OBJECT – to make you as comfortable as possible and to provide an early return to “Blighty”.
DIAGRAM OF CAMP – see reverse side of this sheet.
RECEPTION DRILL – This is laid on in order that you may be immediately ready for despatch as soon as planes are available.
Debus on Square – heavy kit may be left there and picked up later.
Halt for latrines as required.
Medical inspection.
Documentation.
Clothing.
Prepare for showers in the dressing room.
Showers.
Dress in clean clothes and discard old clothing in receptacles provided.
Red Cross for free issue of cigs, sweets, razor, soap, etc.
Dusting.
Pick up kit left at point “A” and proceed to Coys for quartering – twin beds provided (upper and lower)
Food at last and then freedom to go and come as you please.
Interrogation on a voluntary basis.
Pay normally follows dusting but may come after your meal.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Dry Canteen – “Rest Awhile”, operated by the British Council of Voluntary Workers and Cdn Auxiliary Services, providing tea, cigs, various games such as ping-pong, etc writing and reading facilities, plus dance bands or other music.
Wet Canteen – “Half Way House”, operated by this unit. The beer is only a fair substitute for “Mild and Bitter”.
Movies or “Flicks” – whichever you prefer, are held in the building as noted on the reverse side.
Gift Shops. – attractive articles may be purchased at the two “Gift Shops” for your wives, sweethearts or children. One of these is in the Dry Canteen operated by the Canadian YMCA, and the other as shown on the diagram, by the Voluntary Army Welfare Services, 21 Army Gp.
MONEY EQUIVALENTS
Canadian English French Belgian Dutch German
$ 1.00 £0.4.6 45 Frs 40 Frs 2 Glds & 37c 9 Marks
DEPARTURE
Your stay here will be short – 12 to 48 hours in most cases, and you will then be despatched by air. This unit receives about 1 hour’s notice before actual departure, in which time personnel must be notified by loud speaker, collected by serials on the square, issued embarkation cards (AFs W 3060) in duplicate, embus, given haversack lunch and despatched to the airfield.
There is no desire on the part of this unit to restrict your comings and goings but remember if you are not around when your serial is called, you will miss your plane and must wait over.
Recovered P.O.W. mail from Europe recently received by British P.O.
Square Stamp with circle within but
unreadable.
Postmark. 16.4.45
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 3
Deutschland (Allemagne)
W
Kriegsgefangenenlager. Datum: 1.3.45
Sweetheart. Just a few lines to say that I am keeping well, and I hope that you are the same. Look after yourself won’t you, Darling. I have not heard from you for a while, but that is to be expected with us moving. Give my love to Mam. Cheerio, Sweetheart and god bless you.
I love you. Your ever Ernest
.
April 1945
(Italy)
The Italian Campaign was seen as a sideshow after D-Day, when the Allies turned their focus on the Western Front. For those involved it was a long punishing struggle. Beginning on the 6th April 1945, the Spring 1945 offensive was given the code name Operation Grapeshot. The winter of 1944-45 was harsh resulting in stalemate and the Allies and German forces were unable to progress. When the offensive began over 600,000 Germans of Army Group “C” defended the Lombardy Plain in northern Italy. They were attacked by over one million Allies of the 18th Army Group. The German Army Group “C” was made up of German and the Italian Social Republican troops. The Allied 18th Army Group consisted of troops from the U.K. and Commonwealth, the U.S., Poland, Italy plus the Italian Resistance, Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa. On the 9th April 1945, Allied troops launched a major attack from Ravena, not far from the east coast, northwest toward Ferrara. After a three-day battle Montese, a town in the province of Moderna, was liberated by Brazilian troops on the 17th April 1945. Bologna, west of Ravena, was encircled by U.S. and Polish forces on the 21st April 1945. The German commanders realised their position was impossible and sued for peace on the 24th April 1945. By the 29th April 1945 the Germans had signed the surrender terms. On the 2nd May 1945 the cease-fire was completed and the long Italian campaign has ended.
