(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:cab/66/45/5
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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'8 GOVERNMENT Copy N o . t i i i
SECRET
WjP.
(44)
5
(Also C:0:S. (44) 3)
Qth January,
/
1944
WAR
CABINET
WEEKLY RESUME (No. 227) of the
"NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR SITUATION from 0700 30th December, 1943, to 0700 6th January, 1944 -[Circulated with the a p p r o v a l of
the Chiefs of Staff.]
Cabinet War
Room.
NAVAL
SITUATION. General Review. 1. Two, possibly t h r e e , h o m e w a r d - b o u n d b l o c k a d e - r u n n e r s h a v e been s u n k .
U . S . c a r r i e r - b o r n e a i r c r a f t have successfully a t t a c k e d J a p a n e s e w a r s h i p s . a t
K a v i e n g in New I r e l a n d .
S h i p p i n g losses have been light.
Home Waters.
2. A convoy of 21 s h i p s from N o r t h R u s s i a , escorted by d e s t r o y e r s , h a s
arrived in Home Waters.
H . M . S . Duke of York a n d t h e c r u i s e r s w h i c h w e r e i n a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e
Scharnhorst
h a v e r e t u r n e d to t h e i r home base.
E a r l y on t h e 6 t h one of ELM. t r a w l e r s w a s s u n k d u r i n g a n a t t a c k by E - b o a t s
on a coastal convoy off t h e L i z a r d .
On t h e 31st ELM. destroyers Vivacious
a n d Keppel
were d a m a g e d in
collision off t h e H u m b e r .
Norwegian Waters.
3. ELM. S / M Seadog a t t a c k e d a l a r g e s h i p i n convoy, n o r t h of S t a d l a n d e t ,
on the 2 8 t h December, and a n o t h e r convoy of t h r e e laden s h i p s in t h e s a m e a r e a
on t h e 2 n d J a n u a r y . A f t e r the l a t t e r a t t a c k only two s h i p s were seen.
North Atlantic.
4. I t is now k n o w n t h a t one Narvik a n d t w o Elbing class d e s t r o y e r s w e r e
s u n k by ELM. c r u i s e r s Glasgoiv a n d Enterprise
on t h e 2 8 t h December.
On the*31st December, H A L S . Seaham, (minesweeper) picked u p five G e r m a n
officers a n d 57 r a t i n g s w h o w e r e s u r v i v o r s of t h e recent a c t i o n i n t h e B a y of
Biscay. On t h e same d a y t h e E i r e a n n s.s. Kerlogue
(335 tons), on p a s s a g e f r o m
L i s b o n to F i s h g u a r d , p i c k e d u p a f u r t h e r 164 survivors, w h o were l a n d e d a t C o r k
on the following day. O n t h e 2nd, t w o S p a n i s h d e s t r o y e r s r e t u r n e d to F e r r o l
w i t h four more s u r v i v o r s . .
Mediterranean.
5. On t h e n i g h t of t h e 2 9 t h / 3 0 t h December, U . S . M . T . B s . d a m a g e d a t r a w l e r
a n d t o r p e d o e d a s h i p in t h e Gulf of G e n o a . O n t h e 31st, H . M . S . Clacton (fleet
minesweeper) w a s m i n e d a n d s u n k b e t w e e n M a d d a l e n a a n d B a s t i a . T h e r e w e r e
47 survivors, i n c l u d i n g t h e c a p t a i n .
6. On t h e n i g h t of t h e 3 0 t h / 3 1 s t December, H . M . d e s t r o y e r s Teazer a n d Penn
d a m a g e d a schooner by gunfire a n d drove i t ashore between B e n e d e t t o a n d A n c o n a .
H . M . d e s t r o y e r s b o m b a r d e d F e s a r o ( n o r t h - w e s t of A n c o n a ) on t h e n i g h t of t h e
3rd/4th.
7. A t t h e west coast p o r t s of I t a l y , d u r i n g t h e w e e k e n d i n g t h e 1 6 t h
December, 103,341 tons of stores w e r e d i s c h a r g e d , a n d a t the e a s t coast p o r t s
63,060 tons.
By the 2 8 t h December, p o r t d i s c h a r g e s a t B a r i h a d been s t e p p e d u p to t h e
level a t t a i n e d before serious d a m a g e w a s done by the e n e m y a i r r a i d e a r l y i n
December.
8. T h e J u g o - S l a v P a r t i s a n H e a d q u a r t e r s r e p o r t t h a t 2,000 p a r t i s a n s a n d
5,000 c i v i l i a n s were successfully e v a c u a t e d from K o r c u l a I s l a n d by t h e 2 7 t h
December. I n a d d i t i o n 600 refugees a n d 250 w o u n d e d r e a c h e d S o u t h I t a l y on t h e
same day.
Levant.
9. H . M . S / M Sportsman
s a n k a c a i q u e on t h e 21st December a n d o n t h e 2 3 r d
p r o b a b l y s a n k a 5,000-ton s h i p off L e m n o s . On t h e 2 6 t h H . M . S / M Sickle s a n k
t w o caiques i n the ^ E g e a n .
T h e S w e d i s h Relief s h i p Camelia (1,688 tons) w a s d a m a g e d by a n explosion
a n d beached a t S a l o n i k a on t h e 2 9 t h December.
T w e n t y - t h r e e A l l i e d p e r s o n n e l h a v e recently been e v a c u a t e d f r o m Greece by
caiques.
South A t l a n t i c .
10. On t h e 3 r d , t h e G e r m a n s.s. Weserland
(6,528 tons), a blockade -runner
h o m e w a r d b o u n d f r o m t h e F a r E a s t , w a s i n t e r c e p t e d a n d s u n k by t h e U . S . S . Somers
(destroyer) 600 miles s o u t h - w e s t of A s c e n s i o n I s l a n d . One h u n d r e d and t h i r t y ­
f o u r survivors, i n c l u d i n g t e n officers, w e r e t a k e n p r i s o n e r . O n t h e following d a y
a n o t h e r h o m e w a r d - b o u n d blockade r u n n e r , t h e s.s. Burgenland
(7,320 tons), w a s
s u n k by t h e U . S . S . Omaha (cruiser) a n d t h e U . S . S . Jouett (destroyer) 670 miles
w e s t of A s c e n s i o n I s l a n d . On t h e 5 t h , i t w a s r e p o r t e d t h a t a t h i r d b l o c k a d e ­
r u n n e r , t h e s.S". Rio Grande (6,062 tons), also h o m e w a r d b o u n d , w a s s u n k b y
U . S . forces i n t h e same locality. S i x e n e m y s h i p s a r e k n o w n t o h a v e been i n t h e
F a r E a s t a n d m i g h t be a t t e m p t i n g to r u n t h e blockade on t h e i r w a y home.
I n d i a n Ocean.
11. On t h e 17th December a n explosion o c c u r r e d i n a bomb d u m p a t t h e
R . N . A i r S t a t i o n , K a t u r k u r u n d a (Ceylon). T h e r e w e r e no c a s u a l t i e s to p e r s o n n e l
b u t e x t e n s i v e d a m a g e w a s done t o t h e b u i l d i n g s i n t h e a r e a .
Pacific.
Solomons.
12. On t h e 2 9 t h December, A l l i e d M . T . B s . s a n k t w o b a r g e s a n d drove t h r e e
a s h o r e off t h e s o u t h - e a s t coast of B o u g a i n v i l l e . O n t h e 31st, A l l i e d g u n b o a t s a n d
p a t r o l c r a f t b o m b a r d e d enemy c o a s t a l p o s i t i o n s n e a r T o r o k i n a (Bougainville) a n d
d e s t r o y e d a b r i d g e on t h e m a i n B u i n r o a d .
New
Guinea.
13. On t h e n i g h t of t h e 2 n d , A l l i e d l i g h t c r a f t s a n k f o u r l a d e n b a r g e s , one
of w h i c h w a s full of t r o o p s , n e a r Sio.
Ireland.
14. O n t h e 1st, U . S . c a r r i e r - b o r n e a i r c r a f t a t t a c k e d a force of t w o h e a v y
cruisers and two destroyers about to enter K a v i e n g harbour. Both cruisers were
s e r i o u s l y d a m a g e d iand a r e believed t o h a v e s u n k or r u n a s h o r e . One d e s t r o y e r
w a s p r o b a b l y s u n k a n d t h e o t h e r s e r i o u s l y d a m a g e d . T h i r t e e n enemy a i r c r a f t
w e r e d e s t r o y e d for t h e loss of t w o fighters a n d one bomber.
New
Anti-Submarine Operations.
15. T w e n t y - s i x a t t a c k s o n U - b o a t s h a v e been r e p o r t e d , t e n of w h i c h w e r e
by shore-based a i r c r a f t , o n e by c a r r i e r - b o r n e a i r c r a f t a n d 15 by s u r f a c e c r a f t .
