OFFENSIVE AT KIEV

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 60, 8 September 1941, Page 7

OFFENSIVE AT KIEV

ORIGINAL GERMAN ATTACK

HAVOC BY THE RUSSIANS

LONDON, September 6.

The story of the original German attack on Kiev appears in the Moscow newspaper "Pravda"

At the beginning of August the Germans concentrated on the south side of the city's defences three infantry, divisions, including three and a half artil-

lery regiments. On the day when the general offensive was launched, masses of aircraft were throVn against the Soviet artillery. The defences of Kiev were rolled back,, but a day later the Soviet artillery checked the enemy advance and destroyed in the course of several days 23 tanks and armoured cars, 82 motor-cars, 11' anti-tank guns, seven petrol dumps, 39 artillery batteries, and 49 mortar batteries, in addition to a supply column and personnel. The exploits of a Cossack detachment which for two weeks worked havoc in the enemy rear are described in the Moscow newspaper. The Cossacks blew up dumps of arms, ammunition, provisions, and fuel, mined roads, and cut communications. Armed guerrilla detachments killed a considerable number of German officers and men.

More than 400 Red soldiers who had been left in the enemy rear joined the Cossacks, while the local population aided the raiders, informing them of the location of the Germans, giving them food, guiding them through the woods,, and enabling them to elude punitive German forces. After 14 days the deti&hment returned, after routing a German battalion which attempted to block its way.