Thursday March 01, (+/- 02.30 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Little Leighs.

Thursday March 01, (05.01 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Stapleford Tawney.  

Thursday March. 01, (15.22 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Walthamstow.

Thursday March 01, (16.04 hours) – Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 V-2 rocket fired, impacted Wickford.

Thursday March 01, (17.25 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 V-2 rocket fired, impacted Horndon-on-the-Hill.

Thursday March 01, (23.07 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Ham.

Part of the unit Battery 444 fired two new test series V-2/V-2s in the first days of March at a place called Armsen (southeast of Verden an der Aller) in the direction of the North Sea, Northern Germany.

Friday March 02, (00.57 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ashingdon.

Friday March 02, (02.14 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Havering-atte-Bower.  

Friday March 02, (05.35 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Epping Forest.

Friday March 02, (05.46 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired impacted Chigwell (airburst).

Friday March 02, (05.47 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Fambridge.

Friday March 02, (08.11 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Southend.

Friday March 02, (09.19 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Brentwood.  

Friday March 02, (22.59 hours) – Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Chigwell.

Saturday March 03, (01.06 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Foulness Island.

Saturday March 03, (03.29 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Theydon Bois

Saturday March 03, (05.55 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford. Ten people dead.

Saturday March 03, (06.10 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Clacton.

On March 03 a total of (56) Allied medium bombers mounted an attack of the Duindigt/Haagse Bos, the suspected headquarters in Marlot and the western part of the forested Haagse Bos, where much of the V-2 material was stored. Because of a mistake in the navigation the first bombs were dropped southeast of the Haagse Bos instead of northwest. Many Dutch civilians of the Bezuidenhout quarter were killed by mistake. Later that evening, while the fires from the ill-fated attack were still burning, the Germans fired several rockets to show the Allies that the bombers missed their intended target.

Sunday March 04, (01.32 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Havering-atte-Bower.

Sunday March 04, (08.16 hours) – Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Chingford. No casualties, but one person killed by falling loose debris approximately 30 minutes after impact.

Sunday March 04, (08.59 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Southend

Monday March 05, (22.29 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Rainham.

Tuesday March 06, (03.02 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Ham.  Thirty one people killed.

Tuesday March 06, (03.03 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Rainham.

Tuesday March 06, (06.14 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Barking.

Tuesday March 06, (12.25 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Bowers Gifford.

Tuesday March 06, (16.54 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Walthamstow. Five people killed.

Tuesday March 06, (23.13 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Chigwell.

Tuesday March 06, (23.20 hours) – Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford. Eleven people dead.

Wednesday March 07, (03.10 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Stanford Rivers.

Wednesday March 07, (16.54 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Duindigt, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Waltham Holy Cross. Five people killed.

Wednesday March 07, (21.57 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford.

Wednesday March 07, (23.28 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Dagenham.

Thursday March 08, (00.46 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Chigwell.

Thursday March 08, (03.21 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Writtle.

Thursday March 08, (04.17 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Wassenaar, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Clacton

Thursday March 08, (04.59 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford. Twelve people killed.

Thursday March 08, (09.05 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Wassenaar, V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Ham.

On March 08, 1945, after suffering fuel supply problems and very few rockets, Batt. SS Abt. 500 moved back the old firing Sites at Eelerberg Forest.

Friday March 09, (04.00 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Pitsea. Two people dead.

Friday March 09, (08.31 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Thames Estuary near Southend.

Friday March 09, (13.45 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Waltham Holy Cross. Two people dead.

Friday March 09, (22.54 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted South Ockendon.

Saturday March 10, (01.21 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Brentwood.

Saturday March 10, (04.18 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Rawreth.

Sunday March 11, (07.06 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Foulness Island. Warhead unexploded.

Sunday March 11, (07.34 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Ham. Five people dead.

Sunday March 11, (20.39 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Canvey Island.  

Sunday March 11, (21.48 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Bulphan Fen.

Monday March 12, (00.18 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Upminster. Five people dead.

Monday March 12, (01.24 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Stanford Rivers.

Monday March 12, (02.02 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Clacton.

Monday March 12, (04.36 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Little Warley.

Monday March 12, (04.43 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Chigwell

Monday March 12, (05.00 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch.

Monday March 12, (07.14 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Althorne.

