Posted on 09/24/2014 4:19:08 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
The News of the Week in Review
Battle of the Westwall: Prelude to Battle of the Reich (map) – 12
Hammerblows – 13-15
Fifteen News Questions – 15
“’Mein Kampf’ Re-Read” (cartoon) – 16
Invasion of Holland Speeds Allied Victory (Middleton) – 17-18
“ – Humpty-Dumpty Had a Great Fall!” (cartoon) – 18
Answers to Fifteen News Questions – 18
A New Phase Nears in the Pacific War (map) – 19
Next Moves in Pacific Center in Philippines (Baldwin) – 20
Britons Expect Attack by Robots to Continue (by Harry Vosser) – 21
The New York Times Magazine
Hollywood and Broadway at the Fronts (photos) – 22
The New York Times Book Review
The Road to Serfdom, by Friedrich A. Hayek (Reviewed by Henry Hazlitt, first-time contributor) – 24-26
Proceedings of the Writers’ Congress, Published in cooperation with the Writers’ Congress Continuations Committee of the Hollywood Writers’ Mobilization (Reviewed by W. McNeil Lowry, first-time contributor) – 26
The Best Selling Books, Here and Elsewhere – 27
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/sep44/24sep44.htm#
British reach the Rhine
Sunday, September 24, 1944 www.onwar.com
On the Western Front... Operation Market Garden continues. Elements of British 30th Corps reaches the south bank of the Rhine to the west of Arnhem. The troops of the British 1st Airborne Division continue to resist on the north bank despite shortages of food and ammunition. Other elements of British 30th Corps enter Germany southwest of Nijmegen.
From Berlin... German Army Group North Ukraine is designated Army Group A and Army Group South Ukraine (Friessner) is renamed Army Group South.
In the Palau Islands... On Peleliu, American naval bombardment and air strikes support new US attacks which fail to break Japanese resistance.
In the Philippines... US Task Force 38 conducts air strikes on Japanese targets on the Visayan islands. Twelve American carriers are involved. Since August 31st, TF38 is estimated to have destroyed 1000 Japanese aircraft and 150 ships of all types. The American forces has lost 72 aircraft, including 18 accidents.
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/8/24.htm
September 24th, 1944
BELGIUM: In the Canadian First Army’s British I Corps area, the Canadian 2d Division establishes a bridgehead across the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal south of St Leonard. Elements of the 49th Division reach Turnhout.
NETHERLANDS: The British XXX Corps reaches the south bank of the Rhine west of Arnhem.
Other XXX Corps units enter Germany southwest of Nijmegen. The paratroopers that have held out are still hanging on. They have suffered severe casualties, shortages of food and ammunition, and resisted fierce German attacks. The inadequate and misinterpreted intelligence has required these paratroops to hold out much longer than planned.
In the British Second Army’s I Airborne Corps area, 2 companies of the 43d Division cross the Neder Rijn in assault boats during the night of 24/25 September but are unable to reach the British-held perimeter at Hartestein. Polish forces on the south bank lack assault boats for crossing. Lieutenant General B. G. Horrocks, Commanding General 30 Corps, issues and within a few hours revokes an order for the 43d Division to prepare to cross at Renkum. In the 30 Corps area, other elements of the 43d Division continue to fight for Elst and Bemmel. Continuing attacks toward Veghel, the Germans cut the highway northeast of the village of Koevering, between St Oedenrode and Veghel. In the 8 Corps area, Deurne falls to the 11th Armoured Division.
FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army area, General George S Patton, in accordance with an order from General Dwight D Eisenhower, halts offensive operations for an aggressive defence, calling for limited actions, as supplies permit, to improve defensive positions. In the XX Corps area, 5th Infantry Division begins the relief of the 7th Armored Infantry in line. In the XII Corps area, the 80th Infantry Division prepares to attack to the Seille River line on 26 September. Combat Command B, 4th Armored Division, holds its perimeter between Chateau-Salins and Fresnes-en-Saulnois against determined tank-infantry attacks that P-47s help repulse. Heavy enemy fire continues from Foret de Chateau-Salins, however. The Germans lose about 300 dead and 11 tanks in this action.
In the U.S. Seventh Army’s VI Corps area, the 45th Infantry Division, seizes Girmont; the 180th Infantry continues clearing Epinal. The 36th Infantry Division is pushing northeast toward St Die; the 141st Infantry takes St Ame, east of Remiremont. The 3d Infantry Division clears Rupt of snipers and expands its bridgehead to include La Roche and Maxonchamp.