T h e U . S . d e s t r o y e r s Parrott
a n d Bulmer p r o b a b l y s a n k a U - b o a t n o r t h - e a s t
of t h e A z o r e s , a n d a i r c r a f t f r o m t h e U . S . S . Core w i t h t w o U . S . d e s t r o y e r s
p r o b a b l y d a m a g e d a n o t h e r w e s t of G a p e F i n i s t e r r e . A i r c r a f t possibly d a m a g e d
t w o U - b o a t s i n t h e B a y of B i s c a y a n d a n o t h e r i n t h e S.W. A p p r o a c h e s .
16. D u r i n g D e c e m b e r 64 a t t a c k s on U - b o a t s w e r e m a d e , of w h i c h 27 w e r e
by shore-based a i r c r a f t , t h r e e by c a r r i e r - b o r n e a i r c r a f t a n d t h e r e m a i n d e r b y
surface craft.
S i x G e r m a n U - b o a t s w e r e s u n k , t w o possibly sunk a n d one
damaged.
Enemy Intelligence.
17. T h e m o r a l e of s u r v i v o r s from t h e Sckarnhorst
h a s been f o u n d o n
e x a m i n a t i o n t o be excellent.
I t is r e p o r t e d t h a t some n a v a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t s h a v e been t r a n s f e r r e d f r o m
K i e l t o J u t l a n d as a r e s u l t of a i r r a i d s .
U-boats.
18. A l a r g e g r o u p of U - b o a t s is o p e r a t i n g in m i d - A t l a n t i c n o r t h - w e s t of
I r e l a n d (R), a n d a smaller c o n c e n t r a t i o n is r e p o r t e d west of C a p e F i n i s t e r r e .
I n t h e I n d i a n O c e a n J a p a n e s e U - b o a t s a r e o p e r a t i n g i n t h e e n t r a n c e of t h e
Gulf of O m a n , in t h e G u l f of A d e n , off B o m b a y a n d b e t w e e n the coast of
S . W . I n d i a a n d t h e M a l d i v e s .
B
[26683]
Enemy A t t a c k on Shipping.
19. D u r i n g t h e week U - b o a t s a r e r e p o r t e d to h a v e a t t a c k e d t h r e e s h i p s , one
of w h i c h is k n o w n to h a v e s u n k . A s t r a g g l e r from a n o u t w a r d - b o u n d convoy
w a s s u n k s o u t h of I c e l a n d (C) a f t e r h a v i n g been t o r p e d o e d twice. T h i s is t h e first
t i m e since t h e e n d of October t h a t a s h i p h a s been t o r p e d o e d in the N . W .
A p p r o a c h e s . A t a n k e r on p a s s a g e to A b a d a n w a s t o r p e d o e d i n t h e G u l f of
O m a n but. reached p o r t , a n d a U . S . s h i p w a s t o r p e d o e d a n d a b a n d o n e d n o r t h ­
west of B e r m u d a .
T h e s.s. Largs Bay (14,182 tons) w a s m i n e d in t h e B a y of N a p l e s a n d
subsequently beached. T h r e e s h i p s in a n e a s t b o u n d c o a s t a l convoy w e r e s u n k by
E - b o a t s off the L i z a r d .
20. A p r o v i s i o n a l figure
December is 154,000 tons.
for s h i p p i n g losses from
enemy action
during
Protection of Seaborne Trade.
2 1 . D u r i n g t h e week e n d i n g the 2nd, 807 s h i p s in convoy a r r i v e d a t t h e i r
d e s t i n a t i o n s . Of these, 280 s h i p s w e r e in ocean convoys a n d 527 in B r i t i s h
coastal convoys. T h r e e escort c a r r i e r s , one a n t i - a i r c r a f t s h i p , 45 d e s t r o y e r s a n d
113 sloops, c u t t e r s , f r i g a t e s a n d corvettes ( i n c l u d i n g 18 U . S . d e s t r o y e r escorts),
were employed on escort d u t i e s . F o u r home-bound ocean convoys, c o n s i s t i n g of
124 ships, a n d five o u t w a r d - b o u n d convoys, of 156 s h i p s , a r r i v e d a t t h e i r
d e s t i n a t i o n s w i t h o u t loss.
Allied Minelaying.
­
22. A i r c r a f t l a i d m i n e s off t h e D u t c h coast, off the' n o r t h coast of F r a n c e
a n d t h e Biscay p o r t s .
Enemy Minelaying, Allied Minesweeping.
2 3 . " T h e r e haA e been no r e p o r t s of m i n e l a y i n g by e i t h e r a i r c r a f t or s u r f a c e
c r a f t d u r i n g t h e week.
T h e c l e a r a n c e of a r o u n d m i n e s in t h e P o r t s m o u t h E a s t e r n A p p r o a c h e s w a s
r
JL .1.
o
completed on t h e 31st.
T h e m i n e t o t a l s a r e : 4,6.15 g r o u n d a n d 3,934 moored.
Enemy Merchant Shipping.
24. P h o t o g r a p h s recently t a k e n of t h e b l o c k a d e - r u n n e r Osomo (6,951 tons),
w h i c h h a s a r r i v e d from t h e F a r E a s t a n d w h i c h is a g r o u n d a t L e V e r d o n , show
t h e i m p o r t a n c e w h i c h the enemy a t t a c h e s t o h e r c a r g o .
T h r e e escort vessels,
four m i n e s w e e p e r s a n d a s p e r r b r e c h e r h a v e been s t a t i o n e d t o s e a w a r d of her,
a n d for h e r f u r t h e r p r o t e c t i o n t h r e e h e a v y r a i l w a y a n t i - a i r c r a f t g u n s a n d some
l i g h t g u n s have a r r i v e d on t h e r a i l w a y s i d i n g s .
A n u m b e r of F i n n i s h s h i p s r e c e n t l y e m p l o y e d by t h e G e r m a n s a l o n g t h e
N o r w e g i a n coast h a v e been recalled by t h e F i n n s on t h e e x p i r a t i o n of t h e i r
charters.
T w o G e r m a n m o t o r l i g h t e r s , l a d e n w i t h coal, w e r e e x p e c t e d t o leave t h e
D a r d a n e l l e s en route for S a l o n i k a on t h e 5 t h . T w o s i m i l a r b a r g e s w e r e e x p e c t e d
to follow. A convoy of c a r g o s h i p s f r o m t h e P i r a e u s r e a c h e d L e r o s on t h e 1st.
Spanish Intelligence.
25. O n t h e 2 9 t h December two bombs e x p l o d e d o n the h u l l of the I t a l i a n
s.s. Lavoro (7,886 tons) a t C a r t a g e n a , a n d on t h e 31st, t w o bombs e x p l o d e d i n
the B r i t i s h s.s. Harlesden
(7,273 tons) a t V a l e n c i a . O n t h e 1st a n d 2 n d J a n u a r y
s i m i l a r , t h o u g h ineffective, explosions o c c u r r e d i n t h e c a r g o of t w o B r i t i s h s h i p s
w h i c h h a d j o i n e d a h o m e b o u n d convoy f r o m G i b r a l t a r .
MILITARY
SITUATION.
Russo-Cerman C a m p a i g n .
( A n o u t l i n e m a p is i n c l u d e d as a n inset.)
Revel-Vitebsk
Sector.
26. T h e R u s s i a n s have m a d e some p r o g r e s s w e s t of V e l i k i e L u k i a n d n o r t h
of Nevei. S o u t h of V i t e b s k t h e y h a v e c u t t h e r o a d V i t e b s k - O r s h a , w h i c h r u n s
j u s t e a s t of t h e r a i l w a y . T h e y a r e t h e r e f o r e c l o s i n g i n on V i t e b s k f r o m t h r e e
sides. T h e G e r m a n s c l a i m to h a v e r e p u l s e d s t r o n g local a t t a c k s by t h e R u s s i a n s
o n t h e 2 n d J a n u a r j ^ in t h i s a r e a .
Kiev
Sector.
27. T h e R u s s i a n offensive in t h i s sector h a s c o n t i n u e d t o m a k e excellent
progress both westwards and south-westwards. I n their thrust westwards they
c a p t u r e d K o r o s t e n on t h e 2 9 t h December a n d Z h i t o m i r t w o d a y s l a t e r , a n d t h e i r
a d v a n c e h a s n o w c o n t i n u e d beyond N o v o g r a d V o l y n s k .
