BATTLE EAST OF BERLIN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24547, 21 April 1945, Page 7

BATTLE EAST OF BERLIN

Russians Across Oder GERMANS ADMIT WITHDRAWAL (NyZ. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, April 20, Unofficial reports from Moscow since the Russian High Command announced the crossing of the Oder and Neisse rivers say that fresh Russian troops are pouring across to large and well established bridgeheads, and that spearheads are heading for Berlin and Dresden. German reports say that the German forces have pulled back from the Oder valley on a 40-mile front between Frankfurt apd o town north-east of Berlin. The Germans say also that the Russians have gained ground on the road from Kustrin to Berlin, and that Soviet armoured columns have advanced some distance beyond Wriezen towards Strausbcrg, which is 10 miles from the outskirts of Berlin, and 24 miles from the centre of the capital. Qn the Dresden sector the Germans report that the Red Army has made deep penetrations between Kottbus and Sprem* berg, and between Goerlitz and Bautzen. The Russian offensive against Beylin was announced in last night’s Soviet communique. It said that a bridgehead had been established over the Oder river west of Kustrin, and over the Neisse. In the direction of Dresden the Russians captured Muskau, Weisswasser, and Forst. “For the last three days in the area of the central grouping of our troops there has been reconnaissance activity which increased to full-scale battles for the establishment and widening of the bridgeheads over the rivers Oder and Neisse,” added the communique. “As the result of these battles our troops in the Dresden direction crossed the Neisse and captured Muskau, Weisswasser, and Forst. Troops of the 2nd Polish Army captured Gothenburg. West of Kustrin our troops established a bridgehead over the Oder and widened it.”

“hi Czechoslovakia north-west and nortn of Hodonm our troops fought offensive battles and captured several places,” added the communique. “We aka occupied several places north of Vienna. On all fronts on Wednesday we disabled or destroyed 93 German tanks and shot down 115 aeroplanes.” Recording to the Paris radio, Benin is undflr fire of Russian artillery. One German report places the Ruslians 20 miles from the city. The Official German News Agency admitted that the Russians had achieved deep penetrations, Having driven forward seven miles from Seealong the road to Berlin and reached a point three miles east of Mqnoherberg, The agency added that the Germans have evacuated the bridgehead at Frankfurt on the east bank of the Oder river and that the Russians had captured Forst. Red Army spearheads on the Neisse front had reached the area pine miles east of Bautzen. The agency also announced that the Russians had established a bridgehead across the Spree, on which Berlin stands, 12 miles from Kottbus. Grim Fighting “There have been repeated crises in the 7 Oder bend north and south of Kustrin, but the German defence, bringing up fresh reserves, prevented a decisive break-through,” said the report. “However, the scene of grim fighting has moved n e 3rer to Berlin.” The Berlin radio said that the Russians had entered the eastern and northern suburbs of Bautzen, but the inner part of the town was still in German hands. A German war correspondent, in a message broadcast from Berlin, said that Rusaiaa tanks have reached the gates of Hoyerswerda. 33 miles northeast of Dresden and only 65 miles from Lieutenant-General Patton’s troops at Wurzen. A German military spokesman yesterday took a very serieus view of the battle for Berlin. “The military situation has been raffidly deteriorating in the last 24 hours as a result of deep Soviet penetrations, but the epemy has paid dearly for his success,” he said. The German High Command communique yesterday stated that the Russians in the third great battle for. Berlin threw in men and material on a scale hitherto unknown. The communique claimed that the Germans frustrated all attempts to break through. Referring generally to the fighting In the Berlin area, a German commentator said: “Russian successes are inevitable in view of the Soviet superiority in material. The Germans destroyed about 800 Soviet tanks, which Is about half the number so far employed, but the Russians have still more formations ready. It is the task of the German defenders in the next few days to maintain their coherent front line and paralyse the enemy’s driving power by inflicting heavy losses on his forces. Deep Penetrations “The deep penetrations between Kottbus and Spremberg and between Goerlitz and Bautzen show clearly that Marshal Koniev wants to outflank Berlin from the south and link up with the Americans somewhere in the Dresden area. It has become apparent that rile Russian High Command is out for a decision all along the Eastern Front. The situation south of Brno has become more acute. The only sector not yet involved is along the lower Oder, nut the start of fighting between Odernruch and Stettin will*'scarcely be than a matter of days.” Die Berlin radio commentator (von nammer) said that 16 Russian armies were attacking 0 n a front along the iT d ® r an d the Neisse. He also sdld ■ *u German Air Force was adoptJapanese suicide technique on . e ° der front. “Our pilots, ready to sacrifice their lives, with their, bombmaas, threw themselves on the Russian bridges over the Oder and ;thus oestroyed three crossings,” he added. - Just before the Soviet communique was issued, the Polish command issued order of the day: ■‘‘Units of the Ist Polish Army last Holiday went over to the offensive and accomplished the historic crossing of the Tiver Oder, carrying the battle across frontiers of the reborn Polish State German territory and winning the ®PPro cia t lon and love of the entire na--4u^ e order recalled the crossing of the Bug and the Vistula and the liberahon of Warsaw, and added: “In recognition of your merits Marshal Zhukov granted you the distinction of participating in the assault against Berare tile fi rs t Poles to enter wrmany under arms,” it stated. British Llack-out to End.—The «iack-out in Britain will be lifted everywhere as from Monday, with the exception of a five-mile strip round the coasts. Full lighting in the streets will come into force in July.—London, April 19.