In July 1943 Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was deposed by the Fascist Party and King Vittorio Emanual III. He was arrested and held prisoner in the mountains. Hitler’s forces rescued him. Following the liberation of Rome by the Allies, on the 27th April 1945, and the war almost over Mussolini and his mistress Claretta Petacci attempted to escape to Switzerland. The intention was to board a plane and escape to Spain, but were stopped and identified by communist partisans. On the 28th April 1945, Mussolini and Petacci. together with their 15 aides, were shot. Their bodies were loaded into a van and driven to Milan where they were hung upside down from the roof of a service station. As dictator during the Second World War, he overstretched his forces and eventually killed by his own people. The Italian masses greeted Mussolini’s death without regret. Mussolini had promised his people Roman glory, but his megalomania overcame his common sense, bringing them only war and misery.
(Germany)
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany was liberated by the British on the 15th April 1945. Originally the camp was established as a prison of war camp but in 1943 it developed into a concentration camp. During its existence as a concentration camp and for three months after liberation, approximately 50,000 people died. When the soldiers liberated the camp, they discovered approximately 60,000 victims who were half starved and seriously ill. With the camp having 13,000 unburied corpses lying around, the site gained international notoriety for Nazi mass murder.
As a part of the Battle of Berlin, the last major assault on the entrenched defences of city, was the Battle ofSeelow Heights. The three-day battle was fought from the 16th to the 19th April 1945 when nearly one million Soviet troops engaged in the bitterest fighting against approximately 110,000 German defenders. Spreading back from the Heights toward Berlin, theGermans had built three defensive lines. Each line consisted of a network of trenches and bunkers, anti-tank ditches and anti-tank gun emplacements. Over half a million shells were fired from approximately 9,000 Soviet artillery pieces in the first thirty minutes of 16th April 1945. Over the next three days both sides suffered heavy losses and by the close of the 19th April 1945 the German defences had effectively ceased to exist.
With the western Allies and Red Army rapidly advancing toward Berlin, Fuhrer Adolf Hitler’s celebration was subdued for his 56th birthday on the 20th April 1945. By this time Hitler was in residence full time in the Fuhrerbunker in central Berlin. He accepted the congratulations of his personal staff and later with some of his circle of Nazi leaders. These included Hermann Goering, Joseph Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler and Martin Bormann, who all offered their obligatory congratulations. In the afternoon, in the ruined gardens of the Reich Chancellery, he awarded Iron Crosses to boy soldiers of the Hitler Youth who were fighting the Red Army on the front line.
With the Allies approaching Berlin from the west and the Red Army approaching from the east, for Germany, the war was coming to a rapid ending. By the 27th March 1945, British-U.S. forces had been held up at the Battle of the Bulge and not crossed the Rhine River. Approaching from the east the Red Army was approximately 40 miles (64 km) from Berlin. Supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower sent a telegram to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, that the Allies would halt at the Elbe River. By this action the Allies allowed the Red Army to take Berlin.
Hitler ordered his commanders to counter-attack and destroy the Belarusian Front of the Soviet Army on the 21st April 1945. Upon hearing the following day that the attack did not take place he went into an immediate rage accusing his commanders of incompetence and treachery. He ended, with a first-time declaration, that the war was lost. Realising there was nowhere for him to go he announced he would stay in Berlin until the end then commit suicide rather than be captured alive.
Luftwaffe chief Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring, had in 1941 been named as Hitler’s successor. Having learnt of the announcement he sent a telegram to Hitler on the 26th April 1945, requesting the agreement be honoured and that he would take over the leadership of the Reich. Hitler was convinced by his secretary Martin Bormann that Goring’s telegram was an attempt to overthrow the Fuhrer. Hitler’s response was that unless Goring resigned with the loss of all his powers he would be executed. Later that day Hitler sacked Goring and was consequently relieved of all his powers. Having done so Hitler promptly issued the order for Goringto be arrested. –
The encirclement of Berlin was completed on the 24th April 1945 when the Belarusian and Ukrainian forces of the Soviet Army linked up.
With the Americans advancing from the west and the Soviets advancing from the east, Germany was effectively divided in two on what became known as Elbe Day. The Americans crossed the Elbe River on the 26th April 1945 and met with the Soviet forces at Torgau, south-east of Belin. Arrangements had been made for the “Handshake of Torgau” to be photographed of the two commanders on the 27th April 1945. With the taking of the handshake photograph it confirmed the encirclement of Berlin was complete. On the same day, the America, British, French and Soviet governments simultaneously released statements with regard to the determination for the complete destruction of the Third Reich.
