BATTLE FOR ODER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21633, 9 February 1945, Page 3

BATTLE FOR ODER

BERLIN GATEWAY MOSCOW AWAITS NEWS KONIEV’S STRATEGIC ROLE LONDON, Feb. 7. Muscovites are eagerly awaiting an announcement of the progress on the Frankfurt-Kustrin sector immediately facing Berlin, reports Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow. Official confirmation of German reports that Marshal Zhukov’s men are across the Oder River opposite Berlin is not likely to be given until major bridgeheads have been established. The Soviet Army paper Red Star to-day nevertheless makes the significant comment that the struggle continues on what the Germans calls the “fortified forefield of Berlin.”

The Moscow radio says that planes and warships of the Russian Baltic Fleet operating in the Danzig Bay area sank three German transports, one tanker, and damaged an enemy destroyer.

Competent observers in Moscow recall that it was Marshal Koniev’s push from Sandcmierz which was the signal for the main death-blow against Warsaw, says Reuter’s correspondent. He may now in a new offensive be performing a similar function against Berlin. There will doubtless, after the Oder, be the Niesse line, and after the Neisse comes the Elbe, but it is doubtful whether the Germans will ever be able to oppose the Red Army’s flood from the East with anything as strong as the gun-studded western bank of the Oder now reached by Marshal Koniev.

The German News Agency commentator, Major von Hammer, stated to-night that the Russians from Bneg tried to reach the town of Neisse, which is 30 miles south-south-east of Brieg. “The thrusts were stopped before reaching Neisse,” he said. Major von Hammer added that Marshal Koniev’s troops north-west of Breslau reached Luben, 10 miles north of Liegnitz and Raudten, just under 10 miles north-north-east of Luben.

Many Prisoners Captured

The Soviet High Command communique says: “South of Konigsberg, Soviet troops occupied 30 inhabited localities, and during the past two days took 2260 prisoners in the Konigsberg area. North and south of Karin, the Russians fought battles for clearing the eastern bank of the Oder. They occupied a number of places, including Kunersdorf, three miles east of Frankfurt and 44 miles east of Berlin’s outskirts.” Kunersdorf was the scene of the Russians’ victory over Frederick the Great before their occupation of Berlin.

The communique proceeds: “During the fighting on the night of February 5 in the area north and south of Kustrin, the Russians took more than 4000 prisoners and captured 69 planes on Germain airfields. "South-east of Breslau, the Russians continued fighting to extend their bridgehead on the west bank of the Oder. They occupied more than 50 places, including several large ones. Troops in this area on February 5 took over 4200 prisoners and captured 28 planes. “The Russians in Budapest, continued to fight for the liquidation of the garrison and occupied 10 blocks of houses, and in the fighting in Buda on February 5 took 5600 prisoners.”