NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 May 1945, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

GENERAL FREYBERG’S REPORT

OPERATIONS IN ITALY

MANY DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME

WELLINGTON, May 11. There follows below the text of a despatch from Sir Bernard Freyberg, 2nd N.Z.E.F., reporting to the Minister of Defence on the New Zealand Division’s share in the final operations against the enemy in the Italian theatre. w , Sir, —As I reported to the War Cabinet, the New Zealand forces have taken a very full part throughout this final stage of the war here in Italy. I now send you for your information, and for publication in the Press should you so desire, the following account of these important operations. After a short period of training, in the area near Matelica the division went back into the line on April 18 to take part in the final battles, the object of which was to destroy the German 10th and 14th Armies in the broad, open Po Valley, force a crossing of the River Po, and then, among other plans, to push north-east and join up with Marshal Tito s foices in the vicinity of Trieste. In this offensive the Allied Armies faced many difficulties. The country with its many mountains, rivers, canals, and ditches favoured defence. The Allied and German armies were about an even match in numbers. The enemy had 25 divisions in Italy, 18 of which were lined up opposite the Bth and ath Armies. These included some of the Wehrmacht’s best and most experienced formation troops which had obtained, in the Italian fighting, a very high degree of skill and a stratagem of defensive fighting which FieldMarshal Kesselring promptly fostered to the utmost. They included one parachute division, our opponents in Cassino, the fourth parachute division whose units led the attack on Crete, 90th Panzer Grenadier Division, the successor to the 90th Light Division we defeated and captured in North Africa, the 26th Panzer and 29th Panzerr Grenadier Divisions, while the infantry were well tried and confident. These troops were the cream of the German Army. They had under command Tiger and Panther tanks as well as other armour. As against these forces we had fewer but larger divisions. The balance, however, was weighed heavily in our favour as regards equipment, air support, artillery and tanks. During the Winter months the best use had been made by the enemy of the country and by the Spring the positions to be attacked were formidable. I believe the flanks of the, enemy line were secure. The northern flank rested on marshy inundated areas on the Adriatic while to the south the line lay along the Appennines. The only possible area suitable for offensive action was on the nat ground in between, which had iew roads and was crossed by seven formidable river barriers, beginning with the Senio and ending with the Adige. These rivers had no junctions left and particularly in the case of the first four were heavily defended, mined, and wired. The rivers themselves, owing to the peculiar formation of flood banks, were from a tactical point of view almost ideal for infantry defensive positions. The floodbanks were in many cases 30 feet high, tapering from a base of 100 feet thick up to a flat apex 10 feet wide. Further, stopbanks were only 120 feet apart and the enemy was dug in tightly on both banks. When the near bank was attacked you were shot at from the trenches on the far side. Between the banks themselves were mines and wire. The enemy slit trenches on these flood banks were most difficult artillery targets. This water, gap itself, although only 40 feet wide, was 10 feet deep between the canalised, perpendicular banks .15 feet deep, dropping almost vertically down to the water’s edge.

MOST DIFFICULT POSITION

Altogether the position was a most difficult one to capture, Fie Jd-Maishal Alexander’s plan was to attack in flat country m the ce n tr % thereby drawing off the enemy brigade liom the mountains and the marshes and when this had been achieved to push between the marshes through the nairow Argenta gap on the northern flank. When all enemy reserves had been drawn on from the mountains the final blow was to be struck by the sth American Army attacking through the hills towards Bologna The underlying intention behind the whole plan wat to defeat the German forces in their existing defences so th nt further enemy resistance on the Wg‘obstacles of the Po and the Ad,ge Rivers would not be Possible. Your division, a part of the Mb Bii tish Corps, was given the role of slogging across the rivers in the centre and Ighting hard battles to carry out the job of smashing as much of the German army as possible, drawing off the enemy reserves and thereby weakening the flanks so that other formations could push through. It is a fan state ment to say that during these operations the New Zealand Division, which had grouped with it nine British aitillerv regiments, carried out its part rnost“thoroughly. The enemy fought right through without respite from D Day to the final phase at Trieste. In. the process your division destroyed three German divisions accompanied by the 4th Parachute Division, the 98th and the 278th Divisions. In all these operations we were most ably supported by the 12th Lancers, the 42nd British Medium Artillery Regiment, and later on by Brigadier Barker’s 43rd Gurkha Brigade. In the original plan it had never been intended that our thrust should break the enemy line. It was assumed that the main break-through would occur to the north through the marshland of Argenta, April 29. So successful however, were the operations of the 2nd New Zealand Division and the troops on our immediate flanks than five rivers south of the Po and the Adige were crossed more quickly than was estimated, and the operations which started as subsidiary ones finished up by smashing the enemy line and enabling the New Zealand Division to break through to Venice. We are as I start writing this cable across the rivers Piava, Tagliamento, and Isonzo, and we move forward to-mor-row towards the capture of Trieste. We have joined up with the forces of Marshal Tito.