Monday  March 12, (08.57 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Stanford-le-Hope (airburst).

Monday March 12, (11.10 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Thorpe-le-Soken. One person killed.

Monday March 12, (21.16 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Epping.  
 
Monday March 12, (23.43 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Nazeing.

Tuesday March 13, (03.23 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Tillingham Marshes (airburst)

Tuesday March 13, (06.24 hours) – Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Shenfield.

The war diary of Batt. 836 (Art. Reg. 901) stated on March 13, that; “…the long awaited supply train, which had left for Gruppe Süd on March 8, had still not been found.” Instead, a train which had left from Friedrichshafen later on had arrived. As a result, the Batt. 3./836 (Art. Reg. 3./901) launched V-2s against Antwerp.

Wednesday  March 14, (00.36 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Havering-atte-Bower.

Thursday March 15, (02.36 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Dagenham, in River Thames.

Thursday March 15, (06.21 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Rayleigh.

Thursday March 15, (23.41 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted River Blackwater, Essex.

Friday March 16, (02.49 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea near Clacton.

Friday March 16, (08.45 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted East Ham. Eight people killed.

Friday March 16, (09.31 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Dengie.

The last rocket from Hachenburg area was launched around 14.58 hrs on March 16, 1945. The failing supply of fuel and Allied advance at Remagen, caused Batt. 836 (Art. Reg. 901) to be the first V-2 launching unit to halt operations.

Saturday March 17, (00.01 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Upminster.

Saturday March 17, (00.50 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch.

Saturday March 17, (03.29 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Wennington.

On March 17, 1945, the SS Werfer Battery 500, on orders from Himmler, fired 11 rockets at the Remagen bridgehead, which had recently been captured by the Allies, in an attempt to disrupt the advancing American troops crossing over the Rhine.

Sunday March 18, (00.32 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Ham.

Sunday March 18, (01.27 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, exploded in the air in the north of Cranham, England damaging six cottages.

Sunday March 18, (01.55 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier , V-2 rocket fired, impacted Battlesbridge.

Sunday March 18, (+/- 01.58 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Epping.

Sunday March 18, (06:34 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hutton. Warhead unexploded.

Sunday March 18, (06.39 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Barking.

Sunday March 18, (+/- 12.49 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, (impact unknown – possible air break-up soon after launch)

Sunday March 18, (23.58 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Theydon Garnon              . 

Monday March 19, (01.27 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch.

Monday March 19, (22.14 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Theydon Bois.  

Tuesday March 20, (01.22 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Little Warley. Farmhouse demolished. Three people killed and several cattle.

Tuesday March 20, (04.04 hours) – Battery 3/485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted West Hanningfield.  

Tuesday March 20, (05.31 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier  V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch. Warhead unexploded.

Tuesday March 20, (07.01 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted High Ongar.

Tuesday March 20, (09.47 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Mayland.

Wednesday March 21, (00.35 hours) – Battery 1/485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Wanstead.

Wednesday March 21, (18.38 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Romford (airburst).

Wednesday March 21, (21.28 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Little Saling.

Wednesday March 21, (22.34 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Woodham Ferrers.

Wednesday March 21, (23.46 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Stanstead.

Thursday March 22, (02.01 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Bradwell.

Thursday March 22, (02.31 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Canewdon.

Thursday March 22, (02.38 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Epping. Four people killed.

Thursday March 22, (05.18 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Buttsbury.

Thursday March 22, (05.43 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Boreham.

Thursday March 22, (05.57 hours) – Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Leyton (airburst).

Thursday March 22, (06.58 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted River Colne, Brightlingsea.

Thursday March 22, (07.37 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Clacton.

Thursday March 22, (08.07 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Dagenham.

Thursday March 22, (09.45 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier , V-2 rocket fired, impacted Woodham Ferrers.

Thursday March 22, (10.24 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford (airburst).

Thursday March 22, (23.38 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Southminster.  

The V-2 launches continued with an average of ten V-2s per day during March. The majority of rockets were fired from Statenkwartier and also a new launch Site southwest of edge of the Haagse Bos. Because the ground was very solid, there were few failures. Of the 217 rockets fired from areas of The Hague during March, no more than 19 failed.

Friday March 23, (03.07 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea, near Clacton.