In the air, 47 USAAF Eighth Air B-24s fly a TRUCKIN’ mission delivering fuel to France.
Weather grounds USAAF Ninth Air Force bombers. The XIX Tactical Air Command supports the 7th Armored Division of the US Third Army in eastern France and flies armed reconnaissance over eastern France and western Germany. The IX Air defence Command flies night patrols from Paris to Aachen, Germany.
During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 188 aircraft, 101 Lancasters, 62 Halifaxes and 25 Mosquitos, to bomb German tactical positions at Calais; 127 bomb the target. The German positions are completely covered by cloud at 2,000 feet (610 meters) and most of the 127 bombed Oboe-aimed skymarkers, but some aircraft came below cloud to bomb visually. Seven Lancasters and a Halifax are shot down by light flak, which is very accurate at such a height.
GREECE: RAF personnel arrive at Araxos by sea and together with the Special Boat Squadron move on to Patras. Commander of Land Forces, Adriatic, controls this operation.
In the air, 362 USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24s, with fighter escort, bomb Eleusis, Kalamaki, and Tatoi Airfields, the marshalling yard at Salonika, and harbor at Skaramanga.
U-565 (Type VIIC) is scuttled by three depth charges in Salamis. U-565 had been badly damaged on 19 Sept, 1944 in the Mediterranean near Skaramanga, at position 37.57N, 23.40E, by US bombs. 5 dead.
U-596 (Type VIIC) is scuttled in the Mediterranean in Skaramanga Bay, near Salamis at position 37.59N, 23.34E, after being damaged by US bombs. 1 dead. Wreck blown up 30 Sept 1944 (?). (Alex Gordon)
ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the IV Corps releases additional elements of the U.S. 1st Armored Division for use on the II Corps front, retaining only Combat Command B. The South African 6th Armoured Division, protecting the left flank of the II Corps, replaces the armoured brigade in line with the 12th Motorized Brigade; the 11lth Armored Brigade then pushes north along Highway 6620 to St Ippolito while the rest of the division pursues the enemy up Highways 64 and 66. In the II Corps area, the U.S. 34th Infantry Division, driving toward Mt Bastione with the 168th and 135th Infantry, gains the crest of Mt Coroncina and holds it against counterattack; and overruns Roncobilaccio. The U.S. 91st Infantry Division, attacking with the 362d and 361st Infantry toward Mt Oggioli, reaches a line from Covigliano westward; during the night 24/25 September, the 363d Infantry replaces the 362d Infantry in the line. While the 337th Infantry, 85th Infantry Division, consolidates positions on Mt la Fine and patrols, the 338th Infantry, to the left, continues slowly toward Mt Canda and gets into position for an assault on it. The U.S. 88th Infantry Division runs into strong resistance at Mt Acuto and undergoes vigorous counterattacks as it continues toward Imola. In the British 13 Corps area, the 1st Division takes Palazzuolo and Marradi, but the enemy is holding out on Mt Gamberaldi. The Indian 8th Division reaches the Marradi-St Benedetto Road. The 6th Armoured Division advances to St Benedetto in Alpe, on Highway 67.
In the British Eighth Army area, 5 Corps secures the heights north of the Marecchia River from Montebello to Poggio Berni to St Arcangelo, and the 46th Division, in the center, establishes a bridgehead across the Uso River, taking Camerano on the far bank.
In the air, weather cancels USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bomber and A-20 operations; fighter-bombers support ground forces, bombing and strafing strongpoints, troop concentrations, and frontline communications targets.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA: The Red Army penetrates 20 miles over the Polish border.
GERMANY: U-3521 laid down.
U-1110 commissioned.
U.S.S.R.: U-739 sank Soviet minesweeper T-120 (ex USS Assail).
BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command area, the British 36th Division encounters the enemy in strength while probing southward from Namma and they suspend forward movement until mid-October.
In the air, USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47s fly 20 attack sorties against targets in the Mawhun area, including Pinlon; other P-47s fly 13 sorties against targets in the Bhamo area, demolishing a bridge at Manyut and hitting enemy positions at Chayuhkwang.
THAILAND: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25s knock out the Dara bridge.
CHINA: 26 US Fourteenth Air Force B-25s bomb Mangshih, Taohsien, and Kuanyang, attack White Cloud Airfield at Canton, and knock out the Dara bridge; 3 others hit targets of opportunity near Changtuikuan and along the Lingling-Siangtan road; 70+ P-51s and P-40s on armed reconnaissance over southwestern and southeastern China pound numerous targets of opportunity, especially the town areas and river shipping at Takhing and Sinshih.
