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377 Chapter 9 Final Operations, 19 April–7 May 1945 Consolidation on the Mulde River, 19–24 April 1945 Thursday, 19 April 1945: The headquarters today was filled with representatives of the Ninth and Fifteenth Armies and Twelfth Army Group as negotiations went under way for settlement of the new boundary turn overs. Ninth Army will assume responsibility for the area now held by us on noon of the 22nd, but Fifteenth Army whose motto is “speed” refuses to give any definite date, arguing that they cannot assume responsibility so early. Third Army is anxiously awaiting news that we will take over VIII Corps on the 22nd also, but whether we can establish communications and supply installations by that date remains uncertain. General Middleton called General Kean twice today to say that there were no troops at all in his rear area; that everything had been withdrawn by Third Army and he requested that the shift to First Army control be made as quickly as possible to avoid further mishap. The news of the day from the military front was that the 69th Division cleared LEIPZIG. 6,000 PWs were taken in the city and it is reported that the Mayor, who wished to surrender the city when we first appeared but was refused authority by the military commander, tonight committed suicide. HALLE was likewise cleared during the day by the 104th Division. The 3rd Armd Division was advancing towards the river attempting to clear a succession of small towns, but progress was slow as fanatical resistance was put up, especially in BOBBAU-STEINFURTH. General Collins has told General Hodges for the last few days that there were appearances of a build-up of strength on the east facing the 3rd Armd and this appears to be conclusive evidence of his suspicions. In the Hartz [Harz] Mountains, QUEDLINBURG and BALLENSTADT [Ballenstedt ] were cleared and half a thousand PWs were taken from each town. 378 NORMANDY TO VICTORY 26th Inf took the hill on the Ninth and First Army boundary which is 1142 meters high, probably the highest point taken by First Army troops. More than 7500 PWs were taken today out of the Hartz Mts. Tonight a tank of the 4th Cavalry Group fired one round into WARMSTADT [Warnstedt] which resulted in an explosion of unknown nature, which destroyed the town, killed some civilians, and some of our own troops—generally wrecking the place. What the one round hit we do not yet know. 13th Armd started to move to Third Army and 97th will move tomorrow . 78th Division passed to Army control. The total number of PWs taken today was 20,822 with the VII Corps catching the major bag of 9,303. Friday, 20 April 1945: V Corps sector was generally quiet today with local reliefs taking place but the VII Corps still had a major job on its hands, clearing the small towns west of the MULDE. BITTERFELD was reported about half cleared about midnight tonight. All organized resistance, however, in the Hartz Mts definitely ceased today with General Collins’ Corps taking over 16,500 PWs from the woods and small towns. It is expected that the PW count from the Hartz will be more than 50,000 when mopping up operations are complete. The 8th Division assumed responsibility of the 29th Division area in the XVIII A/B Corps as the latter prepared to leave tomorrow. Both 13th and 20th Armd cleared our area, moving to Third Army. Saturday, 21 April 1945: General Hodges spent the better part of the day on the telephone trying to obtain instructions from Group as to the procedure to be used in making contact with and greeting our Allies now fast approaching from the east. Although surely SHAEF must have envisioned such a meeting in the near future, they were apparently caught completely off base and the instructions were finally received which consisted of “treat them nicely.” Instructions about mutual recognition signals will follow, General Bradley said, if we can get the Russians to agree or to settle on any satisfactory procedure. If necessary , General Bradley added, the small bridgehead which we now have over the MULDE can be pulled back. Although reports as to actual Russian progress were conflicting, the air picked up several interesting movements today. Generally in our direction, they consisted of motor transports and civilians but since our air craft were in several cases fired at, it is presumed, although not proven, that the approaching columns...

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