BATTLE OF GZHATSK

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 139, 9 March 1943, Page 5

BATTLE OF GZHATSK

Importance Of Capture

LONDON, March 7.

Moscow correspondents stress the importance of the reoccupation of Gzhatsk, which was one of the most heavily fortified “hedgehogs” in Russia and one of the Germans’ principal bases for munitions, oil and spare P *The Germans threw in everything possible to hold the defences, which extended in n. horseshoe curve round the city, lhe density of the German firing-points can be judged from the fact that they hud installed in some sectors 150 pillboxes to the square mile, all of them linked by deep trenches which were roofed with logs, forming a honeycomb. . A bombardment by the Russian artillery tore wide gaps in the German lines, through which tanks penetrated under cover of snowstorms, with the infantry following and mopping up the strongP °The assault developed terrific punch as reserves came in, but they met with au apparently impenetrable barrier of crossfire A peril of a double envelopment from Russian ski troops who had traversed snow-clad forests forced the Germans to divert a part of their stiength, whereupon the Russians, increasing their pressure on every side, burst, in. They completed the capture after six hours ot street fighting. The Germans, set fire to most of the remaining buildings before retreating. The Russian soldiers were found sharing hot soup with a few children who crept up from the cellars of some of the buildings.