BATTLE FOR BRESLAU

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24501, 26 February 1945, Page 5

BATTLE FOR BRESLAU

House-To-House Fighting

RUSSIANS FREE POZNAN

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 25, The battle for the Silesian city of Breslau is reported to be in its dosing stages. House-to-house fighting is in progress and another suburb pas been captured by the Russians.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: “Breslau is going to pieces stone by stone as Marshal Koniev’s men smash to the centre of the city in a dress rehearsal for the battle of Berlin. It Is a struggle between veterans of Red Army assault teams and a garrison inspired by picked Nazi fanatics.” North-east of Breslau, the Polish city of Poznan has been liberated.

An unbroken stream of armour and supplies for Marshal Zhukov’s Oder front is now flowing through Poznan, the capture of which has opened a direct route from Moscow to Berlin, says the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press. “Marshal Zhukov’s communications with the rear have been shortened by about 50 miles and the tortuous route over secondary roads has been eliminated. “Marshal Koniev is striking In force against the Germans’ Neisse and Spree line, and appears to have entered it at

several places. Large-scale battles, especially between tank forces, are being waged in the great no man’s land south-west of encircled Breslau. “Marshal Koniev's tanks and tommygunners have surged into the streets of Guben and Forst, and both cities are in danger of being cut off. Marshal Koniev might sweep round both fortresses and strike westward, leaving them to the same fate as Poznan, Breslau, and Budapest.” ' Reuter’s Moscow correspondent re-, ports that the Breslau battle is mounting in violence. Marshal Konlev’si tanks and storm troops have forced their way deeper into the city streets, and Russian artillery is blasting, German nests of resistance at point-blank range. , ■ Russian frontline correspondents say that more than 8000 German wounded were carried from cellars in Pcznan after one of the fiercest struggles of the war. The wounded were in. a wretched condition. Many had lain for days without water or proper attention.

“Two authoritative Russian newspapers piece the Red Army farther inside Germany than has hitherto been disclosed by any Russian communique,” says the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press. “ ‘Pravda’ reports that Marshal Zhukov'is 34 miles from Berlin, and ‘Red Star’ states that Marshal Koniev has ,r/achedSaxony. These announcements Have encouraged hopes in- "Moscow TtH&t unusually good news will be announced in Mr Stalin’s next order of the day." Mr Stalin, in an order of .the day addressed to Marshal Zhukov, reveals that 25,000 Germans were killed In the fighting for Poznan, and 23,000 were taken rrisoper, including MajorGefieral Mattern, commandant of the enemy garrison. ' . The Associated Press points out that the order describes Poznan as an important defence centre in the direction bf Berlin.” which is the first time Moscow has used this phrase. The Russians •at Poznan seized large quantities ox equipment and war material. ,

MOSCOW COMMUfrIQtiE (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDpN. reb. 25 A Soviet communique issued last nl ?‘On a the Saraland peninsula to-day the Russians repelled tank and infantry attacks and, simultaneously, southwest of Konigsbcrg, fought for the destruction of the East Prussian army grouping. The Russians captured several places, , , “The Red Army south-west and south of Danzig captured several places, and in Grudziadz (Poland) continued to fight for the destruction of the, encircled enemy. “We, in Breslau, continuing the annihilation of the encircled enemy, have occupied the suburb of Oltschachen and captured 15 blocks of houses in the southern part of the city. “The Russians on the north bank of the Danube, east of Komarno, have warded off major tank and infantry attacks.

“One hundred and sixteen trains and 34 aeroplanes were destroyed on Friday along the front.” A supplementary communique says that Russians, fighting their way into Breslau from the south, dislodged the Germans from the barracks, and, firing over open sights, captured a water tower which the Germans, had turned into a strongpoint. .

IRRAWADDY RIVER BRIDGEHEADS

EXPANSION BY ALLIED TROOPS

(Rec. 8 p.m.) BOMBAY, Feb. 24. "All the Irrawaddy bridgeheads are being expanded slowly in the face of strong resistance,” says the Australian Associated Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters- in Burma. “The ■Mandalay area is being plastered by Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces planes in attacks which, considering the size of the targets, are equal in intensity to those made on German .cities, Against these attacks the Japanese rarely put up fighter opposition. “The 15th Indian Corps, it is re* ported, has killed 2000 Japanese in cleanii\g-up operations in northern Arakan from the end of December to th* middle of February. “Small Allied naval craft are sweeping the rivers, raking the banks with machine-gun fire. Mopping up stragglers is difficult in the swamp« and creeks, but those escaping death are being slowly starved into more open country. “Further south in the Ruywa area fierce hand-to-hand fighting and shelling by the Japanese continue. It is expected that the enemy here will put up a big fight as at Kahgaw in an effort to keep the escape road open. “Resistance was found to be unexpectedly light when the Chinese crossed the river and entered Namtu. There are indications that Japanese opposition in northern Burma generally may become weaker.”