Crusade in Europe

Home > Other > Crusade in Europe > Page 63
Crusade in Europe Page 63

by Dwight D. Eisenhower


  11. General Eisenhower’s plan is contained in Message S-75871 (SCAF 180) to CCS, January 20, 1945, AGO. Messages from General Smith relative to the presentation and discussion of the plan at Malta are quoted in Diary, Office C-in-C, Book XV, pp. 2033, 2034.

  12. Letter, General Eisenhower to General Marshall, March 26, 1945, General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  13. Montgomery, Despatch, pp. 54–59.

  14. 6th Army Group History, Chapter VI; also Chapter VII, p. 169.

  15. First United States Army Report of Operations, Vol. I, pp. 155–59.

  16. Letter, Field Marshal Montgomery to General Eisenhower, M-547, January 19, 1945, and General Eisenhower’s reply, January 21, 1945, General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  17. Montgomery, Despatch, p. 58. Message, Field Marshal Montgomery to General Eisenhower, quoted in Diary, Office C-in-C, Book XV, p. 2050.

  18. SHAEF G-3 War Room Daily Summaries, February through April 3, 1945, AGO. Montgomery of Alamein, Normandy to the Baltic, Map 40, facing p. 233.

  19. Message FWD-17822 (SCAF 231), General Eisenhower to Army Group and First Allied Airborne Army Commanders, March 13, 1945, AGO.

  20. Report of Operations, Final After Action Report, 12th Army Group, Vol. V, pp. 46, 47, and Letter of Instructions No. 16, pp. 122–24.

  21. SHAEF G-3 War Room Daily Summaries 263, February 24, 1945, to 275, March 8, 1945, AGO.

  22. Ibid., 265, February 26, to 276, March 9, 1945. Message FWD-17645 (SCAF 223), General Eisenhower to Combined Chiefs of Staff, March 8, 1945, AGO. Report of Operations, Final After Action Report, 12th Army Group, Vol. V, p. 47.

  23. The rapid construction of the bridge by VII Corps engineers under Colonel Young is described by General Eisenhower in letter to General Marshall, March 26, 1945, General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  24. Report of Operations, Final After Action Report, 12th Army Group, Vol. V, p. 47.

  25. After Action Report, Third United States Army, Vol. I, pp. 253–92.

  26. Ibid., pp. 293–300.

  27. Message FWD-17655 (SCAF 224), General Eisenhower to Generals Bradley and Devers, March 8, 1945, AGO. Letter of Instructions No. 11, Hq. 6th Army Group, March 10, 1945, 6th Army Group History, Vol. VIII, pp. 218–20. Report of Operations, Final After Action Report, 12th Army Group, Vol. V, p. 47.

  28. After Action Report, Third United States Army, pp. 305–09. The Seventh United States Army Report of Operations, Vol. III, pp. 715, 737–38.

  29. After Action Report, Third United States Army, Vol. I, p. 313.

  30. The Seventh United States Army Report of Operations, Vol. III, p. 720.

  31. SHAEF G-2 Summary, Diary, Office C-in-C, Book XV, pp. 2140–46.

  32. SHAEF G-2 Summary, Ibid., p. 2141.

  CHAPTER 20: Assault and Encirclement

  1. Montgomery, Despatch, pp. 59–63. Conquer, The Story of Ninth Army, 1944–45, pp. 226–43.

  2. SHAEF G-3 War Room Daily Summary 293, March 26, AGO. Montgomery, Despatch, pp. 62, 63.

  3. In Conquer, p. 243, it is stated that 2070 guns supported the XIV Corps. This number, however, included anti-aircraft, tank, and tank destroyer guns, as well as the field artillery. Total casualties for the day were reported as 498. Conquer, p. 247. Letter, General Eisenhower to General Marshall, March 26, 1945, reports the assault-crossing casualties, General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  4. Statistics on the planes and gliders employed, prepared by the Air Force and First Allied Airborne Army, are contained in Report by the Supreme Commander, p. 100.

