Friday, February 2, 1945. Malta concludes, FDR and Churchill depart for Yalta. German murders.

The Malta Conference ended.  Churchill and Roosevelt agreed to withdraw two divisions from Greece and three from Italy to commit them to northwest Europe.

They left for Yalta.

The Vistula–Oder Offensive ended in Soviet victory with a voluntary halt of the Red Army.  Curiously, the Red Army was only 43 miles from Berlin, and the city was undefended.

The liberation of Auschwitz was mentioned for the first time, in Pravda, which failed to note that the inmates were mostly Jewish.

German politician Carl Friedrich Goerdeler was hung for his role in the July 20 plot.

Catholic Priest Fr Alfred Delp was executed as well.

Adoration of God is the road that leads man to himself.

Fr. Alfred Delp,

Soviet POWs made a mass escape from the Mauthausen concentration camp.

"Snow-caped infantrymen the 60th Inf. Regt., 9th Inf. Div., U.S. First Army, move towards Dedenborn, Germany, as Nazis retreat during heavy fighting on this sector. 2 February, 1945.

60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. Photographer: Linden, 165th Signal Photo Co."

Lt. Jack L. Knight, a cavalryman of the Mars Task Force performed the actions which resulted in his being awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor while in combat at LoiKang, Burma.

He led his cavalry troop against heavy concentrations of enemy mortar, artillery, and small arms fire. After taking the troop's objective and while making preparations for a defense, he discovered a nest of Japanese pillboxes and foxholes to the right front. Preceding his men by at least 10 feet, he immediately led an attack. Single-handedly he knocked out 2 enemy pillboxes and killed the occupants of several foxholes. While attempting to knock out a third pillbox, he was struck and blinded by an enemy grenade. Although unable to see, he rallied his platoon and continued forward in the assault on the remaining pillboxes. Before the task was completed he fell mortally wounded. 1st Lt. Knight's gallantry and intrepidity were responsible for the successful elimination of most of the Japanese positions and served as an inspiration to officers and men of his troop.

Last edition:

Thursday, February 1, 1945. Advances in east and west.

Labels: 190s, 1945, 1990s, 1996, Army, Battle of Kesternich, Bulgaria, Eastern Front, Germany, Red Army, Transportation

Friday, January 12, 1945. The beginning of the last Red Army Winter Offensive of World War Two.

The Red Army commenced the Sandomierz–Silesian Offensive and the Vistula–Oder Offensive.

German troops were outnumbered at least 4 to 1 in all classes of equipment.

"A civilian casually picks his way through the rubble - all that remains of the Belgian town of La Roche, entered earlier in the day by Allied troops. 12 January, 1945."

"Double trouble for the Germans comes in the form of twin bazookas mounted on a .50 caliber machine gun mount, which can be completely traversed. Although only two men are shown in the jeep, a third is present to load the projectiles while the unit is in actual operation. L-R: T/5 Louis Gergye, Youngstown, Ohio, and Pvt. William R. Jump, Owenton, Ky. 12 January, 1945. I & R Platoon, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division."  This must be a field modification.  I've never seen another example of this.

The British 18th Indian Division took bridgeheads over the Irrawaddy.  Commandos were landed near Myebon on the mainland between Akyab and Ramree.

Aircraft of the U.S Navy sank 40 Japanese ships in Cam Ranh Bay and most of the ships in a convoy from Qui Nho'n, including the carrier Kashii.

Last edition:

Thursday, January 11, 1945. Reinforcements at Lingayen

Labels: 1940s, 1945, Army, Battle of the Bulge, British Army, Dekemvriana (Δεκεμβριανά), Greece, Heroes, Imperial Japanese Navy, Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Kamikaze, Royal Navy, U.S. Navy, World War Two