PINCER THREAT TO KHARKOV

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 269, 9 August 1943, Page 5

PINCER THREAT TO KHARKOV

Red Army Forges Ahead 1 (British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) (Received August 8, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 7. The successful development of the outflanking movement against Kharkov and further progress toward Bryansk is announced in tonight s Soviet communique, which states: — The Russians in the Bryansk direction today continued the offensive and advanced 62’ to miles and occupied more than 100 indabited localities. In the Kharkov direction the Soviet troops overcame enemy resistance and continued successfully to develop the offensive, advanced 6| to 9 2 miles and occupied more than 70 inhabited localities. The Russians appear to be making an encircling move against Kharkov rather than a direct onslaught. The Germans report a ’"pincer threat’’ also on the southern side of Kharkov,

The localities captured in the Bryansk direction included one 10 miles west of Orel and another 14 miles south-west ot Kromy, and a railway station five miles south-west of Orel. In the Kharkov direction the large locality of Sennoye is mentioned, which is nearly 50 miles south-west of Byeb gorod and 30 miles north-west of Kharkov. The other places captured included Borisovka, about 25 miles west of Byelgorod, and Graivoron, about 45 miles west of Byelgorod and north-west of Kharkov. Graivoron was recaptured by the Russians during the , last winter offensive, but was taken again in the Germans’ counter-offensive.

Unexpected For Enemy. The Moscow “Izvestia” says that the Russians opened the attack on the Kharkov front quite unexpectedly and succeeded on some sectors in penetrating the German defences. Russian tanks, with the co-operation of artillery, poured through the gaps and cut German communications and occupied railway stations, disorganizing the enemy’s rear. The Germans continue to offer stubborn resistance, clinging to every inch of ground and digging trenches along the railways. The Germans often pass over to counter-attacks. The Russians west of Orel, in spite of stiff resistance, are continuing to deal mighty blows against the Germans and are methodically continuing their advance.

LONDON, August 6.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the roads west and south-west of Orel are littered with burning. German lorries and corpses. Russian planes, in overwhelming strength, are taking heavy toll of the fleeing enemy. Orel itself is still burning and the air is filled with hot ashes. The emaciated population has emerged from basements and hide-outs in surrounding country to welcome its liberators. Russian tanks passed through the city festooned with branches and flowers. A leaflet appeared on walls and te} e ' graph poles before the city was fully captured reading: “Orel is ours. Red Army men, don’t give the enemy any rest! Beat the Fascist scoundrels to death! Revenge your women and children I Forward, westward!” . , Orel’s population is now repairing bridges, extinguishing fires, and . catching traitors. Mothers are searching for sous and daughters in Gestapo cellars. Before the Germans left, all .important buildings in Orel were dynamited or set on fire. The Germans, in the past 10 days fearing defeat was near, rounded up several thousand more civilians into captivity. Moscow radio stated that the Germans killed about 15,000 residents of Orel during the occupation. “Pravda” said the battle of Orel was one of the greatest in the history of warfare. With the exception of Stalingrad there has been nothing to equal the concentration of huge forces on the narrow sector at Orel. Berlin radio said: In the world s greatest battle from July 5 (0 .August 5 the Russians lost over 580,000 killed, wounded, and taken prisoner.” Moscow radio in a special announcement stated that the Russians between July 5 and August 5 killed 100,000 officers and men, destroyed or disabled 4605 tanks, destroyed 1623 guns and 11,000 lorries, shot down 2492 planes, and also captured 521 tanks, 875 guns, 2021 machineguns, 352 supply dumps, and took prisoner 12,418 Germans.

Tonight’s communique also says: “On other sectors of the frbnt the Russians fought on and held their positions, and engaged in patrol activity. Artillery and mortar fire exchanges took place. Yesterday on all fronts the Russians destroyed or disabled 43 German tanks, and 80 German planes were shot down." Development at Smolensk. Guerrilla reports reveal that the Germans are carrying out a general civilian evacuation of the Smolensk area. A Soviet communique says that Russian .planes bombed enemy military trains at the railway junctions of Kharkov and Bryansk. Direct hits smashed several trains and about 30 fires were started, many of which were accompanied by heavy e-vplosions. The railway station at Mga, on the Leningrad front, was also effectively bombed.