The south-westerly
t h r u s t , w h i c h r e s u l t e d in the c a p t u r e of K a z a t i n o n t h e 3 0 t h December, a p p e a r s
t o be d i r e c t e d t o w a r d s Z h m e r i n k a . T h e c a p t u r e of t h i s p l a c e w o u l d c u t t h e m a i n
r a i l c o m m u n i c a t i o n s f r o m G e r m a n y t o t h e S o u t h e r n D n i e p e r a n d w o u l d be a
g r a v e t h r e a t to all t h e G e r m a n forces in t h e D n i e p e r B e n d . T h e G e r m a n s a r e
t h e r e f o r e likely to m a k e every effort to p r e v e n t t h e R u s s i a n s f r o m r e a c h i n g
Z h m e r i n k a . F u r t h e r e a s t t h e R u s s i a n s on t h e 4 t h J a n u a r y c a p t u r e d B y e l a y a
T s e r k o v , 20 miles S.S.E. of F a s t o v .
Bend.
Dnieper
28. T h e R u s s i a n s h a v e m a d e some p r o g r e s s w e s t of Z a p o r o z h e a n d h a v e
c o n t i n u e d t h e i r a t t a c k s a g a i n s t t h e N i k o p o l b r i d g e h e a d , b u t w i t h no p o s i t i o n a l
change.
Italy.
29. W e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s over t h e b a t t l e f r o n t h a v e become even m o r e severe
d u r i n g t h e p a s t week. O n t h e A d r i a t i c coast g a l e s a n d s t o r m s h a v e been r a g i n g .
F a r t h e r i n l a n d h e a v y falls of s n o w a n d i n t e n s e cold h a v e slowed u p o p e r a t i o n s
a n d m a d e t h e m a i n t e n a n c e of f o r w a r d t r o o p s a m a t t e r of c o n s i d e r a b l e difficulty.
Eighth
Army.
30. O n t h e A d r i a t i c coast sector C a n a d i a n t r o o p s a r e h o l d i n g . p o s i t i o n s
some 2 m i l e s N . W . of O r t o n a , h a v i n g f o u g h t off one or t w o h e a v y c o u n t e r - a t t a c k s .
T o their immediate south an I n d i a n division has made a little progress towards
Tollo.
I n t h e O r s o n a a r e a t h e G e r m a n s still hold a s t r o n g defensive p o s i t i o n ; h e r e
a n d over t h e w h o l e c o a s t a l sector t h e y a r e fighting s t u b b o r n defensive a c t i o n s a n d
only f a l l i n g back u n d e r t h e s t r o n g e s t p r e s s u r e .
Fifth
Army.
31. F r e n c h a n d U . S . forces h a v e m a d e slow p r o g r e s s i n t h e m o u n t a i n s
t o w a r d s M t . M a r e , A c q u a f o n d a t a a n d S. V i t t o r e . S t r o n g U . S . fighting p a t r o l s
h a v e been p r o b i n g t h e enemy defences o u t s i d e S. V i t t o r e . B y t h e 5 t h J a n u a r y
one c o m p a n y w a s fighting i n t h e t o w n w i t h a n o t h e r a t t a c k i n g f r o m t h e s o u t h .
P r o g r e s s is slow, w i t h t h e enemy p u t t i n g u p s t r o n g defensive fire f r o m m a n y
houses t h a t t h e y h a v e c o n v e r t e d i n t o pillboxes.
T h e r e h a s been r e n e w e d a c t i v i t y a l o n g t h e R . G a r i g l i a n o . O n t h e n i g h t of
the 2 9 t h / 3 0 t h December a Commando made an assault l a n d i n g beyond the mouth
of t h e r i v e r a n d d e s t r o y e d a b r i d g e on t h e c o a s t a l r o a d . T h e y w e r e s u p p o r t e d by
one of o u r i n f a n t r y b r i g a d e s , w h i c h a t t a c k e d a c r o s s t h e r i v e r t o w a r d s t h e same
b r i d g e a n d effectively e n g a g e d enemy p o s i t i o n s .
F u r t h e r local a t t a c k s h a v e t a k e n p l a c e a l o n g t h e r i v e r i n t h e a r e a s t o t h e
S.E. of C a s t e l f o r t e a n d S a n A m b r o g i o .
Yugoslavia.
32. M a c e d o n i a n P a r t i s a n s h a v e clashed w i t h B u l g a r i a n f r o n t i e r t r o o p s ;
some of those c a p t u r e d j o i n e d t h e P a r t i s a n s .
T h e fighting r o u n d L i v n o h a s d i e d d o w n , a n d t h e G e r m a n s a p p e a r t o have
a b a n d o n e d t h e effort t o p e n e t r a t e f u r t h e r n o r t h i n t o P a r t i s a n - h e l d t e r r i t o r y .
The G e r m a n s have captured M l jet Island a n d further operations a g a i n s t the
i s l a n d s off t h e D a l m a t i a n coast a r e p r o b a b l e .
I n t h e a r e a e a s t of F i u m e t h e P a r t i s a n s h a v e c a p t u r e d p o i n t s o n t h e m a i n
F i u m e - Z a g r e b r a i l w a y , t h u s l i n k i n g t h e P a r t i s a n a r e a s of Slovenia w i t h those
of C r o a t i a .
I n t h e S l o v e n i a n t o w n s of Kocevje a n d Novo M e s t o t h e G e r m a n g a r r i s o n s
a r e c u t off by t h e P a r t i s a n forces. F u r t h e r e a s t , i n C e n t r a l B o s n i a , a P a r t i s a n
r a i d i n g force h a s p e n e t r a t e d i n t o t h e i m p o r t a n t t o w n of B a n j a l u k a .
T h e P a r t i s a n s h a v e c o n t i n u e d s a b o t a g e a g a i n s t A x i s - c o n t r o l l e d r a i l w a y lines.
[26683]
.3 2
Greece.
33. E . L . A . S . forces have been e n g a g e d i n heavy fighting a g a i n s t t h e
G e r m a n s i n M a c e d o n i a a n d in t h e O l y m p u s a r e a , a n d sabotage to G e r m a n L . of C ,
h a s been r e s u m e d in t h i s region.
N e w Guinea.
34. T h e A u s t r a l i a n s , in t h e i r advance along the coast n o r t h of F i n s c h h a f e n ,
h a v e reached a p o i n t about 35 miles N . W . of the town.
On t h e 2 n d J a n u a r y , U . S . t r o o p s l a n d e d w i t h o u t o p p o s i t i o n a t S a i d o r , on t h e
n o r t h coast of N e w G u i n e a , t h u s c u t t i n g off from t h e i r m a i n base a t M a d a n g a
J a p a n e s e force e s t i m a t e d a t about 4,000.
I n the E a m u Valley A u s t r a l i a n troops have captured a commanding hill
f e a t u r e some 40 miles s o u t h of M a d a n g .
New
Britain.
35. T h e U . S . forces w h i c h l a n d e d a t C a p e Gloucester h a d
3 0 t h December c a p t u r e d t h e airfields a n d e n l a r g e d t h e i r beach-heads.
A t A r a w e t h e r e h a s been p a t r o l a c t i v i t y only.
by
the
AIR SITUATION.
General Review.
36. U . S . heavy bombers a t t a c k e d L u d w i g s h a f e n , K i e l a n d M u n s t e r a n d
t a r g e t s in F r a n c e .
Bomber C o m m a n d o p e r a t e d in s t r e n g t h a g a i n s t B e r l i n (twice) a n d S t e t t i n .
A heavy scale of a t t a c k w a s m a i n t a i n e d a g a i n s t m i l i t a r y objectives i n
N o r t h e r n F r a n c e .
I n I t a l y , r a i l w a y centres w e r e bombed; fighter-bombers p r o v i d e d s u p p o r t for
t h e A r m y in t h e b a t t l e a r e a .
I n o p e r a t i o n s over N e w B r i t a i n , 83 enemy a i r c r a f t w e r e destroyed.
United K i n g d o m .
37. I n d a y l i g h t no enemy a i r c r a f t w e r e r e p o r t e d over t h i s c o u n t r y . O n
t h r e e n i g h t s a t o t a l of 43 enemy a i r c r a f t o p e r a t e d over t h e H o m e a n d S o u t h E a s t e r n C o u n t i e s , a n d 10 of these p e n e t r a t e d t o the L o n d o n a r e a . S i x enemy
a i r c r a f t w e r e shot down, i n c l u d i n g one by A A . fire.
H o m e Waters.
38. T h e only a t t a c k on enemy s h i p p i n g w a s m a d e by escorted R . P . T y p h o o n s
w h i c h d a m a g e d a s h i p off Boulogne.
A i r c r a f t of Bomber C o m m a n d , of w h i c h 100 were d e s p a t c h e d , l a i d 308 sea­
mines in enemy w a t e r s .
Germany and Occupied Territory.
Day.
39.
U . S . heavy bombers o p e r a t e d o n four d a y s of t h e week, a s follows :—
Date.
30th
31st
-
4th
5th
Aircraft
Despatched.
