PM from C. South-eastern Europe: Allies in occupation of Starigrad on Hvar, Geitner,...

HW 1/2658

1944 Mar 24

PM from C.

South-eastern Europe: Allies in occupation of Starigrad on Hvar, Geitner, senior German Staff Officer calls for counter attacks by sea and air, Mar 23; operational orders issued to 12th R Flotilla for Mar 21-22; Solta in Allied hands, further landings onDalmatian islands expected, Allied warships in area south of Split to Dubrovnik, no German Naval forces in operational area, flotilla ordered to patrol sea area west of Lagosta and Hvar and to intercept and destroy partisan vessels, Allies reported landed on southern part of Hvar, E-boats at Pola and Venice to be at war readiness and be prepared to transfer; reports from Drvenik and Korcula of Allied shipping activity between Hvar and Vis and mainland, bombardment of Hvar from sea and air, Mar 23; Group South Operations reports to Admiral Black Sea operation to occupy Hungary proceeding according to plan, old Hungarian government resigned, new government with Imredy as Prime Minister being formed, Mar 23.

Italy: situation report for Mar 21, losses incurred since beginning of second battle for Cassino not as high as first reported, reports of 14th Army's 92nd Infantry Division, 1st Parachute Corps, 76th Panzer Corps and Army Group von Zangen, transport situation of 114th Jaeger Division, 162nd Turkish Infantry Division; 1st Parachute Division reports strong Allied attacks supported by armour against northern part of Cassino smashed by concerted efforts of all arms, Allied air supply containers dropped into German positions, Mar 22; report on mines, from CinC South West, Mar 23, includes numbers and types laid; Location of 114th Jaeger Division given as 20 miles west of Rome in 14th Army area, Mar 23; reports from Juno (362nd Infantry Division) for Mar 23 of lively Allied artillery fire along whole front, Allies digging in 300 metres in front of main defence line east of Fosso Delle Mole, changes in front line.

Eastern Europe: report from 4th Air Fleet for Mar 21: tasks of Flak units in Southern Russia together with detailed orders; Army Group A informed by Admiral, Black Sea, of limited availability of shipping space with required draught of 70 centimetres or less for Dniester, Mar 21; GAF summary of reconnaissances on Mar 23, in front of 17th Army in Kerch Strait, 6th Army in front of Nikolaev bridgehead, 8th Army on roads north of Dniester, 1st Panzer Army south of Yampol, in Floresti, Stramba, Spelina and Sofia, 4th Panzer Army break through area south of Tarnopol, indicates Soviet forces within 0 miles of Balti and within 15 miles of Dniestra south of Tarnopol; Naval Liaison Officer with Army Transport reports situation on Mar 21 in areas of 17th and 6th Armies recommends abandonment of Nikolaev position; convoys sailing from Odessa carrying irreplaceable machine tools to Galats and Braila in Romania, surface and air escorts requested Mar 23.

Southern Europe: indent from CinC South West (Army Group C) for anti-tank and anti-personnel mines Mar 20.

Portuguese minister, Bucharest: anticipates German interference in Romania, following occupation of Hungary, Mar 21.

Portuguese chargé, Bucharest: situation on Eastern Front with Soviet troops having entered Romanian town of Soroca, Mar 21.

Turkish ambassador to Yugoslav government, Cairo: Yugoslav attitude to Allies, Mar 15.

Turkish minister, Sofia: relations between Soviets and Bulgaria, Mar 20.

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Public Record(s)

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