All Trieste Germans Have Now Surrendered

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1945, Page 2

All Trieste Germans Have Now Surrendered

(Official N.Z.E.F. War Correspondent) TRIESTE, May 4,

All groups of Germans who were holding oiit in Trieste have now laid down their arms and surrendered either to the New Zealanders or to the forces of Marshal Tito. The New Zealanders now occupy the general port area, with the remainder of the city, including' important public offices, under the control of the Yugoslavs. , . Processions of men. women and children singing, waving Yugoslav dags, and hailing Tito and his army, wound tnrough the streets yesterday and today, but apart from that the city is almost dead Shops and offices are closed, but apart broken glass he alongside buildings wnere fighting took place earlier in the week, a Per the arrival of the Yugoslav forces, and the few people who stand in the streets to watch the vociferous processions are silent and undemonstrative. In one of the main areas of German resistance. on the high ground which skirts the city, 700 enemy troops surrendered to the New Zealanders. With a university professor who was acting as intermediary, Lieutenant C. S. Currie, of New Plymouth, and Sergeant M. Klein, of Wellington, both of the 22nd Battalion, walked up narrow, winding streets at night to where the Germans were holding out. Successful Mission As they approached the place they raised a white flag and shone a torch on it. so that, the German sentries could see their mission was a peaceful one. They reached the garrison safety, completed negotiations for surrender, and the prisoners came quietly. . , When advice was received yosteiday morning that further German forces of 1200 men in the villa of Opicina weie willing to surrender, New Zealand tank., and infantry went forward to take prisoners, but it was later found that these men wore to surrender to the Yugoslavs. As our tanks were moving .-way fiorn the villa, the Germans, who preferred to surrender to us rather than to Titos lro ops began to clamber on them, but were ordered otr bv the squadron commander. Major M. P. Donnelly, a• foimoi New Zealand representative uteketei. Reluctantly the Germans jumped to the ground and the squadron moved oil. but had gone only a short distance when it was informed that a German, tank w - following. A week or two a»o it would have been a menace, but now it was only an embarrassment, and once again Major DonnellV had to point out tothcGennano firmly that lie did not want them. As the New Zealanders retired. Yugoslavs movud in and the Germans surrendered.