“FIVE MAJOR BATTLES.”

In all,’ your division fought five major battles against the pick of the German army. These battles were those of the Rivers Senio, Santerno, Sillaro, Gaiana and Idice. The plan of attack on each of these obstacles was not merely to secure , a crossing on which to drive the enemy back, but to destroy his forces. In this way alone could his divisions be broken and prevented from reforming a line further back. Our policy has been as always, to hit the' enemy a tremendous blow with every available offensive weapon—often with from 250 to 300 guns and 400 to 500 planes, supported by 150 tanks. During the four hours of bombardment supporting each of the main battles our guns fired up to a quarter of a million rounds. These terrific bombardments enabled the infantry to advance and

crush the enemy on our front and then to push through the gap we had made to the next defended river line. We always attacked at night on a broad front with two brigades forward and one brigade in reserve. Later, to ease the hard-worked New Zealand division infantry, we were given the 43rd Gurka Lorried In* fantry Brigade. This enabled us to carry on delivering blow after blow by relieving the forward brigades after each operation. It was battles such as these which paved the way to victory. On the Senio and the Santerno we smashed completely the 98th Division. On the Sillaro we broke the back of tne 278th Division. On the Galana and the Idice we paid off the final of our old scores with the 4th Parachute Division, and part of the Ist Parachute Division. The 4'th Parachute Division, fully confident that they could bold the rivers where less fanatic divisions had failed, dug themselves in on the west stop-bank of the Galana. The bombardment on the parachute division was the heaviest of the war, estimated at 100 rounds for every man holding the river line, and in support of this bombardment 44 flamethrowing tanks attacked the line of the stop-bank with flames. It was little wonder that our successes were complete. On the Idice, the next obstacle, we were not faced with organised resistance and were able to rush the river banks without difficulty. The destruction of the enemy division against us was a big factor in smashing the Germans here in Italy. No division that opposed us could stand up to the methods employed. During the early stages of the offensive the fighting was bittei. We captured between 2000 and 3000 infantry, all part of Germany’s finest fighting infantry. The enemy was well beaten and could put up only half-hearted resistance on the formidable river barriers of the Po and the Adige. These were crossed with the greatest skill in assault boats and bridged with folding boat equipment for our light transport and 40-ton rafts for our tanks and heavy artillery. In this way 150 heavy tanks and 5000 vehicles and guns of the division were passed over and we were able to commence a successful advance to Padua and beyond. It will be of great interest to you to know the opinions I have expressed as to the importance of our contribution are borne out to a great extent by others and I quote a cable from the Army Commander and a charming letter I received to-day from the commander of the gallant 2nd Polish Corps who fought upon our left flank. “My heartfelt congratulations on reaching Trieste. To have led the advance of the Bth Army, from the river Senio to the alps as a magnificent achievement for your troops.” “My dear General, on behalf of ail officers and men of the 2nd Polish Corps I feel that I must write to express to you our unbounded admiration of your truly magnificent achievements since the offensive against the river Senio. The Polish soldier knows well that his own successes were to a very considerable degree dependent upon the brilliant actions which were fought on his right. Since that period during which we had the honour of attacking alongside your troops your incomparable fighting qualities have been still more evidenced by the speed of your advance against the toughest troops which the enemy could muster and these qualities have aroused a feeling of respect, admiration and comradeship which will live in our memories throughout the years of peace.” May I say, too, how deeply grateful we are for the help which you have given to our people. The sympathy which you have shown will never be forgotten "by the Polish fighting soldiers. Yours very sincerely, Z. Bohusz-Szyszko.”