  5. Ibid., pp. 100, 101.

  6. Letter, General Eisenhower to General Marshall, March 26, 1945, General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  7. SHAEF G-3 War Room Daily Summaries 289, 290, 291, 292, March 22–25, 1945, AGO.

  8. Ibid., 291, 292, March 24, 25, 1945, AGO.

  9. After Action Report, Third United States Army, Vol. I, pp. 315, 316.

  10. First United States Army Report of Operations, Vol. I, pp. 43–46.

  11. Memorandum of instructions to General Bradley, March 9, 1945, General Bull, G-3 Division, SHAEF, Diary, Office C-in-C, Book XV, p. 2105.

  12. After Action Report Third U. S. Army, Vol. I, p. 324.

  13. The Seventh United States Army Report of Operations, Vol. III, pp. 741–55.

  14. Mannheim was occupied by the 44th Division on March 29. Ibid., pp. 763, 764.

  15. SHAEF G-3 War Room Daily Summary 299, April 1, 1945, AGO.

  16. Conquer, p. 314.

  17. Marshall, Biennial Report, July 1, 1943–June 30, 1945, pp. 92, 93.

  18. General Eisenhower’s reasons for his decision against an advance with Berlin as the major objective are outlined in his message FWD-18710 to General Marshall, April 7, 1945, AGO.

  19. SHAEF G-2 Summary and Joint Intelligence Committee Report quoted in Diary, Office C-in-C, Vol. XV, pp. 2106, 2107, 2114, 2115.

  20. Message FWD-18475 (SCAF 261), General Eisenhower to Army Group Commanders, April 2, 1945, AGO.

  21. Report of Operations, Final After Action Report, 12th Army Group, Vol. V, pp. 48, 49.

  22. Message FWD-18264 (SCAF 252), General Eisenhower to Military Mission to Moscow, Personal to Marshal Stalin, March 28, 1945, AGO.

  23. Prime Minister Churchill’s views relative to General Eisenhower’s message to Marshal Stalin are outlined in Message W-60507, General Marshall to General Eisenhower, March 29, 1945, AGO.

  24. Ibid.

  25. Message FWD-18331, AGO.

  26. Message FWD-18345, AGO.

  27. Message W-61337, AGO.

  28. Message FWD-18707, AGO.

  CHAPTER 21: Overrunning Germany

  1. SHAEF G-3 War Room Daily Summary 302, April 4, 1945, AGO.

  2. Report of Operations, Final After Action Report, 12th Army Group, Vol. V, p. 50.

  3. Ninth Army’s 2d Armored Division reached the Elbe on April 11, 1945. Conquer, p. 298.

  4. SHAEF G-3 War Room Daily Summary 313, April 15, 1945, AGO.

  5. Ibid., 314, April 16, 1945.

  6. After Action Report, Third United States Army, Vol. II, p. 33.

  7. Letter, General Eisenhower to General Marshall, April 15, 1945, General Eisenhower’s personal files. Message FWD-19461, General Eisenhower to General Marshall, April 19, 1945, AGO.

  8. Report of Operations, Final After Action Report, 12th Army Group, Vol. V, p. 50. First United States Army Report of Operations, Vol. I, pp. 78, 79.

  9. Conquer, pp. 290–304.

  10. First United States Army Report of Operations, Vol. I, pp. 83, 84.

  11. Messages FWD-18616 (SCAF 264), April 5, 1945, and FWD-18966 (SCAF 274), April 11, both General Eisenhower to CCS; FWD-19003 (SCAF 275), April 12, 1945, FWD-19274 (SCAF 282), April 15, 1945, FWD-19390 (SCAF 284), April 17, 1945, and FWD-19611 (SCAF 292), April 21, 1945, all General Eisenhower to Military Mission to Moscow; also WX-66731 (FACS 176), April 11, 1945, and W-70884 (FACS 191), April 21, 1945, to General Eisenhower from the CCS, AGO.

  12. Montgomery, Despatch, p. 66.

  13. De Guingand, op. cit., pp. 437–40.

  14. 6th Army Group History, Chapter IX, April 1945, pp. 246–50.

