Posted on 02/28/2014 4:09:58 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
There is no doubt that the blast effect of the new German bombs has increased. In these circumstances, and indeed on general grounds, would it not be well to provide, so far as possible, slit trenches and blast or splinter cover for anti-aircraft personnel not on duty during the air raids? Each raid is likely to be short on account of the enemy’s reliance on “Window”, and the anti-aircraft personnel, a large proportion of whom are women, should be directed to use the slit trenches when not otherwise employed during the rids. In most cases the batteries should be able to do the bulk of the work themselves if materials are provided. Where outside assistance is required priority should be given to the most exposed positions.
Winston S. Churchill, Closing the Ring
* This is the first time we have featured Mr. and Mrs. Reston in the same issue.
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/feb44/f28feb44.htm
Germans counterattack Anzio again
Monday, February 28, 1944 www.onwar.com
American sheltering from German artillery barrage at Anzio [photo at link]
In Italy... German forces launch a second offensive against the Anzio beachhead held by forces of the US 6th Corps (Truscott). Four German divisions attack on either side of the Cisterna-Anzio road, defended by the US 3rd Division. German forces fail to break through.
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/thismonth/28.htm
February 28th, 1944 (MONDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Submarine HMS Artemis laid down.
Destroyer HMS Zealous launched.
Minesweeper HMS Sylvia launched.
ITALY: The second offensive from Anzio begins. The attack fails to break through.
U.S.S.R.: Polar Fleet and White Sea Flotilla: (Sergey Anisimov)(69)Submarine loss. “M-108” and K-22 - by surface ships, at Sulten-fjord area.
Soviet minesweeper Gruz torpedoed and sunk by E-boats off Cape Myshako.
Murmansk: The Allied convoy JW-57 - 42 merchant ships and a tanker - arrives safely having sunk two U-boats but lost the destroyer HMS Mahratta.
CANADA: HMC MTB 461 commissioned.
Frigate HMCS Teme (ex-HMS Teme) commissioned.
Corvette HMCS Hespeller commissioned.
U.S.A.: The last Vultee SNV-2 is delivered to the USN.
Submarine USS Sea Devil launched.
Destroyer escort USS Leland E Thomas launched.
Aircraft carrier USS Bennington launched.
Minesweepers USS Vigilance and Change commissioned.
Destroyer escort USS Martin H Ray commissioned.
Destroyer USS Moale commissioned.
Had to laugh concerning the article on income tax simplification.
“300 Villages Fall” to Soviet troops.
300 Villages today, 450 a few days ago, a thousand last month ... what a toll of human suffering.
Dutch Hear Nazis May Flood Lands – 10
Just like they did with the Pontine Marshes in Italy.
I’ve previously posted the reasons the Soviets always talk about the “populated places” re-occupied by Soviet troops. Although the Soviet steamroller is rolling along, the Germans are still inflicting heavy casualties. So when the Soviets “liberate” these populated places, every male between the ages of 15 and 45 are given some scrap of uniform, a weapon, a few hours of training and a bottle of vodka. They are then considered fit to be Red Army soldiers and go take their revenge on the Germans. As long as they are Russians, they are highly motivated to do so. But they aren’t well trained and that’s one reason the Germans inflict so many casualties on them. But so long as the Soviets can keep occupying these “populated places,” they get sources of fresh meat for the meatgrinder. Given the nature of the war in the east, it’s the only way the Soviets can keep the steamroller going.
Thank you. I must have missed it when you said it before ;-). I’ve often been astonished at the numbers on the Eastern Front. This is a good explanation of where some of that manpower is coming from.
I’m laughing at how the Japanese are “baffling” us with their naval strategy of “hiding” from the United States Navy. Of their major fleet units, Yamato is in drydock at Yokohama for repair to a torpedo hit, and Musashi is at anchor at Palau, having delivered a load of trucks. The carriers and remaining fleet units are at Lingga Roads, off Singapore, where the Japanese are frantically trying to train a new set of naval aviators. The baffling strategy of running away from the United States Navy was of necessity; the hangar decks of the carriers were empty as the planes and the aircrews had been lost in the air battles for Rabaul.
So their strategy is like the brave Sir Robin in Monty Python and the Holy Grail when confronted by the Killer Rabbit: “Would it help to confuse him if we ran away more?”
Cougar; thanks for posting the daily Anzio maps. It shows how the beachead was tangled assortment of Allied units. It also shows that the Germans took Anzio very seriously, based on the large number of divsions they used to seal it off.
The Germans made a mighty effort to push us back into the sea. That would have been a disaster for many reasons and a very bad omen for Overlord.
I suspect there is a bit of psyops being played here by the high command. They probably had a pretty good idea how much damage they've inflicted, but want to use the Japanese need for face to shame them into coming out and fighting before they are ready.
The United States Navy is HOW big now???
These have been a pretty nice find on the CMH website. Unfortunately, this is the last one they have until the end of May when the Allies finally break out. It does go to show just how bad the situation got on Anzio that it would take 3 months after it stabilized before they could finally take the initiative again.
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