FALL OF KIROVOGRAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 7, 10 January 1944, Page 5

FALL OF KIROVOGRAD

SWIFT SOVIET MANOEUVRE RUGBY, January 8. The Russian forces have taken Kirovograd. An order of the dayissued by Marshal Stalin addressed to General Koniev states: "Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front having broken through strong German defence today as a result of a skilful bypass manoeuvre, occupied the town of Kirovograd, an important stronghold of the German defence. "In four days of stubborn fighting, Soviet troops have increased the width of their break-through to 75 miles and advanced from 19 to 31 miles. In the course of the offensive, Soviet troops routed three enemy tank divisions, one motorised and four infantry divisions." The encirclement of Kirovograd was the result of a lightning switch-over from the defensive to offensive by •General Koniev, states a Moscow message. A supplementary Russian communique says that in the breakthrough on the Kirovograd sector, the Second Ukrainian Front troops after crossing the Ingul occupied the locality of Gruzmoye and cut the railway line from Kirovograd to Novo . Ukrania. Others occupied the railway station of Lelekovka and to the south of this railway station joined troops advancing from the south-west. Thus, the Russian troops completely encircled Kirovograd as well as the German units defending the town. Enemy formations outside the town have been routed, and abandoned arms and war material. A large number of prisoners has been captured. TACTICS OF KONIEV. Till the beginning of the New Year the Germans had the initiative in the sector, attacking with 100 tanks at a time in an effort to recapture Znamenka. General Koniev let the Germans disperse their exhausted forces, and then hit back, his offensive opening on Wednesday. Sunken roads, woods, and gullies enabled General Koniev to take up his initial positions in secrecy, completely baffling enemy reconnaissance, while groups of tanks and motor-cycles daily ambushed enemy reinforcements in the area. The offensive began with a storm of artillery fire, blasting great gaps in the German defences. Soviet tanks then .rushed through the gaps and crossed the system of roads which connected numerous German strongholds in the area. After this, the Soviet main forces were able to increase their pressure on the German flank and widen the breach. Scores of local German garri-