Target.
Chemical
... Ludwigshafen
Works
... Cognac/Chateaubernard
airfield
St. J e a n d'Angely airfield ...
Paris (Bois Colombe) ball­
bearing works
Paris (Ivry) ball-bearing
works
... Kiel
Munster
... Kiel
Bordeaux/Merignac airfield
Tours airfield
Targets in Kuhr, including
Neuss, Dusseldorf
and
Wassenburg
514 Fortresses
.69 Liberators
Attacked
Primary
Target.
Tonnage.
E,esults.
652
1,244
292
699
Fair/good.
66
57
163
153
Fair/good.
Good.
171
Fair/good.
829 '"
Generally
unobserved,
but believed
good.
Good.
Believed
good.
Good.
No report,
Not observed.
i­
430 Fortresses
154 Liberators
446
515 Fortresses
* 130 Liberators
405 Fortresses
"115 Liberators
-
67
215
112
172
458
237
78
73
122
188
I n t h e a t t a c k s on t h e 5 t h , w h i c h w e r e m a d e i n clear w e a t h e r , p h o t o g r a p h s of
K i e l show a c o n c e n t r a t e d a r e a of fire w e s t of D i e H o r n c o m m e r c i a l p o r t a n d o t h e r
b u r s t s i n t h e n o r t h - w e s t a n d n o r t h - e a s t sections of t h e city. A t M e r i g n a c airfield,
h a n g a r s w e r e seen to be o n fire a n d , a t T o u r s , a c o n c e n t r a t i o n of b u r s t s w a s
observed i n t h e h a n g a r a r e a t o t h e s o u t h of t h e airfield.
T w o h u n d r e d a n d n i n e s q u a d r o n s of fighters o p e r a t e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h
t h e above a t t a c k s a n d these, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e bombers, d e s t r o y e d 158 enemy
a i r c r a f t , p r o b a b l y d e s t r o y e d 53 a n d d a m a g e d 5 0 ; 63 F o r t r e s s e s , 26 L i b e r a t o r s
a n d 31 fighters a r e m i s s i n g .
Offensive^operations of t h e A l l i e d E x p e d i t i o n a r y A i r F o r c e , w h i c h w e r e on a
h e a v y scale a n d m a i n t a i n e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e week, w e r e a l m o s t exclusively d i r e c t e d
a g a i n s t m i l i t a r y objectives i n t h e c o a s t a l a r e a s of N o r t h e r n F r a n c e . T h e 1,479
a i r c r a f t , w h i c h a t t a c k e d t h e s e t a r g e t s , d r o p p e d 1,177 t o n s of bombs a n d fired 817
r o c k e t p r o j e c t i l e s for t h e loss of seven a i r c r a f t . E s c o r t a n d s u p p o r t w e r e s u p p l i e d
by 121 s q u a d r o n s of fighters w h i c h e n c o u n t e r e d n e g l i g i b l e o p p o s i t i o n ; t w o e n e m y
a i r c r a f t w e r e destroyed a n d t w o Spitfires a r e m i s s i n g .
T w o s q u a d r o n s of T y p h o o n s , on a sweep over H o l l a n d , destroyed, five D o . 2 1 7
for t h e loss of o n e T y p h o o n . A f u r t h e r f o u r enemy a i r c r a f t w e r e d e s t r o y e d b y
fighters i n t h e P a r i s a r e a .
Night.
40. A i r c r a f t of B o m b e r C o m m a n d o p e r a t e d i n s t r e n g t h on t h r e e n i g h t s of
t h e week, t h e m a i n t a r g e t s b e i n g B e r l i n (on t h e n i g h t s of t h e 1 s t / 2 n d a n d
2 n d / 3 r d ) a n d S t e t t i n (on t h e n i g h t of t h e 5 t h / 6 t h ) .
T h e t w o a t t a c k s o n B e r l i n , w h i c h w e r e m a d e by 355 a n d 284 a i r c r a f t
respectively, w e r e b o t h carried, o u t t h r o u g h t h i c k cloud. T h e t o t a l t o n n a g e of
bombs d r o p p e d w a s 2,288 b u t n o definite assessment of r e s u l t s is possible a l t h o u g h ,
i n t h e second a t t a c k w h i c h is believed t o h a v e e x t e n d e d f r o m e a s t t o west, t w o
a r e a s of c o n f l a g r a t i o n a r e r e p o r t e d .
A t S t e t t i n , a f o r t u n a t e b r e a k i n t h e w e a t h e r , about 30 m i l e s s h o r t of t h e
city, r e s u l t e d i n t h e t a r g e t b e i n g c l e a r l y visible a n d a c o n c e n t r a t e d a t t a c k
developed w h i c h m e r g e d i n t o a v e r y l a r g e a r e a of fire. I n t h i s r a i d , t h e e n e m y
fighters w o u l d a p p e a r to h a v e been well deceived by a n a e r i a l flarepath laid,
towards Berlin.
F r o m t h e t h r e e o p e r a t i o n s , w h i c h involved t h e d e s p a t c h of 1,162 a i r c r a f t ,
70 bombers a r e m i s s i n g a n d a f u r t h e r t h r e e c r a s h e d i n t h i s c o u n t r y .
S u b s i d i a r y a t t a c k s by a t o t a l Of 95 M o s q u i t o e s , of w h i c h o n e is m i s s i n g , w e r e
m a d e u p o n a n u m b e r of t a r g e t s i n G e r m a n y a n d a f u r t h e r 100 a i r c r a f t bombed
m i l i t a r y objectives i n N o r t h e r n F r a n c e .
Italy.
4 1 . A t t a c k s on enemy r a i l w a y c e n t r e s a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s w e r e c o n t i n u e d
t h r o u g h o u t t h e week. T h e t a r g e t s bombed by F o r t r e s s e s w e r e T u r i n , P a d u a ,
R i m i n i , F e r r a r a a n d R a v e n n a . I n these a t t a c k s , w h i c h w e r e r e p o r t e d t o be v e r y
successful, a t o t a l of 639 t o n s of bombs w a s d r o p p e d . E n e m y o p p o s i t i o n w a s o n
a s m a l l scale e x c e p t d u r i n g t h e r a i d on T u r i n w h e n 20 enemy fighters w e r e
e n c o u n t e r e d , t w o of w h i c h w e r e d e s t r o y e d for t h e loss of seven L i g h t n i n g s a n d
one Fortress. Fifty-three Fortresses attacked Villaperosa Ball Bearing Works,
causing extensive damage.
M i t c h e l l s a n d M a r a u d e r s bombed r a i l w a y c e n t r e s a t F a l c o n a r a (seven m i l e s
W . of A n c o n a ) , T e r n i , V i a r e g g i o (13 miles W . N . W . of L u c c a ) , a n d B o r g o S a n
L o r e n z o (14 miles N . E . of Florence) a n d t h e q u a y s a n d r a i l w a y y a r d s a t
C i v i t a v e c c h i a . N e a r S a n R e m o , a n u m b e r of h i t s w e r e o b t a i n e d o n a b r i d g e a t
T a g g i a , a n d a t V e n t i m i g l i a t w o s p a n s of t h e w e s t b r i d g e , a n d o n e e n d of t h e
e a s t b r i d g e w e r e destroyed. Good r e s u l t s w e r e also r e p o r t e d a f t e r a t t a c k s o n
r a i l w a y b r i d g e s a t C e r t a l d o , F o l i g n o a n d O r v i e t o ( N . N . W . of R o m e ) .
Another
successful r a i d by 24 M a r a u d e r s w a s m a d e o n t h e V a r r i v e r b r i d g e in t h e s o u t h
of F r a n c e .
F i g h t e r - b o m b e r s a n d l i g h t - b o m b e r s w e r e a c t i v e i n t h e r e a r of t h e e n e m y ' s
p o s i t i o n s ; b r i d g e s , r a i l w a y t a r g e t s , r o a d s , b u i l d i n g s a n d t r a n s p o r t vehicles w e r e
freely a t t a c k e d . A f t e r t w o a t t a c k s on consecutive d a y s on M . T . i n t h e P o p o l i /
A r e z z a n o r o a d a n d s n o w - b o u n d M . T . in t h e m o u n t a i n a r e a , 57 vehicles w e r e
d e s t r o y e d a n d n e a r l y 200 d a m a g e d . F i g h t e r - b o m b e r s also d e s t r o y e d or d a m a g e d
17 locomotives a n d a n u m b e r of w a g o n s .
I n t h e b a t t l e a r e a , enemy d e f e n d e d
p o s i t i o n s a n d c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of h e a v y a r t i l l e r y w e r e h e a v i l y a t t a c k e d p a r t i c u l a r l y
i n t h e a r e a s of Tollo (S. of P e s c a r a ) a n d C a s s i n o .
