The Red Bull in World War II 34th Infantry Division Resources 1941-1945

Volume I Number 8 • May 12, 1945

European War Ends; 40,000 Germans Surrender to 34th

135th Officers Present Terms

Germany surrendered unconditionally May 8, 1945, six days after the German armies in Italy surrendered May 2, 1945. Three hours before the Germans in Italy surrendered, the 75th German Army Corps, comprising 40,0UO enemy, surrendered to Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte's 34tb Infantry Division. General Schlemmer, the 75th Army Corps commanding general, did not attend the surrender meeting, but instead sent his Chief of Staff, Col. Mallhauer, who accepted the unconditional surrender terms presented by Col. John M. Breit, commanding officer of the 135th Inf. Regt. and Maj. Fred H. Lippucchi, operations officer for the veteran 135th Infantry Regiment. German troops captured by the veteran 34th Division in the mass surrender include: The German 34th Infantry Division, the 5th (Continued on page 3) (Continued from 1) Alpine Division, the Aosta Group, all service forces, Navy and Air forces in the entire Ligurian Sector, and remnants of the Monte Rosa Division, remnants of the Littoria Division and an outfit called RAP.

In addition, General Schlemmer is surrendering the Prefect of Torino, Grazioni, and General Amdini Rossi.

The German Chief of Staff met Col. Breit, Maj. Lippucchi and Capt. Patrick Armoore, of the British Military Mission, Cherokee, at Bielia to discuss surrender terms. He and an aide arrived at the hotel in a civilian Italian car bearing a white flag.

Col. Matlhauer said that he will have all of the enemy troops assembled near Bielia shortly.

General Schlemmer refused to surrender to a higher commander two days before because of a personal oath to Hitler that he would never surrender. In view of the fact that Hitler died, Schlemmer felt that he was no longer obligated, Col. Mautler told the two 34th Division officers.

First Battalion Takes Von Behr

Maj. Gen. Baron Von Behr, commanding general of the German 90th Panzer Grenadier Division, and his entire staff were captured by the crack 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division in the final offensive. General Von Behr and staff officers were captured in the PIADENA area by the 1st Battalion of the 168th Infantry "Rainbow" Regiment, commanded by Maj. Samuel Barrow, of San Antonio, Texas. The prize PWs were part of the 1,074 prisoners of war captured by the veteran 34th Division in a one day period.

Infantrymen of the 34th Division are shown in truck passing through the jammed streets of Balogna, Italy, at the start of the nine day drive in which the 34th raced 421 miles to help knock out the Germans in Italy.

These men of the 3rd Bn., 133rd Inf. Regt. were among the first troops to enter the city.

Cavalrymen of the 34th Cav. Recon. Trp. were among the early arrivals in the city of Bologna.

The Red Bulletin Combat newspaper of the 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division.
Published under supervision of A C of S, G-1.

Editor: 1st Lt. Harrison Harding, Public Relations Officer. Reporters: Pvt. George Molnar, 133rd Inf. Regt.; Pfc. Elmer O. Fehlhaber, 135th Inf. Regt., Pfc. John S. Wellington, 168th Inf. Regt.; T-5 Nathan S. Levy, 34th Div. Arty.; Pfc. Stanley F. Cann, Special Troops, 34th Inf. Div. Secretary: Pfc. Anthony F. Cacciutti. Photographer: Pfc. John J. Ling. Printers: Pfc. Michael Guman, Pfc. Raymond L. Bailey, Pfc. Raymond H. Dietz. THE RED BULLETIN is published weekly in the field in Italy by and for the men and officers of the 34th Infantry Division, United States Army. Address all communications to THE RED BULLETIN, 34th Infantry Division, APO-34, United States Army. Member of Camp Newspaper Service, New York City, N. Y. Contents passed by Field Press Censor and may be sent through the mail. No subscriptions accepted. VOL. 1-NO. 8 May 12, 1945

FIGURING FIGURES

Every Enlisted Man has, or will have very shortly, an adjusted Service Rating Card made out in his name which will be used as a basis to determine hOW he will be employed in the army after VE (Victory in Europe) Day.

The card contains four factors in which a certain number of points for each will be given and the grand total will be the number of credits the man will have towards possible demobilization, being in the army of occupation, being stationed in the States or being sent to the Pacific.

FIRST CONSIDERED

However, we can naturally assume that those of us with the highest number of credits in the overall army credits, will be those first considered in being released, providing we do not hold a key position or are not classed as absolulely essential for continuing the war against Japan.

On the other hand, we can assume and naturally understand that those of us with the lowest number of credits will no doubt be sent to the Pacific.

FOUR FACTORS

The four factors on the Adjusted Service Rating Card for which credits will be allotted are as follows:

1. So many points for each month you have been in the Army since Oct. 16,1940.
2. Certain number of points for each month served overseas (all AWOL time overseas is "bad time" and will not be counted) since Oct. 16, 1940.
3. A number of points for awards from the Bronze Star and up and also for each "battle star."
4. Credits for each child up to and including three children.

After the card has been filled XXX by your personnel section, it will be Submitted to you for your correction and signature that the information it contains is true and correct.