Nero Decree, or the scorched earth policy, was issued by Hitler on the 19th March 1945. The decree required all German infrastructure destroyed to prevent the Allies using the facilities as they penetrated deeper into Germany. Hitler placed the responsibility for carrying out the decree to his Minister of Armaments and War Production, Albert Speer. Apparently, Speer was appalled by the plan and deliberately did not carry out the order. Having by then lost faith in Hitler, as he considered the Fuhrer to have become insane, Speer requested he was given exclusive power to implement the plan to carry out the decree. Hitler was completely unaware of this until Speer met him on the.23rd April 1945 during his last ever meeting with Hiter. It would appear Hitler went into a rage saying another Nazi leader had let him down, but Hitler did allow Speer to leave the Berlin Fuhrerbunker.
Himmler who had left Berlin on Hitler’s birthday, was attempting to negotiate a surrender with the western Allies on the 24th April 1945. Hitler discovered, on the 28th April 1945, Himmler’s involvement, and he immediately ordered the arrest of Himmler for what he considered to be treason.
Built in March 1938, Dacau was one of the first and longest running concentration camps in Germany. Located in Bavaria, 10 miles (16 km) north west of Munich, Dacau was originally intended to inter Hitler’s Pollical opponents. The camp developed, by the Gestapo SS, into part of the “Final Solution” of the extermination of the Jewish race. On the 29th April 1945 the U.S. Army troops liberated Dacau to find the conditions in the camp to be horrendous, despite the attempt by the Nazi’s to destroy the evidence.
Lee Miller, the U.S. female front-line war correspondent heard that Dacua had been liberated and she wished to record the events. The only problem was that she and her colleague, photographer Dave Scherman, were in Nuremberg, 105 miles (168 km) north of Munich. Driving through the night, in Scherman’s acquired 1937 Chevrolet, they reached Dacau, located on the outskirts of Munich. Upon arrival at the concentration camp they were unprepared for the horrible conditions they encountered. The squalor, the stench of the dead bodies, but the most abiding horror was the starved, broken bodies of the survivors. They left Dacau “gulping for air”, wishing to cover a battle, but in the centre of Munich there was little fighting to report. They were given permission by the U.S. military to use Prinzregentplaz 16, Hitler’s Munich Residence, as a temporary billet. Wishing to wash off the stench of Dacau, her instinctive response was to take a bath in Hitler’s bathtub. Lee placed a framed photograph of Hitler to one side of the bath and placed her muddy boots on the mat. Scherman took a photograph of Lee sitting in the bath, which eventually became the most iconic shot of his career. Ironically it was the 30th April 1945 the photograph was taken, the same day that Hitler committed suicide. Lee continued to report on military events until the end of the war.
With Germany virtually defeated and the Reich Chancellery besieged, Hitler married Eva Braun in the early hours after midnight on the 29th April 1945. When he heard that Mussolini had been executed it was thought Hitler was determined not to be captured. With Soviet troops approaching, Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide on the 30thApril 1945. He shot himself in the head and she bit into a cyanide capsule. As per Hitler’s instructions their bodies were taken into the garden, doused with petrol and set on fire. Grand Admiral Karl Donitz and Joseph Goebbels assumed the role of Hitler’s head of state and chancellor respectively.
(Pacific)
The Allied preparation for the Battle of Okinawa began on the 18th March 1945, whilst the assault on Iwo Jima was still under way. Okinawa was heavily fortified by artillery hidden in caves and garrisoned by 100,000 Japanese troops. Familiar with the fierce determination of the Japanese army the U.S. forces began the campaign with massive bombardments. To the west of Okinawa both the Karama Islands and Keise Shima were invaded by U.S. troops on the 26th March 1945. Karama Islands for the U.S. fleet anchorage and Keise Shima for artillery support on southern Okinawa. The invasion of Okinawa began on the 1st April 1945 when 50,000 U.S. marines landed at Hagushi Bay, south central Okinawa. Meeting with little resistance, key positions and airfields had been over-run, then moving inland the marines had divided the island in two, at the point known as the Shuri Line, by the 7th April 1945. Ultimately over 170,000 U.S. marines invaded the island and began the advance north. By the 13th April 1945 the marines had captured the tip of the island at Hedo. The marines met with strong resistance at the Motobu Peninsular in the wooded terrain around Mount Yae. By the 20th April 1945 the marines had captured northern Okinawa including the islet of le Shama. On the 18th April 1945 during the assault of le Shama, U.S. Pollitzer Prize-winning correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed.