I n the course of all these o p e r a t i o n s 29 enemy a i r c r a f t were destroyed a n d
39 A l l i e d a i r c r a f t a r e m i s s i n g . T h e enemy c a s u a l t i e s i n c l u d e two shot d o w n
by A . A . g u n s in a n a b o r t i v e a t t a c k by 12 J u . 88 in t h e C a t a n i a / A u g u s t a a r e a .
Yugoslavia.
42. S p l i t w a s a t t a c k e d by 36 bombers a n d h i t s were observed in the dock
a r e a , r a i l w a y c e n t r e a n d on a medium-sized s h i p . T w e n t y - f o u r M i t c h e l l s bombed
Z a r a a n d h i t w a r e h o u s e s a n d d e t o n a t e d 7 5 / 1 0 0 mines. A t t a c k s on a similar­
scale w e r e m a d e also on P r i j e d o r (105 miles N . of S p l i t ) , on Sibenik (30 miles
N . W . of S p l i t ) , on t h e r a i l w a y c e n t r e a t B r o d a c (55 miles W . of B e l g r a d e ) a n d
o n t h e b a r r a c k s a t T r a v n i k (48 miles N . W . of Sarajevo). F o u r schooners w e r e
d a m a g e d off K o r c u l a I s l a n d a n d a s h i p of 6,000 tons w a s a t t a c k e d by W a r h a w k s
off t h e D a l m a t i a n C o a s t r e s u l t i n g in a l a r g e explosion and. w a s left on fire.
Bulgaria.
43. A l a r g e force of escorted F o r t r e s s e s w a s d e s p a t c h e d to a t t a c k Sofia
b u t w a s u n a b l e to do so as t h e t a r g e t w a s obscured by cloud. T w e n t y - n i n e of
these bombed t h e t o w n a n d r a i l w a y centre of D u p n i t s a (32 miles S.S.W. of
Sofia).
Russia.
44. E a r l y in t h e week t h e R u s s i a n c o m m u n i q u e spoke of s t r o n g close s u p p o r t
by t h e G . A . F . in t h e K o r o s t e n a r e a . T h e r e w a s n o f u r t h e r m e n t i o n of a i r
a c t i v i t y in t h a t area, b u t it is t h o u g h t t h a t so far as t h e "weather a n d t h e s t a t e
of t h e airfields p e r m i t t e d , o p e r a t i o n s in close s u p p o r t of t h e R u s s i a n a d v a n c e i n
t h e K i e v sector w e r e m a i n t a i n e d .
I n the V i t e b s k - N e v e l area, d e s p i t e b a d w e a t h e r t h e R u s s i a n A i r Force w e r e
e n g a g e d - i n effective a t t a c k s w i t h s t r o n g forces of g r o u n d , a t t a c k a n d
fighter
a i r c r a f t on G e r m a n f r o n t - l i n e troops.
E l s e w h e r e on t h e front, o p e r a t i o n s c o n t i n u e d to be h a m p e r e d by b a d w e a t h e r
a n d a r e a t p r e s e n t on a very l i m i t e d scale.
Burma.
45. A n effective a t t a c k by escorted M i t c h e l l s on a b r i d g e over t h e M u r i v e r ,
30 miles west by s o u t h of M a n d a l a y , r e s u l t e d in t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of two s p a n s
a n d , later, a n o t h e r a t t a c k inflicted considerable d a m a g e on r e c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k
in progress.
Oil i n s t a l l a t i o n s a n d power s t a t i o n s a t Y e n a n g y a u n g a n d T h a y e t m y o w e r e
bombed by a t o t a l of 70 heavy a n d m e d i u m bombers.
N i g h t a t t a c k s on t h e r a i l w a y y a r d s a t R a n g o o n a n d P r o m e w e r e c a r r i e d
o u t by W e l l i n g t o n s a n d L i b e r a t o r s and, by day, s i m i l a r t a r g e t s a t M o n y w a a n d
A l o n , i n C e n t r a l B u r m a , were bombed by L i b e r a t o r s a n d M i t c h e l l s .
A t o t a l of 218 fighters a n d fighter-bombers m a d e n u m e r o u s h a r a s s i n g a t t a c k s
on enemy p o s i t i o n s , s t o r a g e d u m p s a n d c a m p s i n t h e K a l e m y o a n d A k y a b a r e a s
a n d t h r e e a t t a c k s on s i m i l a r objectives in t h e T a r o a r e a i n t h e n o r t h .
R a i d s o n enemy t r a n s p o r t resulted in d a m a g e to 140 small c r a f t , 103 u n i t s
of r o l l i n g stock a n d 11 locomotives.
A p a r t f r o m a fighter sweep over C h i t t a g o n g , t h e only enemy a c t i v i t y r e p o r t e d
is a n a t t a c k by 14 escorted bombers on small n a v a l c r a f t off St. M a r t i n ' s I s l a n d
(50 miles N . W . of A k y a b ) . Spitfires, w h i c h i n t e r c e p t e d , destroyed e i g h t of t h e
enemy a n d d a m a g e d o t h e r s ; one Spitfire force-landed.
China.
46. Mitchells, of w h i c h one crashed, m a d e t h r e e effective a t t a c k s on enemy
s h i p p i n g on t h e Y a n g t s e east of H a n k o w a n d n e a r N a n k i n g ; a t r o o p s h i p a n d
seven other s h i p s w e r e sunk, a n d six other ships, i n c l u d i n g two g u n b o a t s , w e r e
damaged.
Siam.
' 47. A t o t a l of 53 L i b e r a t o r s m a d e two r a i d s on t h e r a i l w a y c e n t r e a t
L a m p a n g in N o r t h Siam.
Pacific Zone.
New
Guinea.
48. T h e A l l i e d effort w a s d i r e c t e d m a i n l y a g a i n s t g u n p o s i t i o n s , t r o o p
c o n c e n t r a t i o n s a n d b a r g e bases i n t h e c o a s t a l a r e a s a r o u n d A l e x i s h a f e n , M a d a n g .
B o g a d y i m a n d S a i d o r , a g a i n s t w h i c h a t o t a l of about 650 sorties, by h e a v y a n d
m e d i u m bombers, w a s flown. A t S a i d o r , a b o u t 300 t o n s of bombs w e r e d r o p p e d
p r i o r to a n d i n s u p p o r t of l a n d i n g o p e r a t i o n s w h i c h took p l a c e on t h e 1st. A
s i m i l a r t o n n a g e w a s d r o p p e d on g u n p o s i t i o n s a n d t h e airfield a t A l e x i s h a f e n .
New
Britain.
49. A t o t a l of 183 m e d i u m a n d l i g h t bombers m a d e seven r a i d s on enemy
concentrations and gun positions in the Borgen Bay area, and Liberators and
M i t c h e l l s m a d e a h e a v y a t t a c k on s i m i l a r t a r g e t s n e a r C a p e Gloucester, d r o p p i n g
182 tons of bombs.
T h e w a t e r f r o n t a n d t o w n of R a b a u l w e r e bombed by 19 e s c o r t e d L i b e r a t o r s ,
a n d t h e n e a r b y airfield a t L a k u n a i by 15 e s c o r t e d L i b e r a t o r s a n d 35 B e a u f o r t s .
I n t h e s e o p e r a t i o n s a n d by fighters s w e e p i n g t h e same a r e a , 72 e n e m y a i r c r a f t
w e r e destroyed a n d a f u r t h e r 32 w e r e p r o b a b l y d e s t r o y e d ; one L i b e r a t o r a n d e i g h t
fighters a r e m i s s i n g a n d t w o L i b e r a t o r s c r a s h e d .
E n e m y a i r c r a f t , of w h i c h 11 w e r e d e s t r o y e d , m a d e s i x small-scale r a i d s on
our positions in the A r a w a area.
A C a t a l i n a d a m a g e d a d e s t r o y e r off C a p e H o s k i n s .
New Ireland and the Admiralty
Islands.
50. C a t a l i n a s , of w h i c h a t o t a l of 34 o p e r a t e d , m a i n t a i n e d n i g h t l y a t t a c k s
o n t h e airfields a t K a v i e n g a n d P a n a p e i . Off K a v i e n g , L i b e r a t o r s bombed a n d
h i t a l i g h t c r u i s e r a n d d a m a g e d a s h i p of c o r v e t t e t y p e .
A 9,000-ton s h i p , a n c h o r e d in h a r b o u r a t L o s N e g r o s I s l a n d , w a s s u n k by a
C a t a l i n a a n d another, s h i p of 2,500 t o n s w a s d a m a g e d .
Island.
