Great Nazi Fortress

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1944, Page 5

Great Nazi Fortress

SMASHING. RED SUCCESS

LONDON, January 20. Marshal Stalin, in another special Order of the Day, announces the capture of Novgorod, a pivot of the German defence lines north of Lake Ilmen. The city was stormed today after the Eussians liad developed a skilful outflanking manoeuvre that gave the garrison no chance. Earlier Berlin announcements admitted the loss of Novgorod and said that the Russians had been concentrating for a breakthrough, while massed Soviet artillery dominated the field. Before the Russians launched their new offensive on the Volkhov front at the end of last week, the crack German troops in Novgorod seemed to have everything in their favour—a broad river in front, the great lake a couple of miles to the south, first-class rail and road communications to the rear, and their concrete defences strengthened over more than two years' occupation. The Russian solution of this tough military problem was artillery. They opened up on the defences nox'th of Novgorod with a barrage that went on, non-stop, for two hours. Then Russian infantry followed under a creeping barrage that left the enemy lines a mass of twisted ruins. •

The Russians surged down from the heights above Lake Ilmen, and the swiftness of the attack caught the Germans unprepared. In the succeeding days the River Volkhov was forced, and the Russians, battling through the powerful defence zone, took most of the roads and railways running from the city, all but isolating it from the west. By similar methods, the Russians tore at the two great gaps in the single powerful defence lines south and west of Leningrad. .'The Soviet artillery dominated the assault. Guns tore the German trenches and firing points to ribbons, and under this concentrated hail of steel the Germans had. no alternative •but to retreat. After the first shocl? of the attaqk, they began to counterattack, but they have been unable to halt the double offensive, and they are up against Russian troops inspired by their mission to liberate Leningrad, so jLpng the symbol and inspiration of Russian resistance. The sounds of war are now receding from the city. Most of the heavy artillery which subjected Leningrad to its long ordeal has been captured. Moscow dispatches say that the Russian armies on the Leningrad sector are rapidly converging, and the German bridgehead on the Gulf of Finland has, been cut off. ■ . ~ The last Moscow communicjue says that the Volkhov offensive is .developing rapidly. 'Points J3 -mSiIS .nqr.thr.wpSt and six miles west: o| "the1 city; have been captured..." '..'.- - ' It is announced .%at 15,000-Germans have been killed, so. far jn the Volkhov Sector,; and ,3000" taken prisoner. "Further north, the' Russian armies are 'advancing through the great gap they have torn at Two points in the defence? west and south of Leningrad, and have now" ■Joined forces. The places captured today include a railway 3 unction 12 miles south-west of Leningrad. Groups of Germans have been cut off by the offensive, and the number of the enemy killed on the Leningrad sector has increased to 25,000 in less than a week.