CREDITS TOTALED

Then after VE Day and the War Department announces the number of credits each factor will receive your total credits can then be determined. For example, if you have been overseas 10 months and the credit for this factor should be one point for each month, then you will have 10 credits for that factor, etc.

It is the War Department's desire that this plan works as smoothly as possible and it has been so planned so that it is as fair as possible to the majority. When you are dealing with millions of men it is impossible to devise any plan that will completely satisfy each and everyone.

One more thing we must keep in mind, the really most important thing, and that is we will still be at war with Japan and the War Department will do its best to satisfy all, but yet not hinder the Pacific operation in any way.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

Oh God, our Heavenly Father; Inspire our hearts that we may be led to seek and find Thee; for Thou art our hope and salvation. Forgive us as we have sinned against Thee. Direct us into the paths of righteousness. Teach us to pray,''Thy will be done," and mean it. Make us implinments of thy purpose and Thy glory.

For Thy name's sake. Amen

- Kenneth L. Ames,
Chaplain (Capt.)
109th Med. Bn.

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"THE RED ROSE OF ITALY"

Down past the green and fertile plain,
On as far as the eye can see,
Across the jagged mountain peaks,
On down to the sparkling sea-
The sunshine fills the air again,
And the valley is rich in bloom,
Gay April sings a melody--
The red rose will be blooming soon.

On the flat and on the hillside,
From the trestles in the vineyard,
You can hear the April songsters
In the bright and cheery orchard.
April's coat of many colors
Encloses every hill and dale,
And the blood red rose of April
Is blooming in the den and vale.

Soldier's blood will match the color
To make the fields a redder hue,
Dying breaths will rise to mingle
With song of birds up in the blue.
April is serene and peaceful
From Mother Nature's point of view
But side by side in the clover
Lies blood and roses in the dew.

Through the valley flows a river
That sparkles too, as red as blood,
Water flows between the roses
And mangled bodies in the mud.
And so, the color must be true
For red's the banner of the brave,
In days to come, a crimson rose
Will grow on every soldier's grave.

- Pfc.John N. Qninn
Co. M, 168th Inf. Regt

Dugout Doqqerel

Yoo-hoo, Sal]y
We're in the Valley!

• • •

Memories (Brief!) of Bologna

The dust . . . The cheers, flowers and applause . . The attractive girls . . . Cognac Sarti . . . The dust...The absence of begging . . . The frightful night-full of air raids... The dust... 'The two leaning towers . . . The Polish and Italian troops. .. The bricked-up windows . . . The numerous air raid shelters . .. The dust.

• • •

Short Rounds

Last Round in Italy. Headline. Good, but let's not have a long count, please

• • •

The day we arrived in Bologna, April 21, was a Fascist holiday-- the birthday of Rome. But the citizens celebrated the re-blrthday of Bologna, instead!

• • •

German prisoners, caught in our sweep across the Po Valley, don't like us a bit. In fact, they declare we're being quite offensive lately.

• • •

Without Honor

Hitler . . . Dehydrated eggs . . . Officers who never heard of Robert Burns' dictum: "The rank is but the guinea stamp, a man's a man for a' that" . . . Preserved butter... Rear-echelon gripers . .. Black marketeers . . . Home-fronters who humiliate Japanese-American soldiers . . . Hitler.

- Pvt. Joseph Hoffmann
133rd Inf. Regt.

FRESH FROM THE FRONT

By Lipsky

Cartoons by Pfc. Jerome Lipsky, Co. H, 135th Inf. Regt.

SGT. JOHNSON WINS CONTEST

S-Sgt. Ray Johnson, Co. L, 168th Inf. Regt., is the first prize winner in the Mother's Day V-Mail Greeting card contest, Specia] Service announces . First prize is a wristwatch.

Second prize winner is Pfc. Richard W. Nelson, Hq., 168th Inf. Regt. who won a pen and pencil set.

S-Sgt. James J. McGlynn, Hq. Co., 3rd Bn, 133rd Inf. Regt., placed third to be rewarded with a Ronson lighter.

The winning sketch will be reproduced and will be available to all members of the Division.

Judges who selected the winning sketches from the scores of entries submitted include: Pfc. Elmer O. Fehlhaber, Cannon Co., 135th Inf. Regt.; Pfc. Lincoln H. Jewett, Svc. Co., 168th Inf. Regt.; Pvt. George A. Molnar, Hq. Co., 133rd Inf. Regt.; T-4 Marcel J. Gosciminski, Hq. Btry., 125th F.A. Bn., and T-5 Norman A. Jensen, Hq., Spec. Trps.

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General Commends Ordnance Company

The 734th Ordnance (L.M.) received the following commendation from Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Keyes, 11 Corps Commander:

"I desire to commend the Ordnance personnel of your Division for their fine performance of duty throughout the past winter.

Though we did not engage in any major offensive during the period I am well aware that the winter posed sume very serious problems for them. The task of maintaining your vehlcles and other items of ordnance material in an operational condition was greatly aggravated by the natural rise in the breakdown rate and the scarcity of essential spare parts. The extent to which tbey met these and other problems speaks well for their resourcefulness, thorough training and able leadership.