Friday March 23, (06.19 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Theydon Garnon.

Friday March 23, (09.35 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Latchingdon.

Friday March 23, (12.21 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Stapleford, (airburst).

Friday March 23, (23.10 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Waltham Holy Cross.

Sunday March 25, (23.59 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Lambourne End.

Monday March 26, (04.36 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Hoek Van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch. Two people dead.

Monday March 26, (08.58 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Navestock.

Monday March 26, (14.37 hours) – Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford (Airburst).

Monday Mar.26, (19.01 hours) – Battery 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Romford. Two people killed and thirty-four seriously injured.

Monday March 26, (22.25 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Noak Hill.

Tuesday March 27, (03.24 hours) – Battery 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford.

From March 09 to March 27 at Hellendoorn, Feuerstellung Nr. 412, Batt. SS Abt. 500 launched about 38 V-2 rockets, with 3 failures. On Wednesday, March 28, – Batt. SS Abt. 500 leaves Hellendoorn because of the Allied advance. The unit was split up into various parts that all left the launching area on different days, with different destinations. The third platoon, followed by the first platoon, and then the second platoon of the SS 500 left the area last. Some soldiers of the Batt. SS Abt. 500 were, in the last phase of the war, were equipped with Nebel-Werfers (15 cm, Do-Werfer). They were supposed to travel to Berlin to battle against the Russians. But, the SS 500 soldiers never made it to Berlin and were scattered during the Allied advance.

Also on Wednesday, March 28, Batt. 1./485 (Art. 1./902) and Batt. 2./485 (Art. 2./902) withdrew on to Fallingbostel, 23 miles north of Hanover, they arrived on April 1. One day later, the Batt. 3./485 (Art. 3./902) launched its last two rockets before it also retreated to Fallingbostel.

After the retreat from its operational area in late March 1945, the Batt. 836 (Art. Rgt. 901) originally was to have gathered at BRAMSCHE (about 10 miles west of Osnabruck) for the so-called “Ziethen Undertaking”. The deterioration of the military situation, however, prevented this. Instead, the “Blucher Undertaking” was ordered, in which the units were to move to Celle (about 20 miles north of Hanover). From there the remaining rockets were to be fired against the “Kustrin Fortress” (the polish Kostrzyn of today, about 60 miles northeast of Berlin).

The plan fell apart because of the total breakdown in Germany. As a result, all of Gruppe Süd’s equipment was destroyed in the area of Celle, to prevent capture, on April 7, 1945. SS-General Kammler had already given the order to reorganize the rocket units into infantry regiments. The war diary of the Batt. 836 (Art. Rgt. 901) stated on April 8, that – with all of their specialized equipment destroyed, the FR Gruppe had lost its character as an elite unit. They were now nothing more than an infantry combat group.

There is some information that seems to indicate that Battery 444 fired additional rockets from the area around Verden in Germany as late as April 5-6. In January of 1945 Battery 444, after V-2 ending operations in the Netherlands, moved to Buddenhagen. There this battery was reorganised and renamed with other units into Lehr- und Versuchs Abteilung. A portion of the 444 troops formed one small launching troop and fired rockets from the site at Heek as late as March 27. The other part unit went at the end of February/beginning of March to Rethem for A-4/V-2 test launches. But in Rethem no rocket was fired. Lehr- und Versuchs Abteilung moved deeper into Germany, arriving in a place called Welmbüttel in Schlesig Holstein, northern Germany. The unit had reportedly already fired two new test series V-2s from this area a few weeks earlier sometime in the first days of March at a place called Armsen (southeast of Verden an der Aller) in the direction of the North Sea. Some of the soldiers of that unit had taken quarter in these villages and stayed there after the end of the war. Eyewitness reports said that on Good Friday and Easter there were no firings, but on April 5 the residents saw the first launching of a V-2 from Welmbüttel in Schlesig Holstein, in the direction of the North Sea. On April 6, there was a misfire resulting in a crash near one of the launch Sites.

Eyewitnesses report a total of five rockets fired from these areas. In the following days, all the rockets were moved away from this area and most probably destroyed by the rocket troops near Celle. These last firings are not related to operational attacks. They were only test firings, but they do give an idea of the movements of remnants of Battery 444 (*MG)

From Oct. 7 – Mar. 30, 152 V-2’s crashed in the Antwerp harbour killing 131 workers there.

