27 Allied Divisions Broke 79 German

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1945, Page 3

27 Allied Divisions Broke 79 German

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. Twenty-seven British and American divisions which fought under the command of the Bi’itish 2nd Army, destroyed 79 German divisions at a rate of one daily at one period, writes a correspondent with the 2nd Army. They liberated 11,000 square miles of Eui’ope and conquered 70,000 square miles of Germany, including 111 German towns. In 11 months from D Day to theit own victory day, May 5, General Dempsey’s men opened and maintained 11,000 miles of road, constructed ■76 airfields and built 677 bi'idges which, placed end to end, would stretch 16i miles. The necessity for these bridges is shown by the fact that the Germans wrecked 2876 in their path. Allied sappers sowed 90,000 mines and lifted 35,000 German mines. Acclaimed As Liberators * A total of 106 towns with a population of more than 10,000 acclaimed the British 2nd Army as liberators. Under. General Dempsey’s command in 11 months of battle, seven ai’moured divisions have fought—the 4th Canadian, 7th British (“Desert Rats”), 7th American, 11th Bi’itish Guai’ds and the 79th British and. Polish Division. Against 27th British and American divisions, the Germans committed 13 panzer divisions, eight parati’oop divisions and 58 infantry divisions. Bi’itish and Canadian troops of the 21st Army Group have already occupied some areas of North-west Germany and Holland involved in the surrender terms. The 49th Division completed preparations to occupy areas in Holland, while the Ist Canadian Armywill take over other Dutch districts. German forces under Blaskowitz are reported to be marshalled in battalions waiting to march away to the east. They \yill probably take the northern route across the Zuider Zee causeway.

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