Air Operations, CBIBURMA
Air Operations, EuropeRecord raids are launched against Essen and Dortmund as 1,079 and 1,108 heavy bombers raid the cities with 5,000 and 5,487 tons of bombs, respectively. [ | ]Air Operations, Formosa
Air Operations, Philippines
Air Operations, Volcano Islands
Diplomatic RelationsThe Yalta Conference ends. Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt, assisted by their Foreign Ministers, Molotov, Eden and Stettinius, have reached agreement on future war strategy and on the political order of the post-war world. The USSR confirms its adhesion to the United Nations, an idea very dear to Roosevelt, and agrees to take part in the war against Japan when the war in Europe is over, expected in July, - this request is also made by Roosevelt, though the American military chiefs had warned against it on account of its political implications. In exchange, the Soviet Union is to be given important concessions in the Far East, Dairen, Port Arthur, part of Sakhalin and the Kurils. Churchill has opposed what he considers to be dangerous and unjustified surrenders, particularly with regard to the Soviet sphere of influence in Europe, but he has had to yield to the wishes of his more powerful ally. The Yalta Conference opens in the Crimea, attended by Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt. Stalin demands a strong, pro-communist government in Poland to guarantee the future security of the USSR. As the Red Army controls most of Eastern Europe, the British and Americans have little choice but to agree. The conference also confirms the decision to form a United Nations organization. Also agreed is the future division of Germany. Roosevelt's decision that the capture of Berlin is not a prime US objective will ensure that the Red Army will be the first to reach the city. [ | ]Eastern FrontMoscow announces the breaching of the German line on the Oder northwest of Breslau by the 1st Ukraine Front and the capture of Lüben (Lubin), Haynau (Chajnow), Leignitz (Legnica), Neumarkt (Sroda Slaska) and Kanth (Katy Wroklavskie). The advance southeast of Breslau means a threat to the chief city of Silesia, while the Russians are now seen to be threatening Dresden also, 75 miles further west. In the northeast sector the Russians take Deutsch-Krone (Walcz). Other Russian forces are preparing to wipe out the German forces at Schneidemühl (Pila) and Poznan. 45 more blocks of buildings in Budapest have fallen into the hands of the Russian forces. Konev's troops begin to break out of their bridgehead over the Oder near Steinau and attack west and north threatening Glogau. EAST PRUSSIAThe Soviet 48th Army captures Wormditt. GERMANYThe 1st Ukrainian Front forces the German 17th Army back from the Oder River to the Neisse River. Glogau and 18,000 German troops have now been encircled. HUNGARYThe garrison of Buda attempts to break out, but the 28,000 troops suffer greatly at the hands of Soviet firepower.[MORE] Germany, Home FrontThe entire gold reserves, about 100 tons, are transported from Berlin to a salt mine near Eisenach. [ | ]Pacific
PhilippinesOn Luzon there is fighting south of Manila, where the 11th Div, now part of the XIV Corps, US 6th Army, captures a suburb of the city and part of Nichols airfield. In the I Corps sector, in the north, the 25th Inf Div advances from San Isidro in the direction of Puncan. The XI Corps makes little progress in the Zigzag Pass area. [ | ]Western FrontThe British XXX Corps, Canadian 1st Army, overcomes German resistance in the area of Cleve and Materborn and 2 important road junctions of Hekkens and Gennep. The VIII Corps, US 3rd Army, continues its offensive in the Prüm sector; Prüm falls to units of the 90th Div. In the XII Corps sector the advance proceeds between the fortifications of the Siegfried Line in the Wallendorf bridgehead. In the vicinity of Metz, in the meantime, the 10th Arm Div, XX Corps, has been completing the re-grouping of its units. [ | ]Images from February 11, 1945
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[February 10th - February 12th] |