1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 26 APRIL 1945 ]
casualties are inflicted on enemy forces attempting
to withdraw. S African 6th Armd Div begins
crossing the Po at Felonica.
In Br Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, Ind 8th Div
drives from its Po bridgehead along Highway 16 to
the Adige. 56th Div and Cremona Gp cross the Po,
56th near Polesella and Cremona Gp in coastal area.
BURMA—Preparations for DRACULA, amphibious
assault on Rangoon, are completed. In Br Fourteenth
Army’s 4 Corps area, 5th Ind Div captures
Pyu and is passed through by 17th Ind Div, which is
to continue overland drive on Rangoon.
CHINA—Gen Wedemeyer receives radio from
Gen Marshall giving tonnage figures to be delivered
to China by ATC during May, June, July, and
August. These, because of European redeployment
needs, are less than the estimated requirements for
BETA. On flank of main Japanese drive on Chihchiang,
Ch 58th Div is forced to fall back, leaving
small garrison at Wukang.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area, 2d
Bn of 129th Inf, 37th Div, begins assault on Mt
Mirador while 1st Bn, less Co C, organizes defensive
position on Quezon Hill, which overlooks Baguio.
Reinf co with tanks probes into Baguio. 1st Bn of
130th Inf, 33d Div, attacks through 3d, taking
southernmost peak of Mt Mirador and beginning
assault on Dominican Hill, which overlooks Baguio
from S, in conjunction with 1st Bn, 123d Inf. 123d
Inf arrives at Tuba, 2 1/2 miles SW of Baguio. Under
cover of darkness, 25–26, 2d Bn of 161st Inf, 25th
Div, attacks toward Kembu Plateau, about 2,000
yards NW of Kapintalan. In surprise attack, 2d Bn
of 27th Inf takes Lone Tree Hill. In XI Corps area,
152d Inf of 38th Div relieves 1st Inf, 6th Div, near
Woodpecker Ridge and begins patrolling this region.
In 6th Div sector, RCT 145 continues reduction
of Mt Pacawagan positions. XIV Corps continues
action against Cituinan Hills and Mt
Mataasna Bundoc. Japanese order withdrawal of
forces to Mt Banahao, about 18 miles from
Malepunyo hill mass, beginning on 27th.
S PHILIPPINES—In U.S. Eighth Army area, 34th
Inf of 24th Div, continuing toward Digos on Mindanao,
reaches positions 15 miles from Davao Gulf.
On Cebu, 164th Inf (less 3d Bn) of Americal Div
loads and sails for Negros Oriental.
RYUKYU Is.—In U.S. Tenth Army area, XXIV
Corps is largely occupied with preparations for coordinated
attack on Okinawa against enemy’s next
line of defense, improving positions, and patrolling
extensively. Enemy positions are brought under air,
naval, and arty bombardment. On W flank of corps,
27th Div, during next few days, makes limited efforts
to improve positions and continues operations
against Item Pocket. 96th Div remains in place.
Elements of 17th Inf advance right flank of 7th
[ 517 ]
Div to slope of Horseshoe Ridge, N part of Kochi
Ridge, between villages of Onaga and Kochi.
U.S.—United Nations Conference on International
Organization opens at San Francisco, California.
26 April
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Cdn
First Army area, Cdn 2 Corps reports NE Holland
clear except for small region of coast at Ems estuary.
In Br Second Army area, 30 Corps completes capture
of Bremen. 12 Corps closes along the Elbe opposite
Hamburg. U.S. XVIII Corps (A/B) begins rail
and motor movement from the Ruhr and Cologne
sectors to new zone along the Elbe.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army’s XIII
Corps area, elements of 102d Div relieve 35th Div
along the Elbe. 35th Div moves to Hannover area
to guard installations. 175th Inf reverts to 29th Div
from attachment to corps and relieves 335th Inf, 84th
Div, along the Elbe.
In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, 104th Div
patrol makes contact with Soviet forces at Pretzsch.
3d Armd Div closes in Sangerhausen area, where it
performs security mission and engages in rehabilitation
and training. In V Corps area, U.S. and Soviet
forces make firm contact at Torgau when regimental
commander of 273d Inf, 69th Div, meets commanding
officer of 173d Regt, Soviet 58th Guard Div.
272d Inf, 69th Div, displaces along Eilenburg–
Torgau road to guard it.
In U.S. Third Army’s XII Corps area, 11th Armd
Div completes its mission. CCA, after overtaking
advance elements at Kreuzberg, drives S to Freyung
and E to Unter Grainet; patrols across Austrian
border near Lackenhausen. Continuing SE from
Ohe R, CCB takes Waldkirchen and pushes E to
Wollaberg; patrols to positions overlooking Austrian
border near Gollnerberg. Driving SE along N side
of the Danube, 26th Div reaches Muehlen–Berg area,
between Ruhmansfelden and Deggendorf. 357th
Inf, 90th Div, fans out to block roads E and SE of
Cham. To left, 90th Rcn Tr and 359th Inf continue
SE along Czechoslovakian border, 359th Inf clearing
Waldmuenchen in hard fighting and reaching
Furth-Raenkam area and the reconnaissance forces
taking Furth, Raenkam, and Degelberg. 2d Cav Gp
extends screen in Czechoslovakia. 97th Div completes
capture of Cheb. XX Corps begins assault
across the Danube at 0200 when 65th Div, on right,
starts crossing 260th and 261st Regts SW of Regensburg;
strong opposition develops, particularly in
zone of 261st Inf, but firm bridgehead is established
including towns of Matting, Grasslfing, Oberndorf,
Nieder Gebraching, and Lengfeld. 259th Inf starts
across river at 1800. On left flank of corps, 71st Div,
delayed by terrain and small pockets of resistance,