  15. SHAEF G-3 War Room Daily Summaries 303, April 5–320, April 22, 1945, AGO.

  16. 6th Army Group History, Chapter IX, April 1945, pp. 273, 281, 282. Messages FWD-20127 (SCAF 319), April 28, 1945, and FWD-20425 (SCAF 328), General Eisenhower to CCS, AGO. Message, President Truman to General de Gaulle, and General de Gaulle’s reply, quoted in Diary, Office C-in-C, Book XV, under date May 3, 1945.

  17. Messages FWD-21506 (SCAF 393), May 15, and FWD-22095 (SCAF 408), May 21, 1945, General Eisenhower to CCS, AGO.

  18. SHAEF G-2 Summary, Diary, Office C-in-C, Book XV, under date April 22, 1945.

  19. Ibid. A discussion of the Redoubt area is contained in Report by the Supreme Commander, pp. 112, 113.

  20. General Eisenhower’s proffered assistance to Field Marshal Montgomery for the advance on Lübeck is outlined in his lette
r to Field Marshal Brooke, April 27, 1945, General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  21. Messages FWD-19751 (SCAF 300), April 23, 1945, General Eisenhower to CCS; FWD-19833 (SCAF 305), April 24, and FWD-19940 (SCAF 307), April 25, 1945, both General Eisenhower to Military Mission to Moscow; FWD-20047 (SCAF 314), April 27, 1945, General Eisenhower to CCS; W-72082 (FACS 194), April 24, and W-72737 (FACS 199), April 25, 1945, both CCS to General Eisenhower, AGO.

  22. General Smith’s memorandum for General Eisenhower, subject: Meeting with German Representatives in Holland, May 1, 1945, Diary, Office C-in-C, Book XV, under date May 1, 1945.

  23. 6th Army Group History, Chapter IX, April 1945, pp. 274–88.

  24. After Action Report, Third United States Army, Vol. I, pp. 360–87.

  25. Ibid., pp. 387–91.

  26. The Seventh United States Army Report of Operations, Vol. III, pp. 813–37, 852–56.

  27. Statistics compiled in May 1945 on April Air Supply are quoted in Report by the Supreme Commander, p. 113.

  28. SHAEF G-3 Daily War Room Summary 317, April 19, 1945, AGO.

  29. SHAEF G-3 Daily War Room Summary 324, April 26, 1945, AGO.

  30. British report of Bernadotte’s conference with Himmler referred to in Message W-73250, General Marshall to General Eisenhower, April 26, 1945, AGO. The proposal is outlined in Report by the Supreme Commander, p. 118.

  31. Ibid.

  32. Ibid.; also Messages W-73283, April 26, 1945, General Marshall to General Eisenhower, and FWD-20032, April 27, 1945, in reply, AGO.

  33. Message FWD-20535 (SCAF 334), May 4, 1945, General Eisenhower to CCS, AGO. 6th Army Group History, Chapter 10, May 1945, pp. 8–23.

  34. De Guingand, op. cit., pp. 453, 454.

  35. Messages FWD-20608 (SCAF 338), May 4, and FWD-20625 (SCAF 340), May 5, 1945, both General Eisenhower to CCS, AGO.

  36. Message FWD-20635 (SCAF 341), May 5, 1945, General Eisenhower to Military Mission to Moscow, CCS, AGO.

  37. Messages FWD-20692 (SCAF 345), May 5; FWD-20704 (SCAF 346), May 5; FWD-20713 (SCAF 347), May 5; FWD-20714 (SCAF 348), May 6; FWD-20797 (SCAF 354), May 6; and FWD-20800 (SCAF 357), May 7, 1945—all to CCS and/or Military Mission to Moscow, from General Eisenhower, AGO.

  CHAPTER 22: Victory’s Aftermath

  1. Messages FWD-20804 (SCAF 359), FWD-20813 (SCAF 361), FWD-20862 (SCAF 365), and FWD-20898 (SCAF 366), all May 7, 1945, General Eisenhower to Military Mission to Moscow, and to CCS for information; also FWD-20809 (SCAF 360), May 7, 1945, General Eisenhower to CCS, AGO.

