SOVIET GRIP ON BERLIN TIGHTENS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 6

SOVIET GRIP ON BERLIN TIGHTENS

Fr@®sss Surging' Ati

SPAN DAL!, PO J AND

N.Z.P.A.—Copyright—Rec. noon LONDON, April 27.

The firmness of the Russians' grip on the Berlin area is shown by Marshal Stalin's latest Order of the Day announcing the capture of Spandau, nine miles north-west of the Potsdamerplatz, Potsdam, 15 miles south-west of the Potsdamerplatz, and Rathenow, on the east bank of the Havet River, 45 miles west of/Berlins centre. These captures are described as important road junctions an powerful bases for the German defences of central Germany. Reuters Moscow correspondent says the Red Army's w:sdom in adopting a "stab-to-the-heart" policy for Berlin, aiming straight for the centre of the capital and leaving pockets in the rear to be cleaned up later, brought great results It swiftly led Ito a Potion where one more Russian break-through in force to the Unter den Linden will mean the virtual collapse of the defence. Already the only remaining German troops which show any semblance of a battle line are those fighting with their backs to the Tierearten, west of Unter den Linden. Elsewhere the front and rear have become hopelessly intermingled. More and more Red Army troops, tanks and guns are being concentrated in forward bases in the streets and squares for a general assault against, the capital's centre. Zhukov s and Koniev s men are infiltrating through debris-covered streets with the stttf acrid with smoke and dust. A closed ring is around most of the vital Berlin areas except a small gap in the Charlottenburg sector.

GERMANS THREATEN TO

SACRIFICE HOSTAGES

The British United Press correspondent, quoting the latest front line reports, says the Red Army is fighting practically in every part of Berlin except a small circle drawn around the Unter den Linden. The Russians, however, only partly hold many districts because of a trick which it was feared the Germans would use when the situation became really desperate—-the use of hostages. - . The Germans are keeping groups of as many, as 200 Ukrainian and White Russian slave workers on the upper floors <>f buildings so that Russian sappers will not blow them up. The defenders or Berlin are not fighting as fanatically as in the early stages of the battle, probably because large numbers of the real fanatics are dead. The capital is a charnel-house, but the the ragged army of regulars, Volkssturm, policemen,-firemen and Hitler Youth are fighting on while there is still any hope. Members of the Hitler Youth weep hysterically when captured, whereas a few minutes before they were sniping at the Russians * backs. The civilians have had enough of it. They are wiping from walls such slogans as "Berlin will always be true to the Fuehrer, which they a few weeks ago enthusiastically cheered. Moscow correspondents report extraordinary contrasts in the grim battle for Berlin. A, bunch of angry old women in one street were trying to fight their-way into a baker's shop while shells and bullets were whistling just round the corner. . in another street were having the tiiAe -ojF their lives in tne.toy department or a wrecked department store,, They seemed oblivious to the battle all around them. Waiters at the door of a beer hall in another part of the city, dressed up like tailors' dummies, stand bowing and smiling and offering mugs of beer to the thirsty Russians. The waiters themselves occasionally take sips of the beer to convince the Russians the drinks aire not; poisoned; German civilians in east Berlin are industriously handing out guide books of Berlin to the Russians.

Groups of German officers and men are changing into civilian clothes and attempting to escape by mingling with huge crowds of Berliners moving out of the battle zone. The Exchange Telegraph Moscow correspondent reports that the chief of the Soviet air marshals has joined Marshal Zhukov in th£ Berlin area to personally direct the battie for the skies over Berlin. planes are bombing street by street and house by house, giving particular attention to the Unter den Linden. Hundreds of midget bombers are flying all night to prevent the German garrison troops from resting. .

The Red Star, says the Red Army is grinding its way through streets, each of which is defended by civilians as well as regulars. All inhabitants capable of bearing arms have been trained for street fighting. They are fighting savagely, but as soon as the regulars retreat they discard their" arms, hoist white flags and shout curses against Hitler. The Red Star correspondent reports has broken out afresh in the underground railway tunnels and stations.

CITY LIKE STONY DESERT SWEPT JWITH HOT f LAMES

The Russians are now so .close to the heart of Berlin that they have constantly to depress their guns to avoid shelling-their own forces closing in from the other side, reports the Associated Press correspondent. They are firing down some thoroughfares over open sights. Flame-throwers are in action throughout the city. The whole of Berlin has become a stony desert swept by Sahara-like winds hot with flames. The. burning streets are charged so thickly with brick and cement dust and smoke that Russian stolen troopers have to use torches even at noon. There are almost ho buildings left in which to place the wounded, many of whom are lying untended in the streets. Berlin, in the eleventh hour, has become a city of horror.

Marshal Stalin, in a third Order of the Day, announced the capture of Anger midway ..between Berlin and Stettin, on the Berlin-Stettin railway, and Prenzlaii, 30 yrniles south-west of Stettin. In a fourth Order of the Day, Stalin stated Marshal Koniev's forces had captured 'Wittenberg, 18 miles east of Dessau, , on the east bank of the Elbe.

Templehof aerodrome has been captured. This was announced In to-night's Soviet communique, which says troops of the Third White Russian Command to-day advanced seven miles along the Frischenehrung. _ They- took 3000 prisoners- yesterday.. of the First White Russian Command are engaging in street fighting in Berlin. They occupied the district of Neiikj>lln and the Templehof aerodrome. Yesterday 8500 prisoners were taken and 26 planes and 200 tanks captured. The Russians, the battles jin the south-western area of Berlin, captured the districts of Steglitz and Scbmargendorf, and yesterday took 3000 prisoners and .captured 85 planes. The Russians in Czechoslovakia captured several places. .