Bougainville
and Shortland
51. A t o t a l of 262 l i g h t b o m b e r s a t t a c k e d enemy g u n p o s i t i o n s n e a r B u k a ,
on Shortland I s l a n d and in South Bougainville. Similar aircraft destroyed two
b r i d g e s on t h e B u i n / E m p r e s s A u g u s t a B a y r o a d a n d a n o t h e r t w o s o u t h of C a p e
Torokina.
M e d i u m a n d h e a v y bombers a t t a c k e d s u p p l y d u m p s a n d . o t h e r t a r g e t s i n t h e
Kahili
a n d on B u k a Island.
The Celebes and
Timor.
52. On t h e 2 n d , L i b e r a t o r s d r o p p e d 19 tons of bombs o n a n i n d u s t r i a l p l a n t
a t P o m e l a a a n d , o n t h e 4th, D u t c h M i t c h e l l s , of w h i c h one is m i s s i n g , set on fire
a small s h i p a t K o e p a n g .
Marshall
Islands.
53. O n t h e 2 6 t h December, 17 L i b e r a t o r s bombed i n s t a l l a t i o n s a t W o t j e a n d ,
w i t h H e l l c a t s , a t t a c k e d s h i p p i n g a t J a l u i t ; two L i b e r a t o r s a r e m i s s i n g .
HOME SECURITY
SITUATION.
General.
54. B o m b i n g o c c u r r e d on t h r e e n i g h t s of t h e week. O n t h e 3 0 t h / 3 l s t t w o
t r i v i a l i n c i d e n t s w e r e r e p o r t e d f r o m Sussex.
On t h e 2 n d / 3 r d bombs w e r e
d r o p p e d in the L o n d o n a r e a a n d i n K e n t a n d Sussex w i t h o u t s e r i o u s d a m a g e .
On the 4 t h / 5 t h there were incidents in London, Kent, Sussex and S u r r e y ; there
w a s s l i g h t d a m a g e to a n a i r c r a f t f a c t o r y a t F e l t h a m , d a m a g e to a f a c t o r y a t
B e c k e n h a m , houses w e r e d a m a g e d a t B r o o k l a n d ( K e n t ) . S t . L e o n a r d s ,
Bletchingley, Westcott near Dorking, a n d a t Reigate.
Casualties.
55. T h e e s t i m a t e d c i v i l i a n c a s u a l t i e s for the week e n d i n g 0600 h o u r s on
t h e 6th w e r e f o u r k i l l e d a n d 2 4 seriously i n j u r e d .
A P P E N D I C E S I, I I , I I I and I Y will be published periodically.
APPENDIX
V.
Casualties to H . M . and Allied A u x i l i a r y Vessels and to N a v a l Personnel.
31st December.—L.S.T.
a n d B a s t i a (Corsica).
Qth January.—
Lizard.
411 d a m a g e d by m i n e b e t w e e n M a d d a l e n a ( S a r d i n i a )
Wallasea
( M / S - A / S t r a w l e r ) s u n k by e n e m y a c t i o n off t h e
T h e following c a s u a l t i e s to n a v a l p e r s o n n e l h a v e been r e p o r t e d : — Officers : 12 k i l l e d ; 2 m i s s i n g ; 7 w o u n d e d . R a t i n g s : 98 k i l l e d ; 9 m i s s i n g ; 39 w o u n d e d . APPENDIX
VI.
Imports under D e p a r t m e n t a l P r o g r a m m e s .
(Thousand tons.)
1
Non-Tanker I m p o r t s ^ )
Tanker
Tanke r
Imports . ( )
Imports.
3
Ministry of
Food.
Ministry of
Supply.
Total. O
531
633
874
598
551
1,017
1,177
1,267
2,015
857
895
996
Apri
Aprill
Mayy
Ma
J un
unee
1,173
1,022
1,173
1,020
874
1,312
2,378
2,064
2,723
1,071
1,281
1,467
Jul
Julyy
August..
August....
September
Septembe r
1,235
889
1,058
1,292
1,267
1,358
2,748
2,368
2,661
1,967
1,519
1,760
1,170
859
1,209
1,179
2,569
2,185
1,293
1,141
10,557 .
11,630
24,054
14,035
1 9 4 3 -­
Januar
Januaryy
February
Februar y
Marc
Marchh
..
....
-­
..
....
..
....
October..
October....
Novembe
Novemberr
4
Total
Total,, Januar
Januaryy t o November( )
lst-18th
lst-18t h
mated))
mated
Decembe
Decemberr
(esti
(esti--­
573
744
1,417
^;
l
:
714
­
( ) Excluding imports from Eire. The monthly figures of imports given in this table represent
the estimated weights of the commodities included in t h e Trade and Navigation Accounts
for each montli and are unadjusted for small revisions.subsequently made in the cumula­
tive totals given in the accounts for later months.
( ) Including munitions and miscellaneous imports under the Ministry of Production
programme and imports of munitions on Canadian Government account.
(?) Petroleum products, molasses, unrefined whale oil, industrial alcohol, and acetone.
(*) Adjusted for revisions.
2
APPENDIX
VII. A i r A t t a c k s on Enemy Territory in Europe. E x t r a c t s from Recent Raid Assessment Reports. Germany.
Berlin.—The
following a c c o u n t w a s p r e p a r e d by a first-hand observer w h o
w a s r e s i d e n t in t h e G e r m a n c a p i t a l between t h e 2 2 n d November, w h e n t h e first
a n d heaviest-of t h e recent series of n i g h t a t t a c k s took place, a n d m i d - D e c e m b e r .
I t should be stressed t h a t t h i s observer is a n i n f o r m a n t of p r o v e d r e l i a b i l i t y w i t h
o p p o r t u n i t i e s to become fully a c q u a i n t e d wdth t h e s i t u a t i o n a s i t e x i s t e d
i m m e d i a t e l y following t h e N o v e m b e r a n d December a t t a c k s : —
Raids
of 22nd/23rd
November and 23rd/24:th
November.
Main areas of concentration.—The
p r i n c i p a l a r e a s covered by t h e a t t a c k s of
t h e 2 2 n d / 2 3 r d a n d 2 3 r d / 2 4 t h N o v e m b e r w e r e w e s t a n d s o u t h - w e s t of B e r l i n .
B u t o n t h i s occasion t h e bombed a r e a s e x t e n d e d c o n s i d e r a b l y f u r t h e r e a s t a n d
north, reaching the Alexander P l a t z in the east a n d t h e W e d d i n g district in
the north.
T h e effects of t h e first r a i d w e r e t r e m e n d o u s , a n d i t w a s difficult to believe
t h a t i n such a s h o r t t i m e so l a r g e a n a r e a could h a v e been bombed i n so effective
a w a y . T h e r a i d of t h e 2 3 r d / 2 4 t h November covered m o r e or less t h e same a r e a ,
b u t on t h i s occasion t h e m a i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n of bombs fell in t h e so-called " old
w e s t ' ' of B e r l i n a n d covered a n a r e a r u n n i n g from t h e W i t t e n b e r g P l a t z to t h e
P o t s d a m e r P l a t z i n t h e e a s t a n d t h e H a n s a a r e a i n t h e n o r t h . S i n c e i t is
impossible to differentiate b e t w e e n t h e b u i l d i n g s d e s t r o y e d d u r i n g t h e first a n d
d u r i n g t h e second r a i d s , t h e a g g r e g a t e r e s u l t s of t h e tw o a t t a c k s a r e g i v e n
t o g e t h e r i n the following p a r a g r a p h s .
r
Damage to railways.—The
lines, &c. :—
following d a m a g e w a s done to r a i l w a y s t a t i o n s ,
(a) T h e m a i n r a i l w a y l i n e r u n n i n g from w e s t to e a s t t h r o u g h t h e c e n t r e of
t h e c i t y w a s seriously d a m a g e d — f i r s t b e t w e e n t h e s t a t i o n s of S p a n d a u
and W e s t k r e u t z ; then a t the Tiergarten station where the railway line
crosses t h e C h a r l o t t e n b u r g C h a u s s e e ; t h e n a t t h e Borse s t a t i o n , w h e r e
a l o n g - d i s t a n c e t r a i n w a s blown to pieces a n d finally, a t t h e A l e x a n d e r
P l a t z . A t these- p o i n t s , bombs fell on t h e r a i l w a y l i n e itself. E l s e ­
w h e r e m a n y houses in t h e i m m e d i a t e v i c i n i t y of t h e r a i l w a y l i n e w e r e
d a m a g e d . A n H . E . bomb s t r u c k t h e p r e m i s e s of t h e K o n d i t o r e i
Telschow n e a r t h e Zoo s t a t i o n , a n d all t h e h o u s e s to t h e l e f t a n d r i g h t
of t h e r a i l w a y l i n e b e t w e e n t h e C h a r l o t t e n b u r g ' s t a t i o n a n d t h e B o r s e
s t a t i o n w e r e w r e c k e d by H . E . bombs. R e p a i r s to t h i s l i n e took five
days, a n d t h e first S t a d t b a h n t r a i n s s t a r t e d r u n n i n g only a t 0900 on
t h e 2 9 t h November. T h e s i g n a l system a n d p e r m a n e n t w a y h a d been
r e p a i r e d by t h e n , b u t o w i n g to t h e s t a t e of t h e r u i n e d houses on e i t h e r
side of t h e line, traffic could proceed a t o n l y a s n a i l ' s p a c e a n d h a d t o
be c o n s t a n t l y i n t e r r u p t e d d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d s w h e n t h e a d j a c e n t houses
a r e b e i n g p u l l e d d o w n or b l o w n u p . M a i n l i n e traffic on t h i s line w a s
still n o t f u n c t i o n i n g u p to m i d - D e c e m b e r . D u r i n g t h e first t e n d a y s
a f t e r t h e r a i d of t h e 2 2 n d / 2 3 r d November m a i n l i n e traffic to a n d f r o m
t h e e a s t r a n i n t o t h e Schlesischer s t a t i o n , t h a t t o a n d f r o m t h e w e s t
i n t o the. P o t s d a m e r s t a t i o n a n d to a n d f r o m t h e n o r t h - w e s t to t h e
Wustermark station.