Operation Ten-Go was the last major Japanese naval operation in the Pacific. The largest battleship in the world, the Japanese battleship Yamato and nine other Japanese vessels sailed from Japan on the 6th April 1945. The Japanese vessels sailed south toward Okinawa and were shadowed by U.S. submarines and flying boat reconnaissance aircraft. Opposing the Japanese battleship and escorting ships were eleven aircraft carriers, 49 assorted naval vessels and 388 aircraft. On the morning of the 7th April 1945, armed with torpedoes and bombs, 280 U.S. aircraft were launched from the carriers. Around mid-day they located the Japanese and methodically attacked Yamato and accompanying ships as the Japanese had no air cover. At around 14.30 Yamato capsized and began to sink and a few minutes later blew up as internal fires had reached the main magazines. The Japanese Army had promised an attack against the U.S. naval fleet at Okinawa during the battle. Approximately 115 aircraft, mainly kamikaze, attacked the U.S. ships. None of the ships were sunk, although moderate damage was inflicted on two and severe damage inflicted on another ship. Approximately 100 Japanese aircraft were lost in the attack. In addition, the Japanese casualties were over 4,000 sailors killed, six ships including Yamato sunk, and one destroyer severely damaged. For the U.S. forces they suffered 97 killed, 132 wounded, ten plus aircraft destroyed, three ships and 52 aircraft damaged.
The battle for southern Okinawa began on the 9th April 1945 after the U.S. marines had arrived at the Shuri Line, which effectively had divided the island in two. Organised Japanese resistance finally ended the Battle of Okinawa on the 22nd June 1945. The progress of the battle In May 1945 will include the events of April 1945.
—
The tactics for further aerial raids on Tokyo had changed since the last raids in March 1945. The bombers attacked at night and at lower altitude rather than daylight raids and higher altitudes. The Nakajima aircraft factory was bombed twice on separate raids. The first was on the 2nd April 1945 with 100 B-29 bombers attacking. On the second raid 101 B-29s bombed the factory again on the 7th April 1945. On the 3rd April 1945 68 B-29s attacked the urban areas of Tokyo and principally the Koizumi aircraft factory. The final attack of the month was on the 13th April 1945 when 329 B-29s bombed the arsenal area of the city.
(Other Theatres)
In America Franklin D. Roosevelt was the longest serving President of the United States of America. He served for four terms from 1933 until 1945. He was stricken with polio in 1921 and paralysed from the waist down. He fought to regain the use of his legs and was able to walk a little with his legs encased in leg braces and the aid of a cane. Most of the time he was in a wheelchair. His health had started to decline since 1940, mainly due to the fact he was chain smoker which gradually led to heart and blood circulatory problems. Returning to the United States from the Yalta Conference in February 1945, he looked old, thin and frail which shocked many of his fellow Americans. To enable him to rest before another conference in Warm Springs, Geogia, he departed on the 29th March 1945. While sitting for a portrait during the morning of 12th April 1945, he stated “I have a terrible headache”. Immediately after saying that he slumped forward unconscious in his wheelchair, and was carried into his bedroom. Roosevelt died in the afternoon at 3.35 pm and his attending cardiologist diagnosed Intracerebral Haemorrhage, a form of stroke. He was 63 years old. Roosevelt’s deputy Harry Truman became President Truman. Roosevelt’s flag-draped coffin was loaded onto the Presidential Train the following morning for the trip back to Washington. Instead of a full state funeral, as was tradition, a smaller ceremony was proposed as the USA was still at war. His remains were placed in the White House East Room when a simple funeral was held on the 14th April 1945. In attendance were his family, government officials and foreign ambassadors. Roosevelt was transported by train from Washington to his birthplace of Hyde Park, New York and on the 15th April 1945 he was buried. During the 30-day mourning period Germany had surrendered, but the now President Truman ordered all flags to remain at half-mast. Upon being re-elected for his fourth term of office, Roosevelt knew his health was deteriorating. He later admitted that at the end of the war he would resign in favour of his deputy Harry Truman.
In the German-occupied Netherlands Allied air forces commenced Operation Manna and OperationChowhound. The operations were humanitarian food drops to relieve the Dutch famine of 1944-45. During the last ten days of the European war, British Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and Polish Air Force attached to the RAF, began dropping 7,000 tonnes of food into the still Nazi-occupied Netherlands on the 29th April 1945. Mana ended on the 7th May 1945. Operation Chowhound began on the 1st May 1945.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 12th – 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.
