NAZIS PINNED DOWN IN OREL FIGHTING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 164, 13 July 1943, Page 3

NAZIS PINNED DOWN IN OREL FIGHTING

CHECK AT BYELGOROD Violent Battles Continue On Both Fronts N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 11 a-m. LONDON, July 12. The Germans, in their drive on the Orel front, which began last Saturday, after the failure of their Byelgorod offensive, are still pinned down, says the British United Press correspondent in Moscow. Increasingly violent battles continue on both the Orel and the Byelgorod fronts. Russian counter-attacks are being launched in growing frequency and strength. The German losses in the first week are estimated at 2600 tanks, 1100 planes and 40,000 men. Hitler is losing an average of one tank every three or four minutes, also approximately eight planes an hour, says the Moscow radio. "Never before," it states, "have the German generals seen equipment go so fast." German tactics on both fronts have undergone a change. Instead of throwing about 400 tanks into a narrow sector, they are dive-bombing the Russians before attacking and using formations of from SO to 100 planes, after which tank units, numbering from 12 to 100, are sent in. The German wedges in the neighbourhood of Byelgorod are in danger of being cut off by mass attacks by Soviet tanks, artillery and aircraft, which are growing in weight and intensity, states an earlier Moscow message. It adds that dispatches from the front say that the wedges are of considerable width and depth, but all German attempts to increase them have failed. In cramped space the Germans are fighting at a serious disadvantage, while the Russians enjoy freedom to manoeuvre.

Due north of Byelgorod 500 tanks, headed by Tigers, attacked on a narrow front and, after an exhausting three-hour battle, captured a populated point. While the enemy regrouped his depleted forces behind a screen of aerial bombs, masses of Soviet tanks struck a crushing counter-blow and recaptured the settlement. The German tanks withdrew under an air cover. Soviet fighters, however, which were brought up overwhelmed the German aircraft and bombers attacked a German armoured camp and disorganised masses of tanks, caterpillar guns and motorised infantry. This happened at the apex of one of the wedges and was one of the most severe tactical setbacks for the Germans since the beginning of the offensive. . Enemy Attacks Repelled A Russian communique states that Soviet troops in the Orel-Kursk and Byelgorod directions-continue to repel attacks of enemy tanks and infantry. Russian troops destroyed or damaged 162 tanks. In aerial engagements and by anti-aircraft fire, 31 German planes were shot down. A supplementary Russian communique described the continued holding of the German attacks on the Orel-Kursk sector and stubborn engagements in the Byelgorod sector. In the Orel-Kur,sk sector the enemy having failed to achieye success during an all-day offensive today attempted to break through the Russian defence, using large forces. AH the attacks were frustrated and in the evening the enemy was repelled to his initial positions, leaving many disabled and destroyed tanks. A Moscow message states that the Russians are retaining mastery of the air in the Kursk salient in spite of German aerial reinforcements. Russian Flank Menaced Latest front-line dispatches report a slackening of the German drive in the Kursk sector. Bitter fighting continues near Byelgorod, where a serious threat exists to the Russian left flank. Fierce tank battles are raging incessantly. Moscow radio reports that in one sector the enemy sent 100 tanks and large infantry forces into action. The Soviet forces had only 35 tanks to meet them. Nevertheless, the Germans left four Tiger tanks and a number of medium tanks on the field, while others retreated to re-group and re-attack, but the Soviet tanks again joined battle and drove the Germans back. Other reports state that Soviet detachments were subjected to attacks several times during the day by numerically superior tank forces supported by large air formations and terrific mortar fire.