pedestrians on the Apolloaan are forced at gunpoint to witness their execution. At the same time, several buildings are deliberately set on fire.
In the Canadian First Army's II Corps area, the methodical reduction of Breskens Pocket continues. The Canadian 2nd Division begins drive along the Beveland Isthmus, leaving containing forces at its neck.

NORWAY: Eight RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines off Oslo without loss.

 

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15th AF: AUSTRIA: Weather again interferes with USAAF Fifteenth Air Force operations and only seven B-17s bomb three targets: three each bomb the Main marshalling yard at Innsbruck an aircraft factory at Klagenfurt while one hits the marshalling yard at St. Viet.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps area, the 44th Infantry Division withstands repeated counterattacks against its positions east of Forét de Parroy. The French 2d Armoured Division is ordered to attack on the right flank of the corps in support of the VI Corps before 1 November. In VI Corps area, the 36th Infantry Division attempts in vain to relieve an isolated battalion of the 141st Infantry Regiment north of La Houssière.

9th AF: Headquarters, USAAF First Tactical Air Force (Provisional) is established, but not yet organized, therefore Headquarters Ninth Air Force continues to administer, supply, and control all XII Tactical Air Command and assigned units until mid- November when the First Tactical Air Force assumes full control. The First Tactical Air Force (First TACAF) is assigned to the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe which has some operational control of the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces and some administrative control of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. Composed of both French Air Force and USAAF units, the new air force will provide tactical air support for the U.S. Seventh Army in southern France.

GERMANY:
8th AF: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 688: 1,250 bombers and 522 fighters are dispatched to hit oil and industrial targets in western Germany; two bombers and a fighter are lost: 718 aircraft hit the Rhenania oil refinery at Hamburg, 216 bomb the Bf 109 repair facility at Neumunster, 92 bomb the Buer and 27 hit the Nordstern synthetic oil refineries at Gelsenkirchen, 100 attack the marshalling yard at Hamm, 37 bomb the marshalling yard at Munster, and six aircraft attack targets of opportunity.
Shortly after take off from their base at Subury, Suffolk, England, the pilot of the USAAF Eighth Air Force's 486th Bombardment Group (Heavy) B-17 Flying Fortress named "Deepseat - Baker" is informed that a ground man, a Corporal, has stowed away on board. The pilot radios the Air Leader for advice and is told to continue the mission as there is flight clothing aboard and an oxygen mask in the bomber. The Corporal is originally in a distressed state but appears to settle down in the rear fuselage. When the bomber has reached 19,000 feet on its way to the target, and while the waist gunners are looking out the windows, the stowaway suddenly releases the side door and jumps out. He is not wearing a parachute.
9th AF: USAAF Ninth Air Force's 9th Bombardment Division's missions are cancelled because of bad weather. Fighters fly sweeps, hit rail and military targets in the Saarbrucken area, and support the U.S. XIX Corps in western Germany.
RAF: During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 771 aircraft, 508 Lancasters, 251 Halifaxes and 12 Mosquitos, to attack Essen; 740 aircraft bomb the city with the loss of two Halifaxes and two Lancasters. The bombing is aimed at skymarkers, because the target area is covered by cloud.
The Bomber Command report states that the attack became scattered, but the local Essen report shows that more buildings are destroyed, 1,163, than in the heavier night attack which had taken place 36 hours previously.
A photographic reconnaissance flight which took place after this raid shows severe damage to the remaining industrial concerns in Essen, particularly to the Krupps steelworks. Some of the war industry has already moved to small, dispersed factories but the coal mines and steelworks of the Ruhr are still important. The Krupps steelworks are particularly hard-hit by the two raids and there are references in the firm's archives to the "almost complete breakdown of the electrical supply network" and to "a complete paralysis."
The Borbeck pig-iron plant ceases work completely and there is no record of any further production from this important section of Krupps. Much of Essen's surviving industrial capacity is now dispersed and the city lost its role as one of Germany's most important centres of war production.
A second target is the Meerbeck synthetic oil plant at Homberg. A total of 243 aircraft, 199 Halifaxes, 32 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos are dispatched to this target and 228 attack without loss. The target is covered by cloud and bombing is scattered in the early stages but later became more concentrated on the skymarkers. No aircraft are lost.

ICELAND: Canadian destroyer HMCS Skeena (D 59) anchored at Reykjavik dragged her anchor and is driven ashore on Videy Island. Bad weather prevents salvage, and she is written off as a total loss in December. Fifteen ratings (enlisted men) are lost.

ITALY: In U.S. Fifth Army area, elements of the South African 6th Armoured Division wade Setta Creek and take Hill 501, below Mt. Sole. In the II Corps area, further efforts to deepen the Mt. Grande salient, during the night of 25/26 October, are costly failures.
In the British XIII Corps area, the 61st Brigade of the 6th Armoured Division gets elements to Mt. Taverna, night of 25/26 October, but withdraws them because of tenuous supply situation.
In the British Eighth Army area, V Corps reaches the Ronco River from heights across from Meldola to Highway 9. The 4th Division takes Forlimpopoli without a fight. In an attack across the Ronco River during the night of 25/26 October, the Indian 10th Division establishes small bridgeheads south and north of Meldola and the 4th Division crosses two companies northwest of Selbagnone and two others at Highway 9. The Canadian I Corps continues to pursue Germans toward the Ronco River, with coastal elements reaching the Bevano River.
12th AF: Weather continues to ground USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers; fighter-bombers attack guns, vehicles, and communications in the battle area south of Bologna while fighters destroy 20+ locomotives in the Piacenza area.