(b) D u r i n g t h e r a i d of t h e 2 3 r d / 2 4 t h N o v e m b e r t h e S o u t h R i n g L i n e w a s
w r e c k e d n e a r t h e W i l m e r s d o r f s t a t i o n a t t h e p o i n t a t w h i c h i t crosses
the Kaiserallee.
(c) T h e N o r t h R i n g L i n e w a s w r e c k e d b e t w e e n t h e P u t l i t z s t r a s s e a n d
W e d d i n g s t a t i o n s , b u t d a m a g e h e r e w a s less serious a n d traffic w a s
m a i n t a i n e d on a o n e - t r a c k l i n e basis.
id) T h e L e h r t e r s t a t i o n s u s t a i n e d c o n s i d e r a b l e e x t e r n a l d a m a g e , b u t t h e
t r a c k s were n o t d a m a g e d a n d traffic to a n d from N a u e n could t h e r e f o r e
be m a i n t a i n e d .
(e) T w o of t h e m a i n s t a t i o n s in B e r l i n — t h e Schlesischer a n d G o e r l i t z e r
s t a t i o n s — w e r e n o t d a m a g e d a t all a n d w e r e k e p t w o r k i n g d u r i n g t h e
[26683]
c
whole week of r a i d s . A food c a t a s t r o p h e was only p r e v e n t e d by t h e
fact t h a t these t w o s t a t i o n s k e p t o p e r a t i n g a n d took over t h e whole
of t h e u n l o a d i n g of food t r a i n s w h i c h w a s formerly c a r r i e d out a t t h e
Alexander Platz.
( N . B . — T h i s a r e a w a s d a m a g e d in l a t e r attacks.)
(/) T h e Borse s t a t i o n w a s completely b u r n e d out.
Damage to public buildings.—So
m a n y public b u i l d i n g s w e r e destroyed or
d a m a g e d d u r i n g the two a t t a c k s t h a t it is easier to list w h a t survives t h a n w h a t
h a s been destroyed. T h e following a r e k n o w n to h a v e suffered —
(a) T h e Technical H i g h School in C h a r l o t t e n b u r g h a s been completely b u r n e d
out.
(b) W a l k i n g w e s t w a r d s from t h e T e c h n i c a l H i g h School a l o n g t h e B e r l i n e r
S t r a s s e a n d the B i s m a r c k s t r a s s e , t h e r e is not a single b u i l d i n g left a s
f a r a s t h e C h a r l o t t e n b u r g O p e r a H o u s e , w h i c h h a s also been badly
damaged.
(c) T h e B r o a d c a s t i n g S t a t i o n a t t h e Adolf H i t l e r P l a t z h a s escaped d a m a g e ,
but all the h u t s r o u n d i t h a v e been b u r n e d out.
(d) T h e O p e r a H o u s e a n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y in the U n t e r Den L i n d e n h a v e been
damaged.
(e) T h e D e u t s c h e B a n k b u i l d i n g s , i n c l u d i n g t h e vaults, have been completely
b u r n e d out.
(/) T h e P r o p a g a n d a M i n i s t r y (the former U . S . E m b a s s y ) h a s its u p p e r
storeys t o r n off.
(g) H i t l e r ' s residence (the old R e i c h s k a n z l e i ) h a s a w e d g e l i k e a slice of cake
cut o u t of it.
(A) T h e M i n i s t r y for F o r e i g n Affairs h a s been d a m a g e d by blast on t h e
g a r d e n side a n d h a s been evacuated.
(i) -The A i r M i n i s t r y h a s suffered from fire, b u t the b u i l d i n g s in W i l h e l m ­
strasse a r e still s t a n d i n g .
(j) T h e G e s t a p o B u i l d i n g i n t h e A l b r e c h t s t r a s s e has been d a m a g e d ; i t w a s
evidently h i t by a H . E . bomb a n d then c a u g h t fire. T h e whole of t h e
g a r d e n side of the b u i l d i n g h a s been opened u p , a n d t h e o u t e r w a l l
has crumbled a w a y .
(k) T h e H a u p t a m t der S.S. (the former H o t e l P r i n z A l b r e c h t ) , i n c l u d i n g t h e
cellars, h a s been b u r n e d out.
(I) T h e P o l i z e i - P r a s i d i u m (in the A l e x a n d e r P l a t z ) h a s been d a m a g e d by
t h r e e H E . bombs a n d its A d r e s s - B u r e a u completely destroyed.
Section T w o of the P o l i z e i - P r a s i d i u m (a s e p a r a t e b u i l d i n g n e a r t h e
Borse station, w h i c h deals w i t h foreigners) h a s been b u r n e d d o w n to
the cellars.
General Damage.—-The
caused in the two r a i d s :—
following list includes i t e m s of g e n e r a l
damage
(a) T h e m i l i t a r y g a r a g e s a n d wooden b a r r a c k s on the B e r l i n e r S t r a s s e
opposite t h e T e c h n i c a l H i g h School h a v e been completely b u r n e d o u t
a n d a l a r g e n u m b e r of m i l i t a r y cars, t r u c k s a n d c a t e r p i l l a r l o r r i e s
w e r e destroyed.
(b) A s one w a l k s e a s t w a r d s from the T e c h n i c a l H i g h School t h e d a m a g e on
both sides of t h e C h a r l o t t e n b u r g e r Chaussee is very heavy.
(c) T h e whole of t h e T i e r g a r t e n between the C h a r l o t t e n b u r g e r Chaussee, t h e
L a n d w e h r C a n a l a n d t h e F a s a n e r i e Allee h a s been w i p e d o u t a n d trees
a n d bushes t o r n u p . T h e only b u i l d i n g s left s t a n d i n g h e r e a r e t h e
I t a l i a n a n d J a p a n e s e E m b a s s i e s . T h e T i e r g a r t e n s t a t i o n h a s been
completely destroyed.
(d) On e i t h e r side of the L a n d w e h r C a n a l as f a r as t h e P o t s d a m e r B r i d g e
only t h r e e or f o u r b u i l d i n g s h a v e escaped t o t a l d e s t r u c t i o n . T h e rest,
i n c l u d i n g T i r p i t z u e r 80 ( H . Q . of the A b w e h r ) a n d t h e N a v a l H . Q .
(formerly t h e R e i c h s w e h r m i n i s t e r i u m B u i l d i n g ) , have been completely
b u r n e d out.
(e) S o u t h of the L a n d w e h r C a n a l t h e zone of complete d e s t r u c t i o n e x t e n d s t o
t h e south over t h e L i i t z o w P l a t z as f a r a s the K l e i s t s t r a s s e .
(/) P a r t i c u l a r l y heavy d a m a g e h a s been caused in t h e W i t t e n b e r g P l a t z a n d
round t h e G e d e n k n i s k i r c h e . I n t h e A u g s b u r g e r s t r a s s e , for e x a m p l e ,
only two houses h a v e been left s t a n d i n g .
(g) A n o t h e r c e n t r e of complete d e s t r u c t i o n in t h e B a y e r i s c h e r a r e a s t r e t c h e s
from t h e K a i s e r a l l e e i n t h e west u p to the G o l z s t r a s s e i n t h e east.
E v e r y t h i n g i n t h i s a r e a h a s been destroyed.
(h) I n the n o r t h , t h e H a n s a d i s t r i c t is completely w i p e d o u t .
(i) T h e M o a b i t a r e a h a s also suffered b a d l y .
(j) T h e heaviest d a m a g e , however, h a s been caused i n t h e W e d d i n g d i s t r i c t ,
w h e r e t h e r e is p r a c t i o a l l y n o t h i n g left.
