March 17th, 1945 (SATURDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: London: In spite of the efforts of the Allied forces to eradicate the V2 rocket launch sites, the Germans are still managing to strike targets in England and Belgium with them.
When the V2 offensive opened last September the launch sites were in the Netherlands, but were moved temporarily to Denmark during the Arnhem operation. At the beginning of October the rocket units returned to the Netherlands, and by the end of the year they were operating from a large wooded park, the Haagsche Bosch, outside The Hague. During January and February this was attacked repeatedly by RAF bombers and fighter-bombers. Eventually, at the beginning of this month, the Germans were forced to move, and this was the reason for the recent lull. Their new launch area is still near The Hague, this time on the Duindicht racecourse. There is, however, little cover here, and because of lack of time and the high water table, the Germans have been unable to follow their normal practice of constructing underground storage sites. Consequently RAF reconnaissance planes have identified the launch sites and attacks on it are being mounted. This should drive the rockets further east into Germany, putting England beyond V2 range.
A further encouraging factor is that the Allied air offensive against German communications is making it increasingly difficult to maintain supplies of rockets and fuel.
GERMANY: The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen collapses, killing 28 US soldiers. It is caused the combined strain of bomb damage and heavy use. The advance continues over other bridges now in place.Coblenz: Patton's Third Army has jumped the east/west line of the Moselle and swept southwards to threaten from the rear the German forces holding the Siegfried Line in the Saar where Patch's US 7th Army is attacking. Patton's columns, supported by American fighter-bombers, are roaming virtually at will, spreading havoc among the enemy. Roads are jammed with German troops and civilians fleeing eastwards to the Rhine, where the last three bridges remain open. Patton is now driving along the west bank from Coblenz to Mainz and beyond. The bag of prisoners taken by Patton and Patch is approaching 100,000.
U-2367 commissioned.
NORWAY: U-321 sailed from Kristiansand on her first and final patrol.
EUROPE: Eisenhower orders Patton not to advance toward Czechoslovakia, although there is nothing to stop him reaching Prague before the Russians.
BURMA: The Chinese Sixth Army captures Hsipaw
JAPAN: Tokyo: Japanese children from the age of seven are to give up school to work in factories to help the war effort, the cabinet ordered today. The drastic new measures will take effect from 1 April for a year. Only primary schools for children up to six will remain open. All other schools, colleges and universities will close, and students and teachers will work in food and munitions factories, air defence, research work and anything else that helps the war effort.
U.S.A.:
Destroyer USS Newman K Perry launched.
Escort carrier USS Saidor launched.
Submarine USS Cutlass commissioned.
Destroyer USS Bristol commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Minesweeper HMS Guysborough is attacked at 1835 and sunk by U-878 (Kapitanleutnant Hans Rodig) at 2000 hrs off Ushant in the Bay of Biscay at 46 43N 09 20W, hit by Gnat. There are 54 casualties. (Alex Gordon)(108)