SOVIET THREAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21634, 10 February 1945, Page 3

SOVIET THREAT

NEW BALTIC TRAP PUSH ON~ STETTIN CROSSINgToF ODER GREAT FLANKING MOVES (10 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 9. Marshal Zhukov’s flying columns, which are advancing towards Stettin to-day were only 19 miles south of the great Baltic port and were closing in rapidly. Reuter's correspondent in Moscow says that Marshal Zhukov has thus brought the imminent threat of another Baltic trap to the German forces embattled in Pomerania and the Polish Corridor. One Russian spearhead, which is reaching out towards Stargard, was 15 miles south of the town last evening and it is believed has since made further substantial gains, bringing the DanzigStettin railway within easy range of Russian guns. As Marshal Zhukov swings in on the northern flank of the Red Army’s line inside Germany, Marshal Koniev’s forces on the southern flank gained fresh ground all around the perimeter of their 50-mile bridgehead beyond the Oder River. These two great flanking movements are seen as preparing the way for the main central push against Berlin. Soviet artillery has been hammering the Oder line due east of Berlin without intermission for more than three days. Several Bridgeheads Forced The German News Agency says that the Russians are attacking beween Frankfurt and Oderbruch with several armies on a broad front. They have now forced a number of bridgeheads across the Oder on both sides of Fursfenberg. The Russian forces which attempted to capture Furstenberg were halted at the town boundaries.

A supplementary communique issued by the Soviet High Command —says that 4000 Germans were killed on Friday in the fighting south-east of Stargard. Eighty-four German tanks and self-propelled guns were knocked out. The Soviet captures included Reetz, an important road junction, seven miles north-east of Arnswalde, and also Loerzendorf. four and a half miles from Sehhlen. The German News Agency's commentator, Major von Hammer, said that the fighting in the Breslau-Glogal-Liengnitz triangle has developed into a gigantic battle. The Russians went over to the offensive from the Oder bridgehead at; Steinau with powerful motorised formations and captured Parchwitz and also penetrated into Lubsil. Tiie German radio says that the Russians recaptured Marienburg but the Germans later recaptured a number of streets. The Russians extended their atackg against the main German line along the Nogat River, northeast of Marienburg. The Russians penetrated into the centre of Elbing fighting.