ENGINEERS' GOOD WORK

It is fair to add that the speed of our advance was only possible because of the engineering work of our Divisional engineers under the command of Colonel Hanson, whose work was of a very high order. Once the crust of enemy resistance was broken just south of Padua, we carried out the advance through Padua itself on to the river Piave including the capture of Venice. In two successive days’ moves we had advanced 80 miles, capturing many thousands of prisoners. As the bridges over the river Po had all been destroyed some months back by our own air forces, a halt of 24 hours became necessary to bridge the gap, and the Division took advantage of this to do maintenance, service tanks, and gather up and evacuate the huge number of enemy prisoners who were now becoming an embarrassment. The last stages of our advance to join up with Marshal Tito’s forces showed the Division again in its traditional role —“a left hook,” carried out magnificently. I wish you could have seen the triumphal move of this highly-trained force along the coast over the Piave and Isonzo in places fighting hard and as opposition broke down moving long distances through towns and villages full of cheering and happy people with all our vehicles, tanks, and guns garlanded with flowers. The last part of the advance was a sustained attack to free Trieste. It will always be a proud moment for the New Zealand Division that we were able to be of assistance to the Jugoslav Army in helping to free Trieste. I cannot say how many German prisoners were taken during the move from the Po. I can only estimate the numbers at between 30,000 and 40,000. Our- casualties, I am glad to say, have not been unduly heavy lor the scope of the operations. I hope that this will be the last report that I shall have to send you of active operations. I write this one of the outskirts of Trieste. As in the past I do so from my office truck which has served me as a battle headquarters during all past days. Now that we have reached the conclusion of the European war, I hope that I may be permitted to tell the people of New Zealand what a great force this Division of theirs is. No tribute I can pay does justice to the individuals whose work has contributed to our great successes. A successful commander depends in battle upon his subordinates. No praise can be sufficiently high for oui commanders and staff. I wish especially to mention Brigadier Parkinson, commanding the 6th N.Z. ' Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Bomfant, commanding the sth New Zealand Infantry Brigade, and Brigadier Gentry, commanding the newlyformed 9th New Zealand Infantry Brigade, which distinguished itseii so greatly during the battle of the Gaiana River and the advance to Trieste. Outstanding work has been done by Colonel Hanson, commanding the Divisional Engineers, and oy Colonel Campbell; commanding the 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade. The work of Brigadier Queree commanding the Divisional during the five battles from the Senio Ito Gaiana and beyond has keen well up to that high standard which has always been the charactristic ofNew Zealand artillery. The work of the

Army Service Corps under Brigadier Crump in keeping us fed and maintained (over difficult obstacles and long lines of communication has been up to the highest traditions of desert days. On my own staff Colonels Gilbert, Elliott, and Cook, and Major Cox, the Intelligence Officer, have been of the greatest assistance and help. Their \york has been of a high order. TRIBUTE TO MEN But it is not of these senior officers, good as they have been, that one thinks of most after battles such as we have been through. No division, no matter how good the commander and staff may be, could achieve such results during the last year of heavy fighting unless the rank and file of the force were of the highest class. Our New Zealand troops have gone into these battles day after day and night after night with a quiet steady determination and a spirit which 1 have not seen equalled elsewhere in my experience of warfare. In tne New Zealander you have qualities oi heart and mind that place him high among men. It is to resolute courage in our junior officers and men that this Division owes its fighting record. No men could have done more than they, have done. Never daunted, always calm, no matter how great the odds against them have been. No commander has been semd as J have been during these difficult five and a-half years. I have, been the most fortunate and privileged of commanders to have led such < Division. , , Sir, I have the honour to be, Your obedient servant _ (Signed) B. C. FREYBERG, a Lieutenant-General, Commanding 2nd N.Z.E.r. U.S.A. HONOUITToR FREYBERG

(Rec. 11.35 a.m.) VENICE, May 11. 1 General Mark Clark conferred on Lieutenant-General Freyberg the United States Legion of Merit of the degree of Commander. General .Clark said: “Never did two armies deserve to win a victory more than the Filth and Eighth.”

ARMY COUNCIL’S GRATITUDE

RUGBY, May 11. “At this long awaited hour when peace has returned to Eui 7 o P c ’’ the Army Council sends New Zealand s Expeditionary Force and all land forces of New Zealand a message of gratitude for the gallant contribution they made to the victory now consummated,” states an Army C °ync.l message to the New Zealand Mmin - ter of Defence. “In the battles they fought in Greece, Crete, the descit and in Italy, through times of good fortune and bad, they worthily upheld the glorious traditions ol New Zealand’s arms. Their unfaltering resolve, even when the shores of their own islands were threatened with invasion, has carried them forward to final triumph. To them now, as they stand in the van oi the armies which have overthrown xne enemy’s southern bastion, we convey our sincere gratitude. Our comradeship in arms will continue until the defeat of Japan has removed for ever the threat of aggression in. the Pacific.” PALACE INVESTITURE.

(Rec. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, May 11. His Majesty decorated two New Zealanders, Captain Upham, OL Christchurch, and Sergeant J._ D. Hinton, of Invercargill, with the Victoria Cross at the first investiture 3 nt Buckingham Palace after the end ol the European war. Hinton won his decoration in Greece in April, 1942, where he was taken prisoner. Upham gained the award in Crete. He was later taken prisoner at El Alamein. The King questioned both men on their experiences in German prison camps. Sergeant Hinton said: ‘ They just allowed us to live. The food was terribly short in the last lew months.”

LIBERATED PRISONERS

LONDON, May 11

Liberated New Zealand prisoners ol war are now arriving in England at the rate of well over one hundred daily. On Thursday 144 members of the Second N.Z.E.F. reached Kent, and 101 on Friday. Three hundred members of the R.N.Z.A.F. have now been checked into Brighton, and they and members of the N.Z.E.F. passed through London at the height of the V.E. celebrations.