During the last phase of the operations, the daily rate of fire for Gruppe Süd, due to the problems mentioned above, was clearly lower than that of Gruppe Nord, and amounted to an average of about four rockets per day.

Although the war was ended another accident with a V-2 happened in Holten (Holland). On April 30, at the crossroads of Rijssenseweg/Markeloseweg a “Bomb Disposal Lorry” drove, that carried the highly explosive top of a V-2 rocket. Suddenly it exploded killing 6 people. One of the persons was sitting on the top of the rocket and nothing of him was found anymore. Near the Castle De Waardenborch, there is still a monument remember this accident.  By the end of the V-2 campaign about 3172 V-2s where launched.

Belgium	Antwerp	1610
	Luttich	27
	Hasselt	13
	Tournai	9
	Mons	3
	Diest	2
France	Lille	25
	Paris	22
	Tourcoing	19
	Arras	6
	Cambrai	4
England	London	1358
	Norwich/Ipswich	44
Germany	Remagen	11
Holland	Maastricht	19

S.O Book 136 ½

To  6 March 45

1 March

On duty in am.  Left for Brussels at 12.15 arriving there at 230.  Shopping then met G & M at Atlanta for tea.  Excellent film after tea ‘Pride and Prejudice’ – Greer Garson, Lawrence Olivier.  Good dinner

Sherry

Soup

Ham omelette }  Red wine

Veal & veg      }  Champagne

Peach flan      }

Coffee

Brandy

After dinner nattered til 11 ocl then to M’s house & so to bed.

To Nil                                                  From Nil

2 March

Up at 8.45 and b’fast with Maurice.  Left the old city at 10.15 and was back at Corps HQ at 12.15.  Rozzer away this morning on a course in UK.  After lunch hockey v Signals on our football field – fair game.  We won 6 – 3.  Scored 4.

Duty after tea.  Dinner, oysters and champagne with Nigel (his wife’s birthday) at 8 pm.  Ping Pong with Geoffrey Lamb after dinner then over to CE’s caravan to talk about stamps – Wrote A before going to bed – at 12 midnight.

To A                                                    From A, L, L (cake) (med. supplies!)

3 March Saturday

On all morning and afternoon.  Not much happening.  John Roberts back from his 3 weeks in UK.

After tea wrote L and had an excellent bath.  Moving unfortunately to Tilburg on the 12^th – great pity.  On duty at 8.15 pm for the night.

To L A                                                From A.

4 March Sun

Church in morning.  Nothing exciting – work til dinner.  After which I went to bed very early.

To A                                                    From A, Aunt D.

5 March Mon

In evening went to see the ENSA variety show with Ingvar and Charles Woodford.

To A                                                    From L, B, Papers L

6 March Tues

Dinner with George Holden at Offrs Club.  Frightful belly ache after & to bed on return.

To Nil                                                  From Nil

7 March Wed

‘Desert Song’ with Edward after tea then night duty.  Stum still very unsettled.

To A                                                    From A, G, Maps L, Parcel A.

Kriegsgefangenenpost

            Mit luft Post.

            Stamp. Recovered P.O.W. mail from Europe recently received by British P.O.

                                                                                    Stamp Stal*** 48 Geu***

                                                                                    No Stamp PASSED P.W.

                                                                                    Postmark. 23.3.45

An                   Mrs. E. Wilkinson

                        Empfangsort:  Breightmet, Bolton

                        Strasse:          1068 Bury Rd

                        Kreis:              LANCASHIRE         

                        Land;              ENGLAND.

Gebuhrenfrei!

21-2-45

My Darling. I am writing this letter to let you know, that I am still in pretty good health, considering what we have gone through this last month.  Whether you will ever get it, I do not know.  Have you had any more mail from me since August, I hope that you have.  How are you keeping these days?  I hope that you are alright and that you are looking after yourself.  How is mother keeping?  I hope that she is keeping well, give her my love.  How is old Ben going on is he still as wild as ever?  By the way I have seen Nobby while I have been here, he is still the same, Lloyd is still keeping O.K. he is here but he is in a different barrack.  I think this is about all for now Darling, I hope that it will not be long before we are together again.  I love you Sweetheart, more than ever. 