Eleven USAAF Tenth Air Force B-24 Liberators haul fuel from India to Liuchow.
MARIANA ISLANDS: 16 USAAF Seventh Air Force P-47s strafe AA positions on Rota Island.
BONIN ISLANDS: 18 USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24s from Saipan hit harbor facilities in the Bonin Islands, mostly at Chichi Jima Island.
CAROLINE ISLANDS: Regimental Combat Team 323, 81st Infantry Division, secures the rest of Ulithi Atoll without opposition. The atoll will become an excellent base for the USN’s Pacific Fleet during operations against the Philippines.
In the air, 26 USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Truk Island while 11 B-25s, based in the Gilbert Islands, hit Ponape Island.
PALAU ISLANDS: On Peleliu, the 321st Infantry attacks after air, naval, and artillery bombardment, driving through Garekoru to the fourth phase line on the left. Company E, on the right, starts along east-west trail, soon called 321st Infantry Trail, through the central ridge system running from West Road south of Garekoru to the East Road in an effort to pocket strong enemy forces in the Umurbrogol Mountains, the southern part of the ridge system. A Japanese counterattack at the fourth phase line causes 321st Infantry to fall back a little, but positions are largely restored. A gap develops between the infantry and the 7th Marines, since the latter, to the right rear, has to clear ground that 321st Infantry should have taken.
On Angaur, when appeal to enemy to surrender produces only 2 prisoners, artillery fire is placed on the pocket throughout rest of day and ensuing night.
NORTH PACIFIC: Two USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24s on an armed reconnaissance mission bomb Marcus Island.
NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s and B-25s bomb Amahai Airfield and Boela on Ceram Island, Namlea Airfield on Buru Island, and Haroekoe Airfield on Haroekoe Island and B-24s hit Lautem on Timor Island.
NEW GUINEA: USAAF Far East Air Forces fighter-bombers attack Babo, Urarom, and Manokwari Airfields while B-25s bomb Sorong.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: For the third day, USN carrier-based aircraft from the 12 aircraft carriers of Task Groups 38.1, 38.2 and 38.3 continue their attacks on Japanese shipping in Visayas. The toll for today is 15 ships sunk and 7 damaged. The three task groups will retire tonight to several anchorages for replenishment.
JAPAN: 8 US Eleventh Air Force B-24s striking Kurabu Cape Airfield on Paramushiru Island are challenged by 12 Japanese fighters and 1 of 2 damaged B-24s force lands in the USSR; one fighter is downed; and 4 B-25s fly a negative shipping search.
U.S.A.: Washington: The US treasury plan for post-war Germany (the “Morgenthau Plan”) is published; it proposes a Germany stripped of its industry and converted to a wholly agricultural economy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Market_Garden
Day 8: Sunday, 24 September
Another German force cut the road to the south of Veghel and set up defensive positions for the night. It was not clear to the Allies at this point how much of a danger this represented but the principal objective of Operation Market Garden, i.e. the Allied crossing of the Rhine, was abandoned this day and the decision made to go over to the defensive with a new front line in Nijmegen. Nonetheless, an attempt was made on Sunday night to reinforce the 1st Airborne Division with the 4th Battalion, The Dorsetshire Regiment. Two companies were put across the river but the location of the crossing point was ill-advised and the Dorsets landed among German positions. Fragmented by their landing and immediately pinned down, of the 315 men who crossed only 75 reached Oosterbeek; the remainder were taken prisoner. As a result of this failure, it was decided to withdraw the 1st Airborne Division from its bridgehead on the northern side of the Rhine.
Enough personal accounts have survived to show that the Morganthau Plan became well-known to German troops in late 1944 and motivated some of them to greater effort.
Mr. niteowl77
I note the book review for “Road to Serfdom”. Thanks.
"One of the most important books of our generation" - Henry Hazlitt
"Ours, too!" - Homer_J_Simpson
Well, I'm glad they cleared that up. I thought with those names they'd be for armies actually in Ukraine.
Lucille Ball is wearing way too much makeup in the picture on p. 23. She was a classic, natural beauty. All that goop is overkill.
Ten years later she will be a millionaire.
page 25/26 are still very true today
renaming their armies is definitely going to win battles... lol
105 degrees in LA in late September!!! How’s that for Global Warming!
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