Air Operations, CBICHINA
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, East Indies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Formosa
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Japan
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Philippines
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Ryukyus
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ChinaThe Chinese armies hold up the Japanese offensive against Chihchiang, threatening the flanks of the enemy columns and putting up a firm resistance in the Paima Shan area. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Eastern FrontUnits of the 1st and 2nd Ukraine Fronts wipe out the last German resistance in Czechoslovakia and make contact with the Americans at Pilsen. In Austria too the Russians force some German units to surrender. In Croatia the German Army Group Southeast, formerly Army Group E, under Alexander Löhr, continues to hold out against Tito's forces. CENTRAL SECTORArmy Group enter is breaking up as its forces surrender by the thousand. The remnants of German forces in East Prussian alos surrender in large numbers. The final campaign around Prague cost the 1st Ukrainian Front 6,000 killed and 17,000 wounded, the 2nd 2,500 killed and 11,800 wounded and the 4th Ukrain 2,300 killed and 9,200 wounded. SOUTHERN SECTORArmy Group Ostmark begins to lay down its arms. Army Group E fights on but is also breaking up. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() EuropeFriedrich Schörner's Army Group Center, now confined to a pocket east of Prague, surrenders to the Soviets. Some German units in Yugoslavia keep fighting for a few more days, but gradually they too give in. The war in Europe is over. German forces on the Aegean Islands surrender. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() New GuineaThe 6th Australian Div occupies Wewak, once a big Japanese base and now manned by a meager, starving garrison. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() OkinawaAfter a 30-minute artillery barrage the whole of the US 10th Army, with the III Amphibious Corps on the right and the XXIV Corps on the left, goes into the assault against the Shuri line. The 6th Marine Div advances south of the Asa River; some units reach the outskirts of Amike, taking positions that overlook the island's chief town, Naha. The 7th Marines of the 1st Div, despite intensive fire from the enemy, wins several positions on Dakeshi Ridge. But the 1st Marines cannot advance for the hail of shells falling on them from the Shuri hills, site of the enemy headquarters. The 5th Marines succeed in surrounding some enemy units in the area south of Awacha. the XXIV Corps makes hardly any progress; only the 382nd Inf, 96th Div, manages to consolidate its positions on Zebra Hill. Kamikaze aircraft and piloted flying bombs damage the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17) killing 392 and wounding 264 off Okinawa. Two destroyers, one being the Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) hit by an Ohka piloted bomb and the other the Evans (DD-552), are also damaged. The Americans, however, shoot down 93 enemy aircraft in reply 1 destroyer alone shoots down 19 Japanese aircraft with sustained and intense anti-aircraft fire. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PhilippinesOn Luzon in the US I Corps sector, units of the 25th and 27th Divisions make contact with each other on Kapintalan Ridge, after blocking up or blowing up over 200 Japanese positions in caves and killing 1,000 enemy troops. The 25th Division advances on Santa Fe. On Mindanao, the 108th Regimental Combat Group advances as far as some hills that overlook the airfield at Del Monte. Units of Filipino guerrillas liberate Cagayan. A reinforced regiment of the 24th Division is ordered to mop up the area northeast of the Talomo Rover, near Mintal. Small American units landed on Samar Island try to spot the Japanese artillery sites which are still bringing fire down on Davao. Fighting continues on Negros Island, mainly in the mountainous area in the west. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Western FrontThe German garrison of Dunkirk surrenders to Czech troops. [![]() ![]() Images from May 11, 1945
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[May 10th - May 12th] |