  2. Messages FWD-20851 (SCAF 364), May 7, and FWD-20911, May 8, 1945, General Eisenhower to Military Mission to Moscow, and General Marshall, respectively, AGO.

  3. John R. Deane, The Strange Alliance, Viking Press, New York, 1947, pp. 174–80; also Diary, Office C-in-C, Book XV under date May 8, 1945.

  4. General Eisenhower’s order of the day is quoted in full in 6th Army Group History, Chapter X, May 1945, pp. 33, 34.

  5. SHAEF G-3 War Room Daily Summary 36, May 8, 1945, AGO. Redeployment, Occupation Forces in Europe Series, 1945–46, Office of the Chief Historian, European Command, Chart I, facing p. 35, AGO.

  6. Marshall, Biennial Report, July 1, 1943–June 30, 1945, pp. 115–16.

  7. Redeployment, p. 68.

  8. Letters, General Eisenhower to General Marshall, May 27 and September 25, 1944, General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  9. Toward the Peace Documents, Department of State, United States of America, Publication 2298, The Moscow Conference, pp. 4, 5.

  10. Civil Affairs, Occupation Forces in Europe Series, 1945–46, Office of the Chief Historian, European Command, U. S. Group Central Council, pp. 80, 81, AGO.

  11. Ibid., Allied Control Council and Chain of Command, pp. 94–96.

  12. Ibid., Organization of the G-5 Division, SHAEF, etc., pp. 8–14.

  13. JCS/1067 is published in Department of State Bulletin, Vol. XIII, 1945, pp. 596–607.

  14. General Eisenhower’s views relative to the separation of civil government from the Army’s occupational duties are outlined in his letters to the President, October 26, and to General Marshall, October 13, 1945. General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  15. Message S-96883 (SCAF 478), July 12, 1945, General Eisenhower to all headquarters and offices concerned, announces dissolution SHAEF effective July 14, AGO.

  16. Marshall, Biennial Report, July 1, 1943–June 30, 1945, pp. 93, 94.

  17. Ibid.

  18. Occupation Forces in Europe Series, “Displaced Persons,” 1945–46, Office of the Chief Historian, European Command, pp. 1–3, AGO.

  19. Ibid., pp. 30, 31, 55–62.

  20. Ibid., “Repatriation,” pp. 47, 48; also pp. 66, 67.

  21. Ibid., pp. 74–77.

  22. Ibid., pp. 70–73.

  23. Reference is made to the conversations on the subject of turning over Military Government to civil authority, during the period of the Potsdam Conference, in General Eisenhower’s letter to the President, October 26, 1945. General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  24. A comprehensive discussion of the Russians’ attitude toward the Japanese war and factors involved is contained in Deane, op. cit., pp. 223–76.

  25. Secretary Stimson discusses the atomic bomb and mentions that the New Mexico test occurred on July 16 during the Potsdam Conference in On Active Service in Peace and War, pp. 612–26, 637.

  CHAPTER 23: Operation Study

  1. The General Board was established by General Order 128, Hq. ETO, U. S. Army, June 17, 1945, as amended by General Order 182, August 7, 1945, to prepare a factual analysis of the strategy, tactics, and administration employed by the United States forces in the European theater, AGO.

  2. SHAEF G-3 War Room Daily Summaries 201, December 24; 202, December 25; 204, December 27; and 205, December 28, 1945, AGO.

  3. Montgomery of Alamein, Normandy to the Baltic, p. 257. Statistics on planes and gliders are noted in Report by the Supreme Commander, p. 100.

  4. Marshall, Biennial Report, July 1, 1943–June 30, 1945, pp. 95, 98, 99, 100.

  5. After Action Report, Third United States Army, Vol. I, pp. 176–81.

  6. Marshall, Biennial Report, July 1, 1943–June 30, 1945, Our Weapons Section, pp. 95–100.

  7. Report prepared by Historical Division, War Department, for Office of Secretary of War, 052 (March 28, 1947), Combat Days for Divs., Historical Division, Special Staff, Department of the Army.

