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Evening Star, Issue 24918, 16 July 1943, Page 3

TABLES TURNED

Russians Launch Double Offensive German Lines Broken On Wide Front (British Official Wireless.) (Eeo. noon.) KUGBY, July 15. A Soviet communique announces a counter-offensive on the Orel-Kursk front as well as an offensive north and east of Orel. " A few days ago Soviet troops north and east of the city of Orel, after a number of counter-attacks, went over to an offensive which began from two directions—from the area north of Orel in a- southerly direction. North of Orel Soviet east of Orel'in a westerly direction. North of Orel Soviet troops broke through a strongly-fortified enemy defence zone, and broke the enemy's front on a width of 25 miles. "In three days of intense fighting our troops advanced 28 miles and demolished numerous enemy strongholds and key defence points. Our troops in this direction occupied 50 localities. "East of Orel our troops broke a strongly-fortified enemy defence zone 19 miles wide, and, overcoming stubborn resistance, advanced 12 to 15 miles, occupying 60 localities. " In the course of the Soviet offensive, our troops routed • the 56th, 262nd, and 293rd German Infantry Divisions and the sth and 15th German Tank Divisions. Heavy losses were inflicted on the 112th, 208th, and 211th German Infantry Divisions, and the 25th and 36th German Motorised Divisions. In three days over 12,000 enemy troops were killed and over 2,000 taken prisoner. ; " Our troops captured booty including 40 tanks, 210 guns, 187 inortars; and destroyed 109 tanks, 294 planes, 47 guns. The offensive is continuing."