April 28th, 1945 (SATURDAY)
GERMANY: The siege of Berlin by the Russians continues. They are within a mile of Hitler's Bunker in the east and south.
Berlin: Hitler receives word via Göbbels' Propaganda Ministry that the BBC was reporting SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler's attempted peace negotiations, Hitler orders his immediate arrest and execution and has his liaison officer, Hermann Fegelein, shot dead.
The German garrison is running out of ammunition and food. General Weidling, the capital's commandant, estimates that the bullets will run out in another two days. The defence may not last that long as the Russians drive ever closer to the Reichstag. They are infiltrating through the subways and sewers, often storming the defences from below. Now not much more than the area round the Tiergarten remains in German hands.
Berlin: General Weidling's diary (90)
courtesy of Russ Folsom:
At the end of my situation report I indicated that the
troops could not hold out for more than another two days, because by then they
would have no ammunition left. Therefore, as a soldier, I suggested risking the
breakout from the Berlin pocket. I emphasised particularly that if the
troops broke out of Berlin the incredible sufferings of the people of Berlin
would come to an end. Then I laid our breakout plan before the Fuhrer and
explained it on the map I had prepared.
The Fuhrer remained sunk in thought for some time. He judged the overall situation as hopeless, as showed clearly from his detailed considerations which may be briefly summarised as follows. Even if the breakout succeeded, we would be simply landing from one pocket into another. He, the Fuhrer, would then have to subsist either in the open, or in some farmhouse, or somewhere similar, and wait for the end. It would be best if he stayed in the Chancellery. That is how the Fuhrer turned down the idea for a breakout. Once again, Dr. Goebbels obsequiously flattered the Fuhrer. Once again, I felt it was a waste of time to talk to this bunch...
The US 7th Army takes Augsburg.
After a misfiring of the 20-mm AA gun, the IWO of U-3012, Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Schlett, was killed instantly. The commander of the boat, Kapitänleutnant Hans Bungards, was badly wounded and died next night in the Navy Hospital at Travemünde.
U-56 sunk at Kiel, in position 54.19N, 10.10E, by bombs from British aircraft. 6 dead and 19 survivors.
FINLAND: The Commander of the Finnish III Corps, General Siilasvuo reports that the mission of Puolustusvoimat is complete. The Second World War is over for Finland. (Gene Hanson)
ITALY: Milan: The body of Benito Mussolini, Il Duce, dictator of Italy until his downfall in 1943, hangs upside-down over an ESSO garage forecourt in Milan. The body of his mistress, Clara Petacci, hangs next to it. Both bodies have been mutilated. Earlier today, a woman fired five revolver shots - "for my five dead sons" into the Duce's body. Others spat at their former leader.With his SS escort, Mussolini was heading towards the Alps where he believed that he could continue the war in the mountains with 3,000 fanatical Fascist followers. In fact, only 12 turned up at a rendezvous. They then drove through dangerous, partisan-held territory.
The partisans caught up with Petacci and Mussolini, dressed in a German
uniform, at Dongo, on Lake Como. After interrogation, a communist partisan,
Walter Audisio, lined them up at the gate of the Villa Belmonte
in Mezzegra. First, he shot Petacci, who clung to her lover. Then Mussolini
opened his coat wide and asked to be shot in the chest. The machine-gun rang out
and the Duce slumped against the wall, breathing heavily. Audisio moved closer,
and fired the final shot into his heart.
JAPAN: Japanese defensive positions, in the Shuri Line on southern Okinawa, hold
out against US forces employing tanks, flame throwers and artillery of all
sizes.
The fourth phase of Kamikaze attacks has been underway since yesterday on
Okinawa. 125 Japanese aircraft are involved. 9 destroyers and other
smaller ships are hit.
The kamikazes damage four destroyers, USS Wadsworth (DD-516), USS Daly (DD-519), USS Twiggs (DD-591) and USS Bennion (DD-662); the high-speed minesweeper USS Butler (DMS-29); the hospital ship USS Comfort (AH-6); and the transport fitted for the evacuation of wounded USS Pinkney (APH-2). The destroyer USS Brown (DD-546) is damaged by aerial attack while a Japanese assault demolition boat causes extensive damage to the U.S. freighter SS Bozeman Victory.
CANADA: Tug HMCS Glendyne commissioned.
U.S.A.: The USS Franklin, heavily damaged by Kamikaze attack on March 19 arrives in Brooklyn, New York.
Submarines USS Chivo and Requin commissioned.
Minesweeper USS Ruddy commissioned.
Destroyer USS Vogelsgang commissioned.