NETHERLANDS: In the Canadian First Army's II Corps area, the Canadian 2d Division, working slowly west along the Beveland Isthmus, reaches Rilland. In the British I Corps area, the U.S. 104th Infantry Division drives north with three regiments abreast toward Zundert.

NORWAY: Soviet Army units enter Norway, and capture Kirkenes. There is support from Soviet naval units in this far north campaign.

ROMANIA: Transylvania is completely cleared by Soviet advances.

YUGOSLAVIA: During the night of 25/26 October, 25 bombers of RAF's No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group fly supplies to the partisans.

 

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15th AF: AUSTRIA: Weather curtails operations of the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force but four B-17s bomb the Main marshalling yard at Innsbruck.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, action at Maizieres-lès- Metz centers about the strongly held Hotel de Ville. The 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, reaches the hotel but is driven back.
In U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, the 3d Infantry Division continues toward St Die under exceptionally heavy artillery fire, the 7th Infantry Regiment, in the center, overrunning Les Rouges Eaux. On the left flank of corps, the 45th Infantry Division is clearing Fort d'Housseras and working toward Raon-l'Etape. The 36th Infantry Division, on the southern flank, is relieving its isolated 141st Infantry Regiment force, which begins a drive to the west in an effort to break out.

GERMANY:
8th AF: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 689: 1,225 bombers and 674 fighters make PFF attacks on industrial and communications targets in western Germany; one fighter is lost. Targets are: 375 bombers bomb the Hannomag armored forces vehicle factory at Hannover, 242 bomb the Minden Aquaduct, 192 attack the marshalling yard at Munster, 191 bomb an ordnance depot at Bielefeld, 65 hit the Welheim synthetic oil refinery at Bottrop, 36 bomb the Munster area, 35 attack the gas works at Bielefeld, 23 hit the marshalling yard at Gutersloh and two bomb targets of opportunity.
RAF: During the day, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 105 Lancasters to carry out a G-H raid on Leverkusen, with the chemical works as the centre of the intended bombing area; 102 aircraft bomb the target. The raid appeared to proceed well but cloud prevented any observation of the results. No aircraft lost.
During the night of 26/27 October, nine RAF Bomber Command Lancaster lay mines off the Heligoland Bight with the loss of one aircraft.

HUNGARY: Soviet forces of the Fourth and Second Ukrainian Fronts link up near Mukacevo in eastern Hungary.

ITALY: Heavy rains and flooding slow operations all along the line. In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Division halts efforts to take Mt. Sole; elements on Hill 501 are virtually isolated. In the II Corps area, a flash flood prevents commitment of 362d Infantry Regiment across the Sillaro River as planned. The 88th and 85th Infantry Divisions are given verbal orders to break off offensive and organize defensive positions on more tenable ground. In the British XIII Corps area, the 17th Brigade of the Indian 8th Division pushes to Lutirano and Tredozio. The 61st Brigade, 6th Armourd Division, after repelling an attack against Orsara and making another futile attempt to take Mt. Taverna, confines its activities to patrolling.
In the British Eighth Army's Polish II Corps area, the 5th Kresowa Division, having cleared the Mt. Mirabcllo-Mt. Colombo ridge, sends elements into Predappio Nuovo, on the Rabbi River, but is forced back. In the V Corps area, the Indian 10th Division consolidates bridgeheads across the Ronco River, but the 4th Division is unable to hold on without tank support and suffers heavy losses while withdrawing. Since the river is now in flood, corps operations temporarily come to a standstill. The Canadian I Corps makes little progress because of flooding.
12th AF: Weather suspends all USAAF Twelfth Air Force operations.

NETHERLANDS: In the Canadian First Army's II Corps area, the British 52d Division makes an amphibious assault on Beveland from Terneuzen landing on the south coast near Baarland and establishing a bridgehead. The Canadian 2d Division continues to push west along the Beveland Isthmus. The Canadian 3d Division is steadily reducing the Breskens Pocket. .
In the British Second Army's XII Corps area, the 53 Division overruns Hertogenbosch.

POLAND: Reichsfuhrer- SS Heinrich Himmler issues orders to destroy the crematoriums at Auschwitz-Birkenau in an attempt to eliminate the evidence of Nazi mass murder.

ROMANIA: Mukachevo in the southern Carpathian Mountains is the site of a link up between the Second and Fourth Ukraine Fronts in a pincer movement.

9th AF: WESTERN EUROPE: There are no USAAF bomber operations as bad weather prevails; fighters sweep areas of eastern France and western Germany from Metz, France to Cologne, Germany, attacking rail and road traffic, rail bridges, and marshalling yards.