The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-08
CommundoS
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and Axis Europe with the obvious
approach Of the zero hour for in
vasion included:
1.-Disclosure that American and
British forces rehearsing for the
invasion just have completed the
greatest air-borne landings In his
tory.
2.--An article in the semi official
Russian publication, War and the
Working Class" warning that the
time has now run out and all prep
arations for coordinated blows from
the east and west have been COM
pleted."
Sherman propaganda threats
Of a counter invasion of Britain to
disorganize the Allied offensive.
The practice landing exercises by
glider and troop carrier forces were
conducted with such secrecy that
even accredited newspapermen were
not permitted to witness them. It
was learned, however, that Afneri-
can glider forces landed by day
and British, by night, similar to
the bombing schedule now being
carried out by the forces Of the two
countries.
Historical Moment
Air Chief Marshal Trafford L.
Leigh-Mallory, invasion air COM
mander, told participating crews
that zone Of the great moments Of
history Is in front of U.S."
1T will be the greatest military
project ever undertaken" he said.
Recent operations in Burma and
ones that you will soon carry out
yourselves show that air-borne
forces are one Of the most powerful
weapons in modern warfare, and
they will become increasingly i'm
portant with each new operation.
II fully realize what a difficult
task lies ahead of you and that 1t
requires very high state of train
ing to land in the right spot and
to do the most to harass the enemy,
but I have the greatest confidence
that you will put on q great show"
High Lighted Threat
German threats of a counter-in-
vasion of Britain were highlighted
by the arrival of Na1 paratroop
units on the Cherbourg peninsula Of
France opposite the English south
coast and a boast by Propaganda
Minister Paul Joseph Goebbels that
the Reich possesses important
glider formations" for a counter
move.
A Stockholm dispatch to the Lon
don News-C Chronicle said Goebbels
now was telling neutral countries
that paratroops may land in Brit
ain Ito disorganiZe Allied prepara-
tons in Britain and spread panic
among the invasion troops, who
have been kept waiting too long"
British officials. from Prime Min
lister Churchill down, have warned
in the past that Germany may at
tempt a counter-invasion to upset
the Allies western front schedule.
However, Britain's volunteer home
guard" Of business and professional
men and laborers, still more than
100000 strong. has been placed on
extra alert against parachuting sab
oteurs and raiding forces and would
be charged with defending Britain
while the main Allied armies strike
into Europe.
Mock Invasion
Only recently, Home Guards broke
up mock invasion by paratroops
in northwest town. All the "in-
vaders" were killed or captured in
the exercise. The sole party of at
tackers which broke through their
lines blew up" a bridge linking
the northern and southern parts Of
the town.
Berlin correspondents of Stock
holm newspapers reported that
Marshal Erwin Rommel. Germany's
anti invasion commander, has
shifted several divisions made up
of men whose relatives have been
killed or injured in Allied air raids
to the west wall defenses in the be-
lief they will fight with "a fury
born of hate"