Cross River Muar – 2-3
The International Situation – 3
Navy Scores Again (Trussell) – 4
M’Arthur Resists a Furious Assault – 5
Marshal von Reichenau is Dead; Berlin Gives Apoplexy as Cause (Brigham) – 6
22 are Found Dead in Wreck of Plane in Nevada Wilds – 7
Plane Tragedy Stuns Hollywood – 8
No Bar to Negroes as Blood Donors – 9
Aircraft Carrier Laughs at Tokyo – 9
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the Fighting in Various War Zones – 10-11
The News of the Week in Review
Twenty News Questions – 12
Campaign in Far East Now at Critical Point (Baldwin) – 13
Japanese Reveal Indies Strategy (Wales) – 14
In the Path of Japanese Advance Lies the Wealth of the Indies (map) – 15
Soviet Army Puts On Skis (Parker) – 16
The Battle of Libya Moves Into its Third Month (map) – 17
Middle East Expects Blows (by Joseph M. Levy) – 18-19
U-Boats Return to Our Shores (by Russell Owen) – 19
Answers to Twenty News Questions – 20
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1942/jan42/f18jan42.htm
Germans beaten back by Soviets
Sunday, January 18, 1942 www.onwar.com
On the Eastern Front... Troops from the South and Southwest Front attack crossing the Donets. Their aim is to swing south to the Sea of Azov trapping units from the German 6th and 17th Armies. In the Crimea, Germans have renewed their offensive to capture Feodosia. Northward, in the Moscow region, the Valdai Hill Offensive continues, Red Army units have reached to within 70 miles of Smolensk and threat Velikiye Luki.
Most of the article about Reichenau’s career and death are relatively accurate. He was an ardent Nazi, but also a competent general officer. Kind of a prototype for Model, who will become the “Fuhrer’s Fireman.” As the article noted, Reichenau was a fitness buff before being a fitness buff was popularized. In Poland, he was the first German across the Vistula by swimming it. In addition to the stress associated with fighting on the Eastern Front, his exercise regimen was what brought about his death; he went for his “morning run” against medical advice when it was -20 degrees. That night he had his heart attack, Hitler ordered him flown in bad weather back to the Reich for treatment, and the plane crashed in Poland on the journey. Reichenau was dead by the time he arrived in Germany. The article speculates that Reichenau had fallen out of favor with Hitler and was sacked, with “health reasons” given as it had been with Bock, Rundstedt and Leeb. Not so; Reichenau was always a favorite of Hitler.
As an historical footnote, Reichenau was promoted to replace Rundstedt, and Reichenau’s spot at 6th Army was taken by Paulus. It was intended that Paulus get “command seasoning” under Reichenau’s tutelage, and then be promoted to Chief of Staff to replace Jodl, who had fallen into disfavor with Hitler. There is much historical debate over whether the loss of his mentor was a reason for Paulus’ apparent failures of command in Operation Blau.
Some other notes: The Times has not yet picked up on the significance of “Operation Drumbeat” along the Atlantic seaboard. While the article speaks of “some damage” being done to US shipping, they don’t seem to appreciate just how bad it is going to get in the next couple of months, and how totally unprepared the United States Navy is for the onslaught.
Final note: Hanson Baldwin believes he has divined the timing of the Japanese Blitzkrieg in the Pacific. He says that the Soviets stripping their Siberian armies to fight Germany was the go-ahead to move their forces out of Manchuria and attack south. He got it backwards: The Soviets knew that the Japanese were going south, which allowed them to strip the Siberian armies to save Moscow. Oh well, I doubt Hanson had ever heard of Richard Sorge.
Let’s not forget (as did the American people) the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, a Texas unit that landed on Java January 11 to take up defensive positions and fought until the Dutch surrendered on January 21.