ROMMEL TAKES THREE MORE TOWNS IN TUNISIA; U.S.-FRENCH UNITS IN NEW LINE AS DRIVE WANES (2/19/43)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 2/19/43 | Drew Middleton, Charles Hurd, Frank L. Kluckhohn, Ralph Parker, Foster Hailey, W.H. Lawrence

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

[Homer_J_Simpson]

William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, The Hinge of Fate

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Americans Retire (Middleton) – 2-3
Stimson Reports ‘a Sharp Reverse’ (Hurd) – 3-4
Flaming Sbeitla Lit Fierce Battle (Kluckhohn) – 4
Nazi War Machines Knocked Out in North Africa before the Push Started Against U.S. Troops (photos) – 5
Soviet Gains Grow (Parker) – 6-7
Committee Finds Shipbuilding Lags – 7
Labor Bars Union with British Reds – 7
Goebbels Asks Total Unity before Red ‘Invasion’ Threat – 8
War News Summarized – 8
Japan Hits China with 7 Land Blows – 9-10
Fortress Cut in Two 3 Miles Up, Tail Gunner Falls into Pacific Idyl (Hailey) – 11
Delay Aids Enemy (Lawrence) – 12
New Battleship Iowa is Called World’s Greatest Fighting Craft (by Albert J. Gordon) – 13
U.S. Sixth Army Created in Pacific – 14
The Texts of the Day’s War Communiques – 15-16

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/feb1943/f19feb43.htm

US troops on Guadalcanal are reinforced
Friday, February 19, 1943 www.onwar.com

American reinforcements loading into landing craftIn the Solomon Islands... On Guadalcanal American reinforcements arrive as part of the buildup for the next offensive move to the Russell Islands. These islands are now reported abandoned by the Japanese.

In Tunisia... The Axis offensive is renewed with the objective of Le Kef. There are two wings to the assault. The German 15th Panzer Division attacks from Kasserine toward Thala. The 21st Panzer Division, having already advanced beyond Sbeitla, strikes toward Sbiba. The Allied command has anticipated such moves and both mountain passes are well defended. Among the Axis leadership, Rommel has proposed aiming for Tebessa instead of Le Kef and he has had elements of 10th Panzer Division placed under his command.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/frame.htm

February 19th, 1943 (FRIDAY)

U.S.S.R.: Zaporozhe: Hitler, on a visit to von Mantein’s headquarters, tells German troops that new, top-secret weapons are going to help them win the battle.

Kharkov: This once-great industrial city, now a ruined ghost town, its inhabitants killed or deported, fell to the triumphant Red Army yesterday. After fighting their way in through the suburbs, street by street, the Russians were astonished to find that the Germans has suddenly fled, despite Hitler’s orders that it had to be held to the last man.

The decision to pull out was taken by SS General Paul “Papa” Hausser, the battle-scarred commander of the newly-formed Waffen-SS corps composed of the crack Leibstandarte, Totenkopf and Das Reich divisions. As the Russians circle around Kharkov drew tighter and tighter, Hausser sent ever more urgent cables to Hitler seeking permission to leave the burning city. Hitler remained adamant, but Hausser, risking execution, has defied the Führer and saved his Panzers from certain destruction. Fighting against odds of seven to one, they stood no chance.

Moscow is delighted: its forces have come 400 miles in barely three months. But the Russians are beginning to run out of steam. They have taken heavy losses against stubborn German resistance, and their supply lines have been over-extended. The Germans believe it is time to strike at the Russians exposed flank.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U-562 sunk in the Mediterranean NE of Benghazi, in position 32.57N, 20.54E, by depth charges from destroyers HMS Isis and Hursley and an RAF 38 Sqn Wellington. 49 dead (all hands lost). (Dave Shirlaw)

TUNISIA: Ninth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb the Gabes western area through heavy clouds. (Jack McKillop)

The Kasserine Pass is defended by the US 19th Engineer Regiment, a battalion of the 26th Infantry, some TDs and a four gun battery of French 75mm cannon. As German armour approaches the pass, the French artillery fires on the German reconnaissance battalion, driving them back. (Jay Stone)

BURMA: Tenth Air Force P-40s dive-bomb a Japanese headquarters at Hpunkizup and afterwards strafe a rail defile south of Meza, burying about 100 feet (30.48 meters) of track while five B-25 Mitchells bomb the rail terminal at Sagaing. (Jack McKillop)

NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs bomb and strafe Japanese forces in the Butibum and Angari areas while B-24 Liberators carry out single-plane attacks against shipping at Salamaua. (Jack McKillop)

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators carry out single-plane attacks against shipping off Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island, and at Gasmata Island. (Jack McKillop)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb shipping and a seaplane base between Buin and Faisi on Bougainville Island and at Ballale Island and hit the Kahili Airfield on Bougainville. (Jack McKillop)

AUSTRALIA: The Citizens Military Forces Act comes into force allowing Australian militia to be sent to an area between the 110th and 159th east meridians and south of the equator (i.e. most of SWPA).

This same day MacArthur writes to General Marshall that the Australian militia were:

“not of sufficient quality for employment in the offensive. It can only be used for garrison duty”.

(Michael Mitchell)

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: In the Aleutians, weather cancels all Eleventh Air Force missions except limited weather reconnaissance. (Jack McKillop)

CANADA: HMS MMS 1062, 1063, 1064, 1065, 1066, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071, 1072 and 1073 ordered in Canada.

Corvettes HMCS Frontenac and Trentonian laid down Kingston, Ontario. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.A.: Destroyer escorts USS Wintle, Snowden and Dempsey launched.

Destroyer USS Bennett commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-268 sunk in the Bay of Biscay west of Nantes, France, in position 47.03N, 05.56W, by depth charges from an RAF 172 Sqn Wellington. 45 dead (all hands lost).

SS Zeus sunk by U-403 at 49.28N, 44.50W. (Dave Shirlaw)

[Springman]

Thanks for the ping and glad FR is back up. Almost had a heart attack when I saw the timestamp and thought I would be late for work.

[fso301]

Interesting that Shirer states Sophie Scholl was hanged. Everything else I’ve read indicates she was beheaded in a guillotine.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

A scaffold can hold a guillotine as well as a gallows.

[fso301]

A scaffold can hold a guillotine as well as a gallows.

OK. Thanks. But still, I would tend to assume a guillotine would be elevated on a scaffold in the case of public executions whereas Sophie and her brother were executed inside the prison