The 6:00 Evening news with Don Hollenbeck from WEAF for this February 9th in 1945. News almost entirely focused on the war and how it was progressing.
News that seven Allied Armies were advancing into Germany and a 350 mile front extending from The Alps to Holland was the scene of much action.
The Canadian 1st Army had advanced 5 miles and took some 14 towns in the process. Gen Patton's 3rd Army was now 8 miles inside of Germany. Resistance had been reported as light. Continued air bombardment of German positions in Northern Italy. News that Germans were escaping in droves to neutral countries with reports that many were fleeing to South America.
During Allied air raids over Germany, the first use of Jet Fighters by the Luftwaffe was reported, flying at an estimated speed of 10 miles a minute and breaking through Allied fighter escorts.
On the Eastern Front - the Russian Army opened a new offensive against Breslau and were continuing their advance towards Berlin.
The Chinese army launched successful counterattacks against the Japanese in three provinces, re-capturing several towns and cutting off Japanese supply lines.
In the Pacific, the continued push through the Philippines was continuing with an advance on Luzon. Meanwhile, fighting was still going on in Manila with Japanese taking a scorched-earth policy.
And reports that the Japanese had moved some 177 American prisoners of War, including General Wainright to Manchuria as a precaution for an anticipated invasion of Formosa.
That, and a lot more of the goings on this February 9th in history.
