1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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R YUKYU Is.—In U.S. Tenth Army’s XXIV
Corps area on Okinawa, 77th Div begins relief of
96th Div, whose combat efficiency has been sharply
reduced by action on Maeda Escarpment in center
of corps zone. 307th Inf moves onto top of the escarpment,
replacing 381st Inf. 96th Div withstands
enemy counterattacks and infiltration attempts all
along its line early in day. 383d Inf drives salient
toward Shuri, taking Hill 138, from which direct
fire can be placed on Shuri. 7th Div is unable to
advance in Kochi Ridge sector and suffers heavy
casualties from enemy fire. 32d Inf tries in vain to
get tanks from the coast to Onaga to ease pressure
on 17th Inf at Kochi Ridge.
30 April
WESTERN EUROPE—Adolf Hitler commits suicide
in his bunker at the Reichschancellery, Berlin,
after having selected Adm Karl Doenitz as his
successor.
21 Army Group: In Br Second Army area, 8
Corps expands and strengthens Elbe bridgehead at
Lauenburg. 6th A/B Div begins crossing into it to
operate on right flank of 15th Div. U.S. XVIII Corps
(A/B), now consisting of corps troops and 8th
Inf, 82d A/B, and 7th Armd Divs, begins drive
from the Elbe to the Baltic to right of 8 Corps.
82d A/B Div, which releases 13th Inf except for
3d Bn to 8th Div and is reinf at 1800 by RCT 121
of 8th Div, leads off: 505th Para Inf crosses in
Bleckede area at 0100, using Buffaloes of 4th Royal
Tank Regt, Br 79th Armd Div, and engineer assault
boats; against light resistance establishes small
bridgehead, which includes Bandekow on left and
Stiepelse on right. Attached elements of 8th Div
begin crossing late in day to relieve left flank of 505th
Para Inf in the bridgehead.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army’s XIX
Corps area, 3d Platoon of Tr C, 125th Cav Sq, 113th
Cav Gp, makes contact with Soviet 121st Div at Appolensdorf
at 1330.
U.S. First Army CG meets CG, Soviet 5th Guard
Army, on E bank of the Mulde at Eilenburg at 1300.
Junction of U.S. and Soviet forces is formally celebrated
later in day. VII Corps releases 9th Armd
Div at 2400. VIII Corps becomes responsible for supply
and administration of 9th Armd Div, which is
held in SHAEF reserve. 415th Inf of 104th Div
relieves 291st Inf of 69th Div. V Corps takes responsibility
for new zone on right of VIII Corps
along Czechoslovakian border and assumes command
of 1st and 97th Divs from VIII and XII Corps,
respectively. 1st Div holds line from Cheb to point
just S of Adorf, with 6th Cav Gp to left and 97th
Div to right.
[ 30 APRIL 1945 ]
In U.S. Third Army’s XII Corps area, 11th Armd
Div, with CCA and CCB in assault, drives SE along
right lank of corps to Austrian border. CCA, on div
left, advances to border town of Wegscheid, where
firm opposition is overcome. From Hutthurm, CCB
drives to Austrian border in Ober Kappel area; halts
to await outcome of battle for Wegscheid and sends
advance elements across border to Crettenbach.
CCR, upon relief by 5th Div, moves from Freyung
to Wollaberg to protect N and W flanks of div.
104th Inf, on left flank of 26th Div, drives SE unopposed
to positions beyond Hauzenburg. 328th Inf
closes along Ilz R on div right flank and establishes
bridgehead with 1st and 3d Bns at Strasskirchen.
90th Div, in limited attack, gains ground in woods
E of Waldmuenchen in Czechoslovakia. In XX
Corps area bridge over the Isar is completed at
Platting at 1930 and 13th Armd Div begins crossing
shortly afterward. CCR, after unsuccessful attempts
to cross in Landau area, is relieved by 71st
Div and moves toward Platting bridge. 66th and
14th Regts, 71st Div, dose along the Isar and, after
massed, direct fire against enemy entrenched on
heights across the river, start across under cover of
smoke and supporting fire at 1645. Since swift current
prevents use of standard assault boats, crossings
are made in storm boats equipped with motors, by
flying ferry, and over 2 damaged rail bridges. Both
regts cross and establish bridgehead, which includes
towns of Zeholfing, Zulling, Usterling, and Landau.
Work is begun on floating treadway bridge at
Landau after nightfall. 318th Inf, 80th Div, crosses
the Isar over RR bridge at Mamming and moves
SW toward Dingolfing. In III Corps area, 14th Cav
Gp reaches the Isar on left flank of corps. 99th Div
attacks across the Isar: 393d Inf begins crossing in
vicinity of Landshut; 395th crosses in Moosburg area
to cover bridging operations of 14th Armd Div and
secures line Kochbauer–Langenpreising. CCR, 14th
Armd Div, dears portion of Landshut N of the
Isar and assembles for crossing at Moosburg, where
engineers put in ponton bridge. Dismounted elements
of CCA cross at Moosburg and drive beyond
Mittl Isar Kanal. CCB starts across the Isar over
Moosburg bridge at night. Foot elements of 86th
Div’s 342d and 343d Regts complete crossing the
Isar on right flank of corps; continue to Mittl Isar
Kanal and start across it in vicinity of Eitting; attached
aid Cav Rcn Sq crosses over XVI Corps
bridge SW of Freising. Engineers construct treadway
bridge at Freising.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army area,
XV Corps converges on Munich and clears the city
with ease; takes bridges over the Isar there intact.
In XXI Corps area, CCA of 12th Armd Div, after
driving NE to Schwaiganger in effort to secure another
route to Innsbruck, is ordered to assemble in