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
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 11th. 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.
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
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 28th 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 8th 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 3rd 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 15th 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 27th 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 2nd 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 5th March 1945, U.S. armoured and infantry divisions were approaching the city and on the 6th 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 7th 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 7th 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 14th March 1945 the air offensive had failed. Hitler ordered that V2 rockets be fired against the bridge. When the bridge finally collapsed on the 17th 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 25th 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 27th 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 22nd 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 22nd March 1945. The attack was successful as they were not opposed by German forces
On the 23rd 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 24th 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 27th March 1945.
The Battle of Frankfurt began on the 26th 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 27th 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 29th 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 13th March 1945 and ended on the 30th 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 25th 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 16th 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 20th 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 21st 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 ofMandalay 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 28th February 1945 the Japanese began preparing for the defence of Meiktila as they became aware of the threat of the Allied advance. The Indian 17th Division captured the city of Meiktila on the 3rd 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 18th March 1945,Lieutenant Karamjeet Singh Judge was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). He was 21 years old and serving in the 4th Bn. 15th 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 4/4th Gurkha Rifles stormed Mandalay Hill on the 8th 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 20th 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 25th February 1945 when 174 USAAF B-29 bombers dropped incendiary bombs destroying approximately 643 acres of the snow-covered city. On the 9th 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 500lb (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 13th December 1944 and the 24th July 1945. Prior to that another phase of precision bombing on Mitsubishi factories were launched on the 13th and 18th December 1944 respectively. Two further attacks were launched on 3rd and 14th January 1945. On two separate dates, the 11th and 18th 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 23rd 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 7th March 945 the marines had taken both hills and Iwo Jima was finally declared secure on the 26th 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 1stMarch 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 27th March 1945 when they conceded to Allied pressure.
On January 17th 1945 at approximately 11 a.m. we received notice of one hour in which to pack our kit and be ready to leave the camp by marching. At the same time we were informed by Ober Feldwebel Frank that for every one man who fell out of the column on the march, five men would be shot. This order was never given in writing.
The start was postponed until 3.30 a.m. on Jan 19th. During the interval 68 sick men were evacuated to the civilian Slag at Kreigberg, and, we believe were later taken to Stalag 344 at Lansdorf.
Each man was provided with two and a half days marching rations, before leaving. When the march began on Jan 19th no transport was provided for any sick who might have fallen out on the march, and the only medical equipment carried, was that carried by the M.O. and three sanitators on their backs.
DETAILS OF MARCH.
Jan 19th. Left Bankau and marched to Winterfeld, a distance of 28 Km’s. This was done under extremely trying weather conditions and severe cold. The only accommodation at Winterfeld was small barns.
Jan 20th. Marched from Winterfeld to Karlsruhe arriving at 10 a.m. We set off at 5 a.m. and marched a distance of 12 Kms. At Karlsruhe, we were housed in an abandoned brick factory. Here for the first time we were provided with 2 field kitchens with which to cook for 1,550 men. Each kitchen was actually capable of cooking food for 200 men. The M.O. was also provided with a horse and cart for transport of the sick. The cart was big enough to hold 6 sitting cases. Half a cup of coffee (ersatz) per man was provided and after a rest period of 11 hours we were again ordered to move. The Camp Leader and the M.O. protested against further marching until the men were adequately rested and fed. We were told by the German Abwehr Officer that it was an order, and must be complied with. The same night we left Karlsruhe and marched to Schonfeld, arriving at 9 a.m. on Jan 21st, covering a distance of 42 Kms. The conditions during the night were extreme, the temperature being -13 degrees centigrade. The M.O.’s wagon was filled after the first 5 Kms, and from then onwards men were being picked up on the road sides in a collapsed and frozen state, and it was only by sheer will power that they were able to finish the march. After crossing the River Oder, a distance of 34 Kms, from Karlsruhe. We were told that we would be accommodated, and that no move would be made for 2 days.
Jan 21st. At Schonfeld we were accommodated in the cow sheds and barns of a farm. A room was provided at Lassen for the sick. Rations issued were about 100 grams of biscuits per man, and half a cup of coffee.