Yours always

            Ernest

On back

Absender.

Vor und Zuname: Sgt. E. Wilkinson

Gefangennummer: 136. L.7.

Lager-Bezeichnung :  Kriegsgefangenenlager der  Luftwaffe Nr 3

Deutschland (Allemagne)

W

Kriegsgefangenenpost

            Mit luft Post.

            Stamp. Recovered P.O.W. mail from Europe recently received by British P.O.

                                                                                    Stamp GEPRUFT 108

                                                                                    No Stamp PASSED P.W.

                                                                                    No U.K. Postmark.

An                   Mrs. E. Wilkinson

                        Empfangsort:  Breightmet, Bolton

                        Strasse:          1068 Bury Rd

                        Kreis:              LANCASHIRE         

                        Land;              ENGLAND.

W

Gebuhrenfrei!

2-12-44

Darling.  Just a few lines to say that I am still keeping fit and well, and I hope you are the same, and that you are looking after yourself.  I also hope that your mother and everyone else is well too.  We have had two quite good concerts here and three film shows, the films were “The Corsican Brothers” an “Andy Hardy film, and one called  “Dixie Dugan” and we really enjoyed them.  What sort of a Christmas did you have?  We did not do badly considering the circumstances, we made ourselves a boiled pudding and a couple of cakes, the cakes we covered with chocolate icing, they were jolly good too.  We are doing the same for the new year.  Well Sweetheart I hope that you have had more mail from me by this time.  I got a letter from you last week dated Sept 11^th.  The mail from you is coming through very well.  This is all for now Darling so I will close.  I love you Sweetheart.  All my love and kisses. 

Yours forever and ever

            Ernest

On back

Absender.

Vor und Zuname: Sgt. E. Wilkinson

Gefangennummer: 136. L.7.

Lager-Bezeichnung :  Stalag Luft 3

Deutschland (Allemagne)

W

Mit luft Post

Kriegsgefangenenpost

Postkarte                  

Recovered P.O.W. mail from Europe recently received by British P.O.

                                                                                    No Stamp GEPRUFT.

Postmark.  8.3.45

An                   Mrs. E. Wilkinson                            No Stamp PASSED P.W.

Gebuhrenfrei!

                                    Empfangsort:  1068 Bury Rd.

                                    Strasse:         Breightmet Bolton

                                    Land;              LANCASHIRE ENGLAND.

Absender:

Vor und Zuname:

Sgt. E. Wilkinson.

Gefangennummer: 136.L.7

Lager-Bezeichnung:

            Stalag Luft 7.

Deutschland (Allemagne)

W

Kriegsgefangenenlager.                                                                             Datum: 27.2.45

My Darling, Here is another card to say that I am still keeping pretty well, but very short of cigarettes.  I have had about fifty in the last six or seven weeks. 

How are you keeping Sweetheart, I hope that you are well.  Give my love to ma.  All my love to you Darling.  Yours ever  Ernest

.

 

(Britain)

 

During October 1944 a string of crimes were committed near Staines in Middlesex culminating in the murder of taxi driver George Edward Heath. Karl Hulten, a Swedish born deserter from the U.S. Army met an 18-year-old Welsh waitress Elizabeth Jones and they joined forces and became partners. Both had troubling and unruly upbringings resulting in illusions of grandeur about their lives. He was awol from the army and considered himself to be a dangerous gangster, she on the other hand, was a potential stripper in a nightclub. After meeting and for six days beginning on the 28^th October 1944 they lived out their fantasies. Driving a stolen army truck, they knocked over a nurse cycling along a country lane and robbed her. After, they picked up a female hitchhiker, knocked her unconscious, robbed her then threw her into a river. She did not drown and survived the ordeal. Finally, they murdered Heath, robbing him of £8.00, then stealing his taxi after abandoning the army truck. The murder became known as “The cleft chin murder” on account of Heath having a cleft chin. They were eventually caught with the taxi still in Hulten’s possession and both charged with murder. The Americans waived the “Visiting Forces Act” allowing him to be tried in a British court. They were both found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang. Hulten was executed at Pentonville Prison on the 8^th March 1945 and Elizabeth Jones was reprieved and her ultimate fate is uncertain.

