FALL OF AACHEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25673, 23 October 1944, Page 5

FALL OF AACHEN

COMMANDER SURRENDERS ALLIES TAKE OVER CITY (Rec. 8 p.m.) , LONDON, Oct. 21. The commander and balance of the garrison at Aachen finally surrendered at noon yesterday, writes a correspondent at Allied headquarters. The Aachen operations have been in progress since October 10. Following the cutting of the Aachen-Cologne road on that day. an ultimatum was sent to the commander, calling on him to surrender within 24 hours. During this period hostilities in the oqjter perimeter continued, .but artillery and mortar fire on the city stopped. On the termination of the ultimatum period, full-scale operations continued, and on October 16 the gap between the two American forces surrounding the city was closed. After establishing a strong line to the east an all-out attempt was made on the garrison. Colonel Wilck wrote the Aachen surrender in the presence of an American general, who refused to accept the first note because! the German commander

neglected to insert the word “ unconditional,” says a Sunday Express cor-, respondent in a despatch from Aachen to-night. Colonel Wilck asked for five minutes to think about it, saying he feared for his family in Germany if he signed unconditional surrender terms. He finally wrote the surrender document which was acceptable. Colonel Wilck then told the Germans accompanying him that he was forced to surrender because his ammunition, food and water were exhausted. . . •

To-night Major Thomas Lancer, of New York, is chief of captured Aachen. His Allied Military Government unit is already closing down Nazi Party offices and organisations.’ Major Lancer is providing medical attention and food for sick and wounded Aachen civilians. It will be some years before Aachen assumes its normal role of a big industrial base. The population for months may consist of only a few hundreds. There are no public services of any kind. The city will be repaired only in so far as needed for military purposes. New Allied occupation, marks will be issued when the shattered city shows signs of some life. There is ample evidence in Aachen •that the Germans do not lack many things. Wrecked shops and stores contained plenty of cheese and butter of good quality, soap, sweets, and clothes probably better than English utility clothing. There is hardly a German home lacking a good small wireless.