FOOLED BY HITLER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 123, 19 February 1944, Page 7

FOOLED BY HITLER

Encircled Forces Ordered To Commit Suicide (Received February 18, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 17.. According to Moscow radio, the Soviet Command nine days ago sent an ultimatum to the encircled German group to ' surrender,-promising them safety. Some German commanders, seeing the hopelessness of the situation, wanted to accept the ultimatum, but the German High Command was fooled by Hitler who promised to take measures to save the encircled divisions. The ultimatum was finally rejected by the German High Command, whereupon Soviet troops launched a general attack. „ Only 2000 to 3000 German officers succeeded in getting away in transport planes. The encircled enemy forces amounted to 70,000 to 80,000 officers and men. • . ~ 1 West and south-west of Svemgorodka, eight German tank divisions fruitlessly attempted to break through to the encircled force. Twenty thousand of this force were killed between February 5 and IS. A total of 320 planes, including 179 Junkers transports, more than 600 tanks, and 374 guns were destroyed. Prisoners report that after von Mannstein’s failure to relieve the encircled divisions, Hitler demanded that they must sacrifice themselves to hold up the Rus"gian divisions and even.ordered that they should commit suicide if the position became hopeless. During the past few days, mass suicides occurred as the Russian encirclement ring tightened. The radio adds that the remnants of the encircled group of about 3000 to 4000 men are trying to save their lives in gullies and small woods, but they are being liquidated by Soviet troops.