GERMAN PLANS IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23915, 6 April 1943, Page 5

GERMAN PLANS IN RUSSIA

ATTACK MAY BE LAUNCHED THREAT TO KURSK SALIENT LONDON, April 4. A warning that the Germans are soon likely to launch a flat-out attack against the Soviet is given by Alexander Werth, Moscow correspondent of the “Sunday Times.’’ Mr Werth is Russian-born of a Russian father and a British mother. The “World’s Press News.” in its most recent issue, states: “Mr Werth is in close and confidential touch with the Russian authorities and messages from him carry particular weight.” Mr Werth’s dispatch to the “Sunday Times” states; “There is a.i unmistakable feeling of tension in Moscow. There is deep consciousness everywhere of big events in store. The Germans' increasing attempts to gain a foothold on the east side of the Donets river are clearly the preliminary to much bigger operations which are planned, probably for the very near future. German concentrations are already very heavy at Orel, Bryansk, and Byelgorod, respectively north and south of the Kursk salient. The German command clearly considers that the wiping out of the salient is essential.

“The Germans are talking of doing ‘a Stalingrad’ on the Russians at Kursk to avenge Stalingrad. The Russians. therefore, are preparing for extremely heavy fighting. The Germans are likely to concentrate everything for a big drive against Moscow. The enormous troop concentrations at Orel and Bryansk may attempt to strike out in a direct line. The Russians are keyed up. ‘We are going to stick it. but it may well be a grimmer summer than last,’ is a remark frequently made by Red soldiers. There are no illusions about the German strength. It is also realised that the Germans’ total mobilisation will be a formidable factor in 1943.”

General Dietmar, the Nazi commentator on the Berlin radio, said: “Surprises are in store for the Russians in a few months’ time.” “Hitler’s Luck Failing”

M. Kalinin, chairman of the Supreme Soviet Council, in an article in all Russian newspapers, adopts a more optimistic note. He slates: “Hitler has twice been forced to admit that the German army was within a hair’s breath of catastrophe, first at Moscow and then at Stalingrad. The German army will, for the third time, fall into the pit it has dug for itself. The lightning war planned by Germany will not succeed. Hitler now hopes to win a war of attrition. Hitler expects, as a result of total mobilisation, to be able to rob the occupied countries and restore his shattered material resources.

“Hitler is a gambler. The luck at first was on his side, but since his attack on Russia it has been failing him. Our task is to frustrate all of Hitler’s ventures.” M. Kalinin, after stressing the responsibility of agricultural workers and the importance of cultivating every available scrap of land, said; “The enemy is on our territory greedily drinkirtg our people’s blood. Only shells and bullets can close his insatiable mouth.”