  CHAPTER 24: Russia

  1. Message S-15377, General Eisenhower to General Marshall, August 3, 1945, AGO.

  2. Deane, op. cit., pp. 215, 216.

  3. Ibid., pp. 216–17.

  4. General Eisenhower transmitted Generalissimo Stalin’s expression of regret to General Marshall in letter dated August 16, 1945. General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  5. Deane, op. cit., p. 218.

  6. Ibid., p. 219.

  7. Message M-25591, General Deane (Military Mission to Moscow) to General Eisenhower, September 18, 1945, General Eisenhower’s personal files.

  8. Message S-25539, General Eisenhower to General Marshall, September 28, 1945, AGO.

  9. Message CC-17792, General Clay to General Marshall, October 19, 1945, AGO.

  10. Another discussion of the freedom of the press by General Eisenhower and Marshal Zhukov is mentioned in Deane, op. cit., p. 219.

  11. Messages S-75871 (SCAF 180), General Eisenhower to CCS, January 20, 1945, and message (no number recorded), General Smith to General Eisenhower, Diary, Office C-in-C, Vol. XV, pp. 2033, 2034.

  APPENDICES

  A. ALLIED ORDER OF BATTLE FOR FINAL OFFENSIVE

  SIXTH ARMY GROUP (Devers)

  2d French Armored Division (Le Clerc)

  27th French Alpine Division (Molle)

  1st French Infantry Division (Garbay)

  First French Army (De Tassigny)

  9th French Colonial Infantry Division (Valluy)

  I French Corps (Bethouart)

  1st French Armored Division (S
udre)

  4th French Mountain Division (De Hesdin)

  14th French Infantry Division (Salan)

  II French Corps (De Montsabert)

  5th French Armored Division (De Vernejoul)

  2d Moroccan Division (Carpentier)

  3d Algerian Division (Gillaume)

  Seventh U. S. Army (Patch)

  103d U. S. Infantry Division (McAuliffe)

  36th U. S. Infantry Division (Dahlquist)

  44th U. S. Infantry Division (Dean)

  VI U. S. Corps (Brooks)

  100th U. S. Infantry Division (Burress)

  10th U. S. Armored Division (Morris)

  63d U. S. Infantry Division (Hibbs)

  XV U. S. Corps (Haislip)

  3d U. S. Infantry Division (O’Daniel)

  45th U. S. Infantry Division (Frederick)

  14th U. S. Armored Division (Smith)

  XXI U. S. Corps (Milburn)

  42d U. S. Infantry Division (Collins)

  4th U. S. Infantry Division (Blakely)

  12th U. S. Armored Division (Allen)

  TWELFTH ARMY GROUP (Bradley)

  Third U. S. Army (Patton)

  70th U. S. Infantry Division (Barnett)

  VIII U. S. Corps (Middleton)

  89th U. S. Infantry Division (Finley)

  87th U. S. Infantry Division (Culin)

  65th U. S. Infantry Division (Reinhart)

  XII U.S. Corps (Eddy)

  71st U. S. Infantry Division (Wyman)

  26th U. S. Infantry Division (Paul)

  11th U. S. Armored Division (Dager)

  90th U. S. Infantry Division (Earnest)

  XX U.S. Corps (Walker)

  80th U. S. Infantry Division (McBride)

  6th U. S. Armored Division (Grow)

  76th U. S. Infantry Division (Schmidt)

  4th U. S. Armored Division (Hoge)

  First U. S. Army (Hodges)

  20th U. S. Armored Division (Ward)

  III U.S. Corps (Van Fleet)

  99th U. S. Infantry Division (Lauer)

  7th U. S. Armored Division (Hasbrouck)

  9th U. S. Infantry Division (Craig)

  28th U. S. Infantry Division (Cota)

 

‹ Prev