NAZIS IN RUSSIA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21142, 9 July 1943, Page 3

NAZIS IN RUSSIA

THREE-DAY TOLL CONCENTRATED FORCE

SCANT PROGRESS MADE (By Telegrajrfi—Press Assn.—Copyright.) ({i a.m.) LONDON, July 8. The German losses in their present offensive are the greatest ever recorded in such a short space of time even in this war, states a special announcement from the Soviet Information Bureau broadcast by the Moscow radio. In three days, 30,000 German troops were killed, 1539 tanks destroyed or damaged, and 649 aircraft shot down.

The German forces participating in the offensive consist of 15 Panzer, one motorised, and 14 infantry divisions, and numerous Luftwaffe formations, not only from other sectors, but also from western Europe, were thrown in, including two special bomber and one fighter forces transferred from western Europe to the eastern front between June 9 and 29. Another force arrived ort Monday from Yugoslavia.

The German High Command concentrated its main forces on narrow sectors of the front, the aim being to crush quickly the Soviet defences and encircle and annihilate the Russian forces in the Kursk salient, the blow, which did not catch the Russian troops by surprise, being delivered in two directions, namely, from the area south of Orel towards Kursk and from the Byelgorod area northward, and also in the direction of Kursk. Great German Strength

In both sectors, fierce fighting is going on with the Russians firmly holding their positions. Only on some sectors of the Byelgorod area the enemy, at enormous cost, succeeded in slightly penetrating the Soviet defences. Having got their dues, the Germans are now shouting that it is not they who attacked but the Soviet troops. The announcement concludes that it would be wrong to under-estimate the strength of the German troops engaged in this major offensive, because it is very great. It is also premature to draw final conclusions as to the outcome of the fighting, but one thing is clear beyond doubt, namely, that the decisive offensive the Germans launched on Monday did not meet with success in the first three days. Desperate lighting is going on inside the Russian lines at points where German tanks made local penetrations, reports Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow. There is no sign of the enemy pressure weakening. The Germans are bringing reinforcements by gliders right up to the front line. They are doing so to make up for transport losses. The Paris radio says that fighting has increased in intensity with the tank struggle still swaying to and fro. The Russians and Germans have crack troops massed behind the lines for use at the opportune moment. Hitler’s Heavy Task

The Berlin correspondent of the Zurich Neuezercher- Zeitung says that the German propaganda line has suddenly changed. They are now admitting a German offensive. The changed attitude probably is due to some successes, but Berlin military quarters refrain from over-optimism. By starting an offensive at this comparatively late period, Herr Hitler has embarked on a heavy task and may be expected to stop at nothing, says the Moscow radio. Herr Hitler would probably have preferred to sit back and wait for his adversary to make the first move, but he could not afford to let a whole summer pass with the German Army inactive. Hitler again applied his typical adventurous tactics by throwing everything against Russia, leaving only skeleton armies to face a possible Allied invasion. German propagandists’thought that by saying that Hitler would not start an offensive against Russia they would make the British and Americans believe that Germany was able to move troops from the east to thq west. An official announcement on the Moscow radio states that on Tuesday night large forces of Soviet longrange aircraft dealt blows at enemy troops and materials in the Orel, Kursk, and Byelgorod directions. The planes bombed infantry columns and concentrations of tanks and lorries as well as the enemy rear. As a result of the bombing, heavy losses were inflicted. One Soviet plane is missing. Russian Stubbornness

A supplementary communique states that' in the Orel-Kursk direction Soviet troops fought stubbornly with advancing enemy troops the -whole of Wednesday. Eighty to 100 German tanks incessantly attacked one Red Arrny unit. The tanks were followed by large motorised infantry forces. The. Soviet troops repulsed all the attacks and are firmly holding the positions. On some sectors of this ftoht several enemy tank groups consisting of from 15 to 30 tanks broke through into the depths of the Soviet defences. By the evening : hll the enemy tanks which had broken through had been annihilated. Amongst those destroyed or disabled were 40 Tiger tanks. The Soviet Air Force, in fierce, aerial engagements, inflicted severe losses on the Luftwaffe.

.In the Byelgorod direction yesterday morning the Germans, after hours of artillery preparation, renewed the offensive. In several localities valuable positions and heights changed hands several times. During the whole of the day the enemy constantly brought up reinforcements which were thrown into the battle at once. During the evening in one sector of this front, the enemy succeeded in advancing to an insignificant degree and occupied several villages. Soviet troops launched a counter-attack and are fighting for the restoration of the situation.

The supplement also reports local activities on the Kalinin front and west of Rostov.

A Moscow message says that the enemy losses now include a total of 1791 timks and 669 planes.