Red Army Pursues Retreating Nazis

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1943, Page 5

Red Army Pursues Retreating Nazis

DRIVE FROM KHARKOV

Only Part Of Axis Forces Escape From City Area

(New Zealand Press Association.—Copyright.— Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 18. Colonel-General Golikoff's victorious forces are rolling on from Kharkov in pursuit of the defeated retreating Germans. Moscow s joy is reflected in Soviet broadcasts, which indeed indicate that the spirit of victory animates all Soviet Russia. The radio told the story of the capture of Kharkov over and over again all day long. Ukraine writers and poets read and recited articles and poems, apparently written overnight, hailing the Red Army's achievements, and now the story is being told how Kharkov was taken, with the usual accompanying details of German terrorism. Reuters Mpscow correspondent says the frozen bodies of some of the Gestapo's victims were still dangling by the necks from balconies in the main streets as Soviet troops entered the city. The civilian population suffered tortures from German savagery. Thousands oT workers who were among the most skilled in the Soviet Union were dragged off to slavery somewhere in the German rear. Those who remained were starved, robbed and forced to work on German defences under fire. Berlin radio, describing the destruction the Germans carried out at Kherkov, said "the town was a sea of flames. All military targets and traffic installations were blown up, making the centre impassable." Russians Chasing Remnants of Storm Troops Along Railway Moscow radio says only part of the Axis forces in the Kharkov city area escaped. They are being pursued by the Red Army and wiped out by guerillas. The greater number were either taken prisoner or left dead on the battlefield. "Our plan is not merely to push back, but completely to destroy the hated enemy," the announcer added. "The Red Army is going on and will eventually finally carry out this destruction." Columbia Broadcasting System's Moscow correspondent reports that the Russians are chasing remnants of the Storm Troop Corps along the railway to Poltava. Another Moscow report says the Russians, pushing on from Kharkov in a swift night advance, covered ten miles of the 80 miles to the German base of Poltava and are moving rapidly along the Kharkov-Poltava railway without encountering serious opposition. Other Russian columns, pushing along the Sea of Azov shore from Rostov, are now within 12 miles of Taganrog, whose fall appears to be imminent, German resistance having weakened. The fall of Novorossisk also seems to be imminent, and street fighting is reported from there. Berlin radio reported that powerful Russian forces broke through the Orel sector on the central front, but that the Germans counter-attacked and closed the. gap.