(k) D e s t r u c t i o n h a s also been very heavy a l o n g a d i r e c t l i n e r u n n i n g f rom t h e
G-esundtbrunner to t h e A l e x a n d e r P l a t z . H e r e only isolated houses
h a v e been left s t a n d i n g , a n d even these w i l l p r o b a b l y h a v e to be p u l l e d
down. One of t h e heaviest blows w a s t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e food
s u p p l y stores n e a r A l e x a n d e r P l a t z .
(V) A m o n g hotels, t h e K a i s e r h o f h a s been d e s t r o y e d by blast. T h e B r i s t o l h a s
been b u r n e d out. T h e H o t e l A d l o n , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , e s c a p e d
damage.
(m) T h e U n t e r D e n L i n d e n h a s also s u s t a i n e d c o n s i d e r a b l e d a m a g e , t h e
M i l i t a r y M u s e u m a n d t h e so-called O l d P a l a c e b e i n g completely
wrecked.
(n) T h e B r i t i s h a n d F r e n c h E m b a s s i e s w e r e completely b u r n e d o u t a n d t h e
A m e r i c a n E m b a s s y w a s d a m a g e d by b l a s t t o such a n e x t e n t t h a t i t
w i l l h a v e t o be p u l l e d d o w n . T h e R u s s i a n E m b a s s y h a s n o t been
damaged.
(o) I t is difficult, if not impossible, t o a s c e r t a i n t h e t o t a l n u m b e r of b u i l d i n g s
destroyed in western, south-western, n o r t h e r n a n d central Berlin, u p
to a n d i n c l u d i n g t h e A l e x a n d e r P l a t z .
F i f t y - t h r e e p e r cent, of
i n f o r m a n t ' s personal, a c q u a i n t a n c e s h a v e h a d t h e i r houses completely
b u r n e d out.
G e r m a n s w o r k i n g i n t h e A . R P . services d e c l a r e t h a t
a b o u t t w o m i l l i o n people w e r e bombed o u t of house a n d home d u r i n g
these t w o r a i d s .
Raid
on 2Qth/27th
November.
Main areas of concentration.—In
t h e r a i d of t h e 2 6 t h / 2 7 t h N o v e m b e r t h e a r e a
bombed w a s t h e w e s t of S i e m e n s t a d t , w h e r e t w o of t h e b i g g e s t f a c t o r y s h o p s w e r e
completely b u r n e d out, a n d t h e Tegel d i s t r i c t .
Damage.—Points
of d a m a g e include t h e following :—:
(a) T h e R h e i n m e t a l l - B o r s i g p l a n t i n Tegel h a s suffered v e r y severe d a m a g e
a n d u p to m i d - D e c e m b e r c i v i l i a n w o r k m e n h a v e n o t been allowed i n t o
the factory a n d all w o r k e r s h a v e been p l a c e d u n d e r m i l i t a r y control.
I t is r u m o u r e d t h a t t h i s f a c t o r y h a s been completely p u t o u t of a c t i o n .
(b) T h e Tegel G a s o m e t e r , t h e b i g g e s t in B e r l i n , h a s been completely b u r n e d
out.
(c) T h e A l t k e t t f a c t o r y h a s s u s t a i n e d very c o n s i d e r a b l e d a m a g e .
Both
assembly shops a r e completely d e s t r o y e d a n d p e o p l e l i v i n g n e a r b y
r e l a t e t h a t over 100 T i g e r t a n k s ( i n f o r m a n t himself s a w 12 l y i n g
about) w e r e completely b u r n e d u p . T h e p l a n t h a s been r u i n e d beyond
r e p a i r , a n d t h e r e m n a n t s of t h e shops have been b l o w n u p .
(d) T h e m a i n w e i g h t of t h e a t t a c k on Tegel fell on t h e f o r m e r G e n e r a l M o t o r s
p l a n t , of w h i c h absolutely n o t h i n g is left. I t is r u m o u r e d t h a t t h i s
p a r t i c u l a r l y c o n c e n t r a t e d a t t a c k w a s c a u s e d by t h e f a c t t h a t a b o u t
100 b i g g u n s a r r i v i n g a t t h e f a c t o r y for r e p a i r s w e r e still on t h e r a i l ­
w a y t r u c k s a n d w e r e p r o b a b l y t a k e n for A / A g u n s .
Raid
of 3rd/4:th
December.
Main areas of concentration.—Damage
w a s h o t c o n c e n t r a t e d i n a n y special
a r e a s a s a r e s u l t of t h i s r a i d , w h i c h w a s m o r e of a n ' ' all over t h e p l a c e ' ' a t t a c k
t h a n i t s predecessors.
Damage.-^-Th.e
d a m a g e caused, includes t h e following :—
(a) T h e S t e g l i t z r a i l w a y s t a t i o n h a s been buimed o u t .
(b) A heavy H . E . bomb fell i n t h e A l e x a n d e r P l a t z .
(c) Some d a m a g e w a s caused in S i e m e n s s t a d t .
(d) A l a r g e n u m b e r of i n c e n d i a r y bombs fell on houses w h i c h h a d a l r e a d y
been burned, out, i n G r u n e w a l d a n d a l o n g t h e H o h e n z o l l e r n D a m m ,
for i n s t a n c e , w h e r e they c a u s e d n o d a m a g e .
Frankfurt.—In
the a t t a c k on t h e 2 0 t h / 2 1 s t December severe d a m a g e w a s
caused i n t h e d i s t r i c t s of Eockenheim a n d S a c h s e n h a u s e n , t h e s u b u r b of Offenbach
a n d i n the centre of the city between t h e O p e r a H o u s e a n d t h e m a i n P o s t Office
i n t h e N o r t h a n d the river i n t h e S o u t h . I n Bockenheim the r a i l w a y s t a t i o n
a n d t r a m w a y depot were a m o n g t h e b u i l d i n g s affected.
A l o n g t h e Bocken­
h e i m L a n d S t r a s s e (the m a i n exit from t h e centre of t h e city N . W . ) for a
c o n s i d e r a b l e d i s t a n c e from t h e O p e r a H o u s e , over t h r e e - f o u r t h s of t h e b u i l d i n g s
were destroyed or r e n d e r e d u n i n h a b i t a b l e . M o s t of t h e l a r g e w a r e h o u s e s i n
t h e w e s t h a r b o u r were b u r n t o u t a n d i t w a s said t h a t as m u c h as four-fifths of
t h e S a c h s e n h a u s e n d i s t r i c t w e r e destroyed.
Innsbruck.—Two
a t t a c k s were m a d e by a i r c r a f t based in t h e M e d i t e r ­
r a n e a n t h e a t r e on t h e 15th a n d 19th December. I n t h e first, severe d a m a g e w a s
caused to t h e goods y a r d s , w h e r e some 15 t r a i n s loaded w i t h w a r m a t e r i a l w a i t i n g
to leave for I t a l y w e r e wrecked. On t h e 19th December d i r e c t h i t s on t h e m a i n
s t a t i o n killed the s t a t i o n - m a s t e r a n d m a n y r a i l w a y officials. T h e most i m p o r t a n t
f e a t u r e was, however, the r e n d e r i n g useless of 20 of t h e m a i n line electric
locomotives used on t h e B r e n n e r route, a n d t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of the r a i l w a y
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e offices.
T h e r e c e n t b o m b i n g of I n n s b r u c k a n d t h e B r e n n e r r a i l w a y h a s c r e a t e d such
difficulties t h a t t h e G e r m a n s h a v e been compelled to send a l a r g e n u m b e r of motor
t r a n s p o r t in the a r e a to m a i n t a i n the flow of traffic.
France.
Paris.-Photographs
t a k e n after t h e U . S . A . A . F . a t t a c k on the 31st December
show d a m a g e to t a r g e t s in the Bois Colombes a r e a .
(a) T h e H i s p a n o - S u i z a A e r o E n g i n e W o r k s h a s suffered severely, a n d m a n y
of the b u i l d i n g s w h i c h w e r e d a m a g e d in the a t t a c k on t h e 15th
.-September, a n d subsequently r e p a i r e d , h a v e a g a i n been h i t . T h e t w o
m a i n workshops, t h e p r o p e l l e r shop, t h e machine" shop a n d several
b u i l d i n g s of the h e a t t r e a t m e n t shops h a v e all been d a m a g e d m o r e
or less severely.
(b) T h e C.A.M. b a l l - b e a r i n g W o r k s h a s received t h r e e d i r e c t h i t s w h i c h h a v e
damaged the main building.
(c) T h e Soc. B e r l i e t R e p a i r W o r k s a n d the D e l a g e M / T Shops h a v e b o t h
received some d a m a g e .