Jan 22nd. At 3 a.m. orders were given by the Germans to prepare to march off at once. It was dark and there was some delay in getting the men out from their sleeping quarters, because they could not find their baggage. The guards were thereupon marched into the quarters and discharged their firearms. The column was marching again by 5 a.m. 23 men, it was ascertained at this stage, were lost, and their whereabouts are unknown. They may have been left behind asleep, or they may have escaped. Also 31 men were evacuated (we believe) to Lamsdorf, but nothing further has been heard of them. We marched to Jenkwitz, a distance of 24 Kms and were housed at a farm in barns. Here we were issued with a total of 114 kms of fat, 46 tins of meat barley, and peas. Soup was issued, the ration being about a quarter of a litre per man. No bread was issued.
Jan 23rd. Left Jenkwitz at 8 a.m. and marched to Wassen. 20 kms.
Jan 24th. We were rested a day at Wassen, sleeping in barns. The revier was in a cowshed. 31 sick were evacuated to Sagan. 400 loaves of bread issued.
Jan 25th. Left Wassen at 4 a.m. for Heidersdorf and covered 30 Kms.
Jan 26th. Spent the day at Heidersdorf. Issued with 600 loaves of bread, to last for two days.
Jan 27th. Left Heidersdorf and marched 19 kms to Pfaffendorf, where we arrived at night.
Jan 28th. Left Pfaffendorf for Standorf at 5 a.m. and marched a distance of 21 Kms. Issued with 24 cartons knackebrot, 150 kgms oats, 45 kgms margarine and 50 kgms of sugar. 22 sick were evacuated at Schweidnitz, and eventually reached Sagan.
Jan 29th. Left Standorf at 6 p.m. and marched to Peterwitz a distance of 22 kms, where we arrived at 4 a.m. the following day. This march was carried out in darkness under extreme conditions. With a blizzard blowing the whole time. The men arrived at Peterwitz in an utterly exhausted condition. Before leaving Standorf we were promised that we would have to march no further as transport would be supplied at Peterwitz. 104 kgms of meat were issued, 1 sack of salt, 25 kgms of coffee, and 100 kgms barley.
Jan 30th. At Peterwitz, 30 men from Stalag 344, who had been left without guards joined our column. 296 loaves of bread were issued, 50 kgms oats and 35.5 kgms of margarine.
Jan 31st. We spent this day at Peterwitz. We were told we would have to march to Goldberg before we got transport. 300 kgms of oats were issued, 50 kgms coffee and 40 Kgms of margarine.
Feb 1st. Marched from Peterwitz to Pransvitz, a distance of 12 Kms. We remained at Pransvitz form Feb 1st to the 5th. On Feb 1st we were issued with 680 loaves of bread and 37.5 Kgms of margarine. On Feb 3rd we were issued with 112.5 kgms of margarine, 250 loaves, 100 kgms sugar, 200 Kgms of flour and 150 kgms barley. On Feb 4th the issue was 250 loaves.
At night on Feb 4th the German Commandant (Oberst Leutenant Behr) visited the farm and read out an order from O.K.W. to the effect that 5 men were to be released, and would be liberated at the first opportunity. The reason for this we could not understand.
Feb 5th. Before leaving we were issued with 500 loaves of bread, 95 kgms of margarine and 530 tins of meat. We were marched from Pransvitz to Goldberg a distance of 8 kms. On arrival at Goldberg we were put into cattle trucks 55 men to a truck. By this time there were numerous cases of dysentery and facilities for men to attend to personal hygiene were inadequate. The majority had no water on the train for two days. When men were allowed out of the trucks to relieve themselves, the guards ordered them back inside again, and we had to be continually getting permission for them to be allowed out. We were on the train from the morning of the 5th Feb to the morning of the 8th Feb. Before commencing this journey we were issued with 1/3 of a loaf to last for 2 days.
The total distance marched was 240 kms.
SUMMARY
As a result of the march and the deplorable conditions, the morale of the men is extremely low. They are suffering from an extreme degree of malnutrition, and, at present, an outbreak of dysentery. There are numerous cases of frostbite, and other minor ailments. They are quite unfit for any further moving. Food and better conditions are urgently required. We left Bankau with no Red X supplies, and throughout the march all rations were short issued. The most outstanding being bread. Which amounts to 2,924 loaves.
There is a map of the route taken on the last page.
The Bay Museum & Research Facility 