 

(Liberated Europe)

 

During October 1944, German V2 rockets and launching units had been relocated to the Dutch city of The Hague. The prime targets for the rockets were London and Amsterdam. On the 3^rd March 1945 the Allies attempted to destroy the V2 launching sites plus any V2 rockets waiting to be launched. They were unsuccessful as the Allied pilots were given the wrong co-ordinates. By the 15^th March 1945 V2 rockets continued to hit London and Antwerp. Over 3,000 V2 rockets were launched at England and the whole of liberated Europe. The final rocket exploded at Orpington in Kent, killing one civilian, on the 27^th March 1945.

(Germany)

In retaliation for the bombing of London during the blitz of 1940/41, the Royal Air Force (RAF) bombed the city of Cologne on 262 separate air raids. During the second world war Cologne was the fourth largest city in Germany, and the largest city on the River Rhine. By the time the RAF carried out their last air on the 2^nd March 1945, most of the city had been destroyed. Cologne was a heavily industrialised city producing war supplies and as such was an important military target. On the 5^th March 1945, U.S. armoured and infantry divisions were approaching the city and on the 6^th March 1945 they moved toward the city centre. A single German Panther tank ambushed two U.S. Sherman tanks, one of which was slowed down by a pile of rubble in a narrow street. Two shells from the Panther took out the first Sherman and a third shell hit the tracks of the second Sherman. A U.S. Pershing tank approached and destroyed the Panther as the German tank commander hesitated possibly believing it was a German tank. By the 7^th March 1945 all of Cologne west of the Rhine was captured by the Allies. In 1942, RAF Commander-in-Chief Sir Arthur (Bomber) Harris made his now famous statement, “They sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind”. Rightly or wrongly the bombing of Cologne was Germany’s WHIRLWIND!![O1] 

The Battle of Remagen began on the 7^th March 1945 when U.S. troops captured, intact, the Ludendorrf Bridge over the Rhine. For the next ten days the Germans tried many tactics to destroy the bridge, including aircraft.  By the 14^th March 1945 the air offensive had failed. Hitler ordered that V2 rockets be fired against the bridge. When the bridge finally collapsed on the 17^th March 1945, American combat engineers had built temporary bridges across the Rhine.  Over 125,000 U.S. combat troops and equipment crossed the Rhine and the eighteen-day battle ended on the 25^th March 1945.

By March 1945 the Allies had advanced into Germany and approaching the River Rhine. The city of Mainz was bombed by the RAF on the 27^th February 1945, damaging large parts of the city. However, the main targets of the air raids were the railway facilities, which were undamaged. Multiple Allied air raids had rendered approximately 80% of the city destroyed and many of the defenders withdrew across the Rhine. U.S. General George Patton’s troops captured the city on the 22^nd March 1945 and what remained of the German defenders surrendered without a fight.

Rivalry between Patton and British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery dictated Patton’s next move. He sneaked U.S. troops across the Rhine at Oppenheim on the 22^nd March 1945. The attack was successful as they were not opposed by German forces

On the 23^rd March 1945, Operation Plunder was a joint British-Canadian-U.S. crossing of the Rhine and commanded by Montgomery. The operation was an attack of the lower Rhine and consisted of an airborne assault, an artillery barrage and Anglo-American bombers. On the 24^th March 1945 Operation Varsity was launched, which consisted of over 16,000 Allied paratroopers. They landed east of the Rhine, consolidated, and finally met up with the Allied ground forces. Success in the lower Rhine region ensured an Allied victory for Operation Plunder on the 27^th March 1945.

The Battle of Frankfurt began on the 26^th March 1945. U.S. soldiers approached to city from the south and found the bridge crossing the River Main mostly intact. The River Main eventually merges into the Rhine River. Under fire and supported by U.S. tank artillery on the 27^th March 1945, the U.S. troops fought the Germans in fierce house to house combat forcing them out of the city. The three-day battle ended on the 29^th March 1945 when the Americans took control of Frankfurt. Accompanying the U.S. army was a female war correspondent, Lee Millar. She was the first correspondent, from the front line, to report to the U.S. press of the liberation of Frankfurt. Lee was one of six British and American War Correspondents who had been reporting events since 1936. Their theatre of operation was Europe and not the far east. Even then the U.S. assignments were regulated by the U.S. military.

