[Homer_J_Simpson]

Foe’s Line Dented (Drew Middleton) – 2-3
Russians Capture Suburb of Warsaw (Lawrence) – 4
Russia and Poland to Shift Peoples – 4
Lublin Pole Takes Presidential Role – 5
Religious Classes Approved in Russia – 5
War News Summarized – 5
Greek Airfields Battered by RAF – 6
Germans Report Thaelmann Dead – 6
Himmler Purges Berlin Police as Peace Riot Reports Spread – 7
Tito Seizes Isle on Allies’ Route – 7
Morotai Invaded (Kluckhohn) – 8
Halsey Fliers Hit 84 Ships, Wreck Philippine Defenses (Trumbull) – 9
China Fails to Win Accord with Reds (Atkinson) – 10
Battle of the Ports (by Hanson W. Baldwin) – 11
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the Fighting in Various War Zones – 12-14

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/sep44/15sep44.htm#

Tirpitz survives British attack
Friday, September 15, 1944 www.onwar.com

The Tirptiz at anchor in Norway [photo at link]

In Occupied Norway... A force of 28 British Lancaster bombers, from a Soviet airbase, attack the German battleship Tirpitz at its anchorage in Altafiord. Special 12,000-pound bombs are used. Only one bomb hit is achieved (on the bow) because of a German smoke screen obscuring the target.

In Liberated France... Francois de Menthon, Justice Commissioner in de Gaulle’s administration, orders the arrest of Marshal Petain and all members of the Vichy French cabinet because of their alleged collaboration with the Nazis.

In the Moluccan Islands... Elements of the US 11th Corps (Hall) land on the Gila Peninsula on the southwest of Morotai. The initial landing force includes the US 31st Division with an additional regiment (about 19,960 men). There is no Japanese resistance. Naval support is provided by a force commanded by Admiral Barbey which includes 6 escort carriers and cruisers and destroyers. The US 5th Air Force provides additional air cover. General MacArthur is present for the landing. Priority is given to the construction of airfields.

In the Palau Islands... Elements of the US 1st Marine Division (Rupertus), part of 3rd Amphibious Corps (Geiger), land on the southwest coast of Peleliu. The naval force commanded by Admiral Oldendorf remains in support. The Japanese garrison is consists of a regiment of 14th Division under the command of Colonel Nakagawa. There is limited resistance on the beaches. American attempts to advance inland, however, meet strong resistance. By the end of the day, the beachhead is only a few hundred yards wide.

On the Western Front... The British 2nd Army (part of British 21st Army Group) secures a second bridgehead over the Meuse-Escaut canal. The US 1st Army (part of US 12th Army Group) captures Maastricht and Eisden while US 3rd Army takes Nancy and Epinal. Meanwhile, the US 7th Army (Patch) and French 1st Army (de Lattre), moving north from southern France, are placed under the authority of Eisenhower and SHAEF.

In Italy... The British 8th Army establishes a bridgehead over the Marano River.

In Canada... The Octagon Conference continues. Churchill and Roosevelt and their staffs meet in Quebec to discuss strategy.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Baldwin writes on a very timely subject for the eve of Market-Garden.

Anyone know what "German Fabian tactics of delay" means?

[BroJoeK]

Headline: “Religious Classes Approved in Russia”

Something tells me Stalin’s leniency in this matter will not outlast the war by more than, what? Hours, days, weeks?