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H—ARGUS, SAT, AUG 12/44 r'r ]MAD GENERAL'S SURRENDER DEMANDED BY PHONEFrew JAMKS WILLARD, with the US Forces of U Mole.Friday.TMi it mi place wKtft tHe war it pkonty. TKt American* Kaye tele- [ ■♦lowed Hie mod 9 ewe rot IteMinf out in tlie St Mele citadel ond atked aim to Mirrender IIn a dank cellar under a stone house In 8t. Servan, Just outside St Malo, an American major picked up the telephone and said in perfect German: Achtung. Kamaraden.” He was speaking to the German garrison inside the citadel, which still refuses to surrender, although it has been shelled continuously for three days.His telephone call to the German kommandant—von Auloch, known as “the mad commander of 8t Malo**— was a last resort.In the cellar of the 8t Servan house American wiremen found characteristic red German wires, and it was simple to “tape” them and fix an American field phone.The major rotated a switchbox handle and waited. Soon a German voice was heard. The major announced himself, and asked to be put through to the citadel. The major again spoke quietly, saying: 'German soldiers, your position is hope lees. All St Malo and St Servan are ours. We are closing in on Dinard, and that will be the end. We call on you to surrender.”There was muttering at the other end of the wire, and after some discussion a German sergeant In command of a machinegun post said he would transfer the call to headquarters in the citadel.Again the major asked to speak to the kommandant. Again astonished muttering, and a surprised voice said he was sorry but the kommandant; was not in just then. The major 1 said he would be happy to wait. He , did. He was on the phone the whole 1 afternoon talking to a variety of people, and patiently reiterating the call to surrender.Oddly enough the garrison admitted that the citadel's position was hopeless, but ihe American arguments failed to persuade the Germans to come out.Late this afternoon our dlvebombers were scheduled to reduce the fortress.Von, Auloch is described as tall grey, about 55, a native of Wiesbaden. He is said to be well mannered, but obsessed by the memory of Stalingrad. Prisoners say he suffers from delusions as a result of a head wound received at Stalingrad, and is embittered by the death of his wife and children in a Berlin raid.
Newspaper Details
Melbourne Argus
Melbourne, Victoria, AU
Sat, Aug 12, 1944
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Antoine N.
FR 02 Feb 2020
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