With the Germans in general retreat, the Red Army was closing in on Germany from the east. Danzig (modern day Gdansk) is one of the oldest cities in Poland, which became a “Free City” following the Napoleonic wars. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, they officially annexed the “Free City”. The Siege of Danzig occurred when the Red Army approached the city on the 13^th March 1945 and ended on the 30^th March 1945 when Danzig was captured.

Heinrich Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany. After joining the Nazi Party in 1923 he rose through the ranks to become Reichsfuhrer-SS in 1929. He also became a principal architect for the Holocaust, the extermination of the Jews and other so-called inferior races. Himmler was primarily a master organisational officer and under his leadership the Gestapo and Waffen-SS w developed. Hitler appointed him as commander of the hastily formed Army Group Vistula on the 25^th January 1945. However, Himmler did not have the military and combat experience to halt the Red Army advance. Eventually, after some delaying tactics, a counter-attack was launched against the Red Army on the 16^th March 1945. The attack was halted by heavy rain, mud, minefields and strong anti-tank defences. Under pressure from Hitler as to why the mission was not accomplished, Himmler was unable to provide a viable alternative. Accusing him of not following orders, Hitler held Himmler personally responsible. The military command of Himmler ended on the 20^th Match 1945 when Hitler replaced him with General Gotthard Heinrici. Hitler’s response to Himmer’s failure marked a serious deterioration in the relationship between the two leaders

(Eastern Front)

In Denmark, resistance fighters in Copenhagen had asked for a long time for the British to conduct a raid on Shellhus in the city centre. The building was being used by the Germans as Gestapo headquarters. Plans were approved for a low-level raid, and code-named Operation Carthage. On the 21^st March 1945 eighteen de Haviland Mosquito fighter-bombers conducted the raid. They were escorted by 30 Royal Air Force (RAF) Mustang fighters and two RAF Mosquito Film Production Units to record the results of the attack. The attack was conducted at roof-top level. On the first wave of six aircraft one Mosquito hit a lamppost and crashed into a school just short of the target. The crash set the school alight killing 123 civilians, many of them children. Shellhus was destroyed by the remaining aircraft, eighteen resistance prisoners escaped and Gestapo operations in Denmark were severely disrupted. Over 100 Danish employees of the Gestapo, Danish prisoners and German soldiers died during the attack. For the Allies, four Mosquito bombers and two Mustang fighters were lost and nine airmen died on the raid.

(Burma-Pacific)

Near the end of the Burma Campaign, two separate battles, the Battle of Meiktila and the Battle of Mandalay were decisive engagements. The Japanese supply lines had been extended and troops had suffered heavy losses in the mountains after the battles of Imphal and Kohima in 1944. The Allies were pursuing the retreating Japanese south along the Burma spine. The Japanese losses included conscripts who were not ready for battle. The air force was reduced to a few dozen aircraft and the tank regiment only had about twenty tanks to face the Allied advance.

—

With disastrous Japanese losses their military realised they needed to make sweeping changes to their commanders. On the 28^th February 1945 the Japanese began preparing for the defence of Meiktila as they became aware of the threat of the Allied advance. The Indian 17^th Division captured the city of Meiktila on the 3^rd March 1945. The Japanese re-enforcement troops, when they arrived, were dismayed to find they would need to capture Meiktila again. Battle weary troops were weak after the preceding weeks heavy fighting. Meiktila was besieged and the siege ended when the Japanese commander was ordered to abandon the siege during the final days of March 1945. At the same time, they were ordered to prepare to resist further Allied advances to the south.

For his actions during the Battle of Meiktila on the 18^th March 1945, Lieutenant Karamjeet Singh Judge was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). He was 21 years old and serving in the 4^th Bn. 15^th Punjab Regiment, Indian Army. The platoon he was leading was held up by machine-gun fire from tunnels and bunkers. With complete disregard for his own safety he went forward and directed the supporting tanks to destroy the first bunker. After ten bunkers had been destroyed another three were located. A smoke bomb directed a tank to the first bunker, he led a few troops to mop-up after requesting the tank to cease fire. Within a few yards of the bunker a machine-gun opened fire and he was mortally wounded.

