1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 23 APRIL 1945 ]
lingen bridgehead. CCR overruns Lauchheim. 4th
Div gains its objectives and is ordered to continue to
the Danube. 8th Inf drives through Ellwangen to
Westhausen. Aalen falls to TF Rodwell, which also
takes Unter Kochen. 22d Inf reaches objective W of
Aalen. 63d Div, clearing region N of the Rems, is
ordered to continue as rapidly as possible to the
Danube. As relieved of garrison duties at Nuremberg,
3d Div begins assembly in corps zone and is
attached to corps for drive on Augsburg. In VI
Corps area, 10th Armd Div continues closing along
the Danube and begins crossing near Ehingen and
Erbach shortly after midnight, 23–24. CCR is reinforced
for drive on Ulm. 44th Div follows armor to
the Danube, which 71st Inf crosses near Ehingen.
Against lively opposition, 103d Div closes enemy’s
escape corridor SE from Stuttgart: 410th Inf, reinf
by bn of 409th, pushes slowly toward Urach and
Muensingen; 411th clears Neuffen, Metzingen, Reutlingen,
Pfullingen, and Honau. Div is reinf by
117th Cav Rcn Sq and 781st Tank Bn. 100th Div
mops up pockets E of Stuttgart and N of the Neckar;
elements of 397th Inf, crossing the Neckar, clear
Koengen and cut autobahn to W.
EASTERN EUROPE—Red Army forces break into
Berlin proper and to the S reach the Elbe where
junction with Allied forces of the Western Front
is imminent. First White Russian troops enter Berlin
from the E while those of First Ukrainian Front
enter from the S. Oranienburg, N of Berlin, and
Frankfurt-on-Oder are also overrun by First White
Russian forces and Cottbus, SE of Berlin, by troops
of First Ukrainian Front. Left flank elements of
First Ukrainian Front take Pulsnitz, NE of Dresden,
and thrust to the Elbe in Torgau area.
ITALY—15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army
shifts boundary between IV and II Corps W, giving
Highway 12 to II Corps. In IV Corps area, 10th
Mtn Div crosses the Po in assault boats and establishes
bridgehead on N bank. CCA, 1st Armd Div,
reaches the river at Guastalla and Luzzaro; CCB
reaches Secchia R south of Highway 9. 85th Div
thrusts to the Po at Quingentole. 1st Div of BEF,
which has been moving forward on left rear of
corps, takes Marano and Vignola. 34th Div is attached
to corps to screen left flank along Highway
9. In II Corps area, TF of S African 6th Armd Div
pushes through Finale and establishes contact with
Br 6th Armd Div to E. After securing bridgehead
across the Panaro at Camposanto and driving
quickly northward toward the Po, div is directed
toward the Po at Felonica, on right flank of corps,
and turns NE. Pursuit continues with 3 divs abreast.
88th Div reaches the Po near Carbonara, overtaking
and capturing many enemy troops as they prepare
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to withdraw across the river. 91st Div drives quickly
toward the Po against scanty opposition.
Br Eighth Army adjusts boundary between 13
and 5 Corps to run N from the Reno to the Po,
since zone of latter has gradually widened to about
50 miles. 13 Corps establishes bridgehead across the
Reno. 6th Armd Div is attached to corps to drive
to the Po to right of NZ 2d Div. Ind 10th Div is
withdrawn from battle. In 5 Corps area, Ind 8th
Div takes Ferrara and reaches the Po to N at Pontelagoscuro.
6th Armd Div reaches the Po N of
Bondeno; makes contact with U.S. forces near
Finale.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
after aerial bombardment of Mt Mirador area, SW
of Baguio, 2d Bn of 129th Inf, 37th Div, drives
toward it, reaching cemetery, where it comes under
heavy fire from ravine between there and the
mountain. Some elements of 130th Inf, 33d Div,
clear heights over second Asin tunnel while others
motor to Irisan and march toward Asin. 123d Inf,
moving laboriously along the Pugo–Tuba Trail,
sends 1st Bn to assist 130th against Mt Mirador.
161st Inf, 25th Div, concludes lengthy battle for
Crump Hill. 35th Inf closes gap between it and
161st and attacks northward from the Fishhook. In
XI Corps area, 6th Div continues assault on Mt
Pacawagan with RCT 145, methodically reducing
mutually supporting positions. XIV Corps maintains
pressure on Mt Mataasna Bundoc.
S PHILIPPINES—In U.S. Eighth Army’s X Corps
area, town of Kabacan on Mindanao falls to 3d Bn
of 34th Inf, 24th Div. 19th Inf reaches Fort Pikit
and relieves 34th Inf units there. 24th Div is to drive
W along Highway 1 to Davao Gulf while 31st Div
drives N along Sayre Highway. On Cebu, 2d Bn
of 132d Inf moves by water to SE coast near Tooc
and patrols to locate enemy. 2d and 3d Bns enter
Danao and overcome organized resistance in this
region. Coastal sector is subsequently combed for
scattered enemy groups. On W coast, 3d Bn of 182d
Inf, assisted by guerrillas, seizes positions in vicinity
of Tabuclan; later probes eastward while guerrillas
push N. Except for mopping up, offensive operations
are completed by this time. On Bohol, 3d Bn of 164th
Inf, Americal Div, again attacks Japanese N of
Nanod after arty preparation and forces them to
withdraw.
RYUKYU Is.—In U.S. Tenth Army’s XXIV
Corps area on Okinawa, 27th Div completes capture
of Urasoe-Mura Escarpment within its sector and
wipes out counterattacking force. Resistance to 96th
Div slackens and div gains most of high ground
within its zone in Nishibaru-Tanabaru area. 1st Bn
(less Co B) of 17th Inf, 7th Div, occupies Rocky
Crags with ease while 32d Inf patrols and seals
caves on Skyline Ridge.