I would appreciate it if you , would bring the contents of this message to the attention of the personnel concerned."

BULLETIN BEAUTY

Marguerile Chapman

Nazi Convoy Convoy Comes Up Behind Task Force; Enemy Destroyed

Three officers in a peep led a 168th Infantry task force which knocked out 13 German vehicles, a tank and killed several enemy in the race to cut off the Germans' escape across the Po River in Italy.

The three officers are: Capt James A. Luttrell, regimental staff officer, 1st Lt. Nelson R. Jones, regimental headquarters commandant, and 1st Lt. William Crown, I. and R. Platoon leader.

Anxious to further the advance of the 168th Infantry Regiment which has covered many miles chasing the disorganized Germans through the Po Valley, the three officers started a night reconnaissance of their own and helped knock out a German column which had come up behind them.

While driving through a town, cheered on by applause of the natives, the group came upon the regimental task force, composed of a rifle company, an anti-tank platoon and three tanks. The force had stopped for the evening, apparently, but Capt. Luttrell gave orders for them to follow the headquarters jeep.

As the force proceeded along the highway through the town. in which some fighting was still going on in spots, it advanced into enemv territory without resistance. Capt. Luttrell just kept going until he came to the regiment's next objectiYe, a bridge vital to the uninterrupted paSSage of vehicular traffic.

Not knowing whether the bridge was mined, and disregarding enemy road blocks at the end of it, Capt. Luttrell began leading Ihe task force across the bridge, when a column of enemy vehicles, including two flak wagons and a German tank, which had pulled onto the highway from one of the side roads, almost bumped into an anti-tank gun at the rear end of the American column.

A German officer dismounted from one of the leading vehicles in the enemy column and mistaking one of the 168th riflemen for a German G.l., asked him what the password was. The infantryman, who spoke German fortunately, answered that he didn't know, whereupon the enemy officer told him that he was a poor soldier and walked away.

While the American infantryman warned some elements of his company that there was a German column behind them, Capt. Luttrell at the head of the column became aware that something was amiss. Just as the infantrymen climbed out of their trucks to battle the Germans, a German tank at the rear of the enemy column opened fire, knocking out one of the 13 enemy vehicles to its front. Capt. Luttrell directed the friendly tanks heading the task force to fire at the enemy and the first shell pierced four vehicles in the enemy column.

There was a brief fire fight in which the 168th Infantrymen succeeded in killing several of the enemy and drove the rest away. The vehicles that were not fired bY the German occupants were destroyed by the American tanks. Capt. Luttrell and his crew took three of the prisoners who did not escape and the rest of the Germans were taken the next morning. A few hours later the rest of the battalion joined the task force and the bridge was made secure. Meanwhile Capt. Luttrell had gone on ahead of the objective to determine that there was no enemy on the other side of the bridge to block the rapid advance.

One of First to Enter

1st Lt. Charles R. T. Howard (leaning on helmet) was one of the first officers to enter Bologna, Italy Apr. 21. He is a member of Co. K, 133rd Inf. Regt. John Nixon of the British Broadcasting Corp. is shown in the foreground interviewing Lt. Howard, while Pvt. Klukas, wearing a captured cap, looks on. Klukas is a member Of the 3rd Bn. Med. Det., 133rd Inf Regt.

Citizens Greet Division

Citizens of Bologna greet the veteran 34th Division on its arrival Apr. 21.

Mission Accomplished

34th Division Infantrymen in vehicles with supporting armor are shown resting
after accomplishing the mission of capturing the city of Bologna.

REAR MEN SHELLED

With the begimling of the allout offensive, almost every unit in the Division received a taste of some sort of "Jerry's" resisting artillery fire. The Rear Echelon of Division Headquarters had several rounds of large calibre artillery fall in the middle of the area tearing up several of the tents and doing minor damages.

T-Sgt. Unterbrenner had the closest call of any reported where a large chunk of shrapnel tore off the center legs of his cot and tore a pair of shoes under his cot to shreds. After the first round landed in the area almost everyone was up and around looking for a place of safety. Fortunately no one was hurt in any manner although a few were a little jittery at breakfast the next morning.

- 1st Sgt. Orvald A. Olson,
Unit Correspondent

Beauty Shop Welcome

ln the surge of hospitality shown 34th Division troops during their occupation of the Po Valley, Sgt. John Lunquist, 151st F. A. Bn. forward observer, found himself enjoying the facilities of a beauty shop.

When Lunquist entered one of the Po valley cities with advance infantry elements, an Italian pressed through the crowd to his jeep and asked if he would like to wash up. "Instead of taking me home he took me to a beauty shop he owned," Lunquist related, "and his wife who was there insisted on giving me a shampoo."

PILOT FLOWERED

Gleeful Italians thronged the airport at Parma, Italy, when 1st Lt. Leland Pyle, 185th F.A. pilot, landed his artillery observation plane at the liberated city in the Po Valley.

"They filled my cockpit with flowers," Pyle said. "Then they banked the wings and the tail of the plane with bouquets. It was some reception!"

Lt. Pyle is a cousin of the late Ernie Pyle.