—

Japanese troops had been ordered to abandon the Siege of Meiktila and reinforce the city of Mandalay, and defend the city to the last man. Japanese military honour would be a loss of prestige should the city be abandoned. South of the city, were large supply dumps, which the Japanese could not afford to lose. A battalion of 4/4^th Gurkha Rifles stormed Mandalay Hill on the 8^th March 1945. Fighting their way into the city the Gurkhas faced Japanese defenders who were located in tunnels and bunkers. The Japanese defenders were gradually over-run until Mandalay was liberated on the 20^th March 1945. With the loss of Mandalay, the Burmese population turned against the Japanese. Guerilla forces would continue in Burma until the end of the war in September 1945

(Pacific)

The first raid on Tokyo was the daylight raid of the 25^th February 1945 when 174 USAAF B-29 bombers dropped incendiary bombs destroying approximately 643 acres of the snow-covered city. On the 9^th March 1945 the most destructive raid on Tokyo, code named Operation Meetinghouse, was conducted by the U.S. military. With a change of tactics, 324 B-29 bombers flew at night and at a lower altitude of 2,000-2,500 ft. (610-760 m). Mostly the bombs dropped were 500^lb (230 kg) cluster bombs which contained incendiary bomblets. The first B-29’s to arrive dropped the bombs in a large “X” pattern in Tokyo’s city centre which included the dock area. Approximately 15.8 square miles of central Tokyo’s densely populated area was destroyed. The destruction was caused by individual fires mixing and creating one huge fire. The result was that approximately 100,000 were killed and over one million homeless. Of the 339 B-29s launched for Meetinghouse, 282 reached the target. What happened to the remainder is not known. 27 were lost by being caught up in fire updraft, mechanical failures or being shot down by Japanese air defences. Sometime during March 1945, Emperor Hirohito’s tour of the destroyed areas of Tokyo was the beginning of his involvement in the peace process between Japan and the U.S.A.                                                                             

In Nagoya, the Mitsubishi Aircraft Works was the major target for the USAAF a ir raids. The Doolittle Raid in April 1942 was the first raid. The second phase created the most serious bomb damage  during the aerial attacks of 1944 and 1945. Twenty-one separate raids dropped nearly 20,000 tons of bombs between the 13^th December 1944 and the 24^th July 1945. Prior to that another phase of precision bombing on Mitsubishi factories were launched on the 13^th and 18^th December 1944 respectively. Two further attacks were launched on 3^rd and 14^th January 1945. On two separate dates, the 11^th and 18^th March 1945, there were large scale air raids culminating into widespread firestorms. The raids on the Mitsubishi Aircraft Works in Nagoya continued into April 1945.

During the Battle of Iwo Jima, following the capture of the second Japanese built airfield on the 23^rd February 1945, the U.S. marines slowly moved northward. Located at the extreme north of the island was Hill 363 where the marines encountered more Japanese defenders. Clearing the fortified ridges of Hill 363 and the area around Hill 382, known as the “Meatgrinder” was difficult as the defenders were often hidden underground. By the 7^th March 945 the marines had taken both hills and Iwo Jima was finally declared secure on the 26^th March 1945. However, a few Japanese soldiers remained in isolated strongholds until the end of March 1945. The suicidal defence of Iwo Jima by 20,000 Japanese troops was part of the Japanese code of not surrendering, but to die for the emperor. Of the 1,000 who did not die approximately 850 were taken prisoner, owing mainly to their injuries. For the marines the battle was the bloodiest in the Pacific Campaign. They had approximately 22,000 casualties of which 7,000 were killed in action. Their casualties were actually more than the Japanese casualties.

(Other Theatres)

 

Saudi Arabia was a neutral country during the course of the war, who rapidly expanded their petroleum industry. This expansion was largely due to investment from the Allies to ensure the supply of oil to the Allied forces. In February 1945 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt met the Saudi king and an agreement was reached that the Saudis would join forces with the Allies. On the 1^st March 1945 with both the Axis powers in full retreat, Saudi Arabia declared war on Germany and Japan.    

During the course of the war Argentina had remained neutral. British investment in the country ensured that the two countries would both benefit from Argentina’s exporting foodstuffs and agricultural products to Britain. Resentment was growing in Germany and Italy of the British influence as they were not receiving pre-war trading facilities. However, Argentina declared war on Germany on the 27^th March 1945 when they conceded to Allied pressure.

 

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 [O1]