BATTLE OF VORONEJ

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1942, Page 5

BATTLE OF VORONEJ

Germans Repelled

FROM EAST BANK OF THE DON.

LONDON, July 21.

The Soviet midday communique On Monday said: “Russian troops on I Monday night fought the enemy in i the Voronej area. Soviet troops continued to deal the enemy heavy [blows, inflicting heavy losses, destroy'ing several crossings over the wn. J All attempts to retake lost positions [ were repelled, the enemy losing at least seven hundred killed in these engagements. All enemy attempts to hold favourable positions of the eastern bank of the Don failed. A tank battle of very great intensity occurred between the two rivers, ' where our regiment drove a wedge in the enemy positions. A fierce engagement took place in the rear, which grew in .intensity on Monday. In one sector south of Voronej a Soviet unit during the night crossed the river by swimming. The opera- . ticn was successfully carried out. As a result, the Germans, fearing they [would be cut off from the main forces

fled from the western bank. . | The Moscow radio quotes the Moscow “Pravda” as saying: “In the attempt to restore 'the positions to the north-west and south of Voronej the Germans are making desperate futile I counter-attacks at enormous cost in men and material. The Red Army north-west of Voronej has already widened the breach, endangered (further enemy strategic positions and, 'severed onerational freedom. dhe Russian advance was so swift that the Germans had no time to dig in, and were unable to withstand Rus-i 'sian bayonet charges. The Germans are now believed to be concentrating the main tank panzer formations south of Voronej.” i It is reported that near Voronej Soviet forces cut a main strategic highway and thrust in behind the Germans. All efforts to regain a foothold, which the Russians wrenched from the German forces on the left bank of the Don were broken down. The Russians crossed to the right bank . x . Russian, and also many neutral, reports emphasise that huge losses have been inflicted on the Germans in the Voronej sector. One estimate placed the German losses between three and four thousand daily. The German radio on Tuesday admitted that the Germans were com-i pelled a few days ago to retreat from several forward positions in the Voronej sector, but claimed a counterattack largely restored the position. The radio said that hundreds of Russian tanks were employed in this area, and both sides were flinging in

tremendous air armadas. A Russian author, Ilya Ehrenburg, said: From Murmansk to Voronej the Germans were on the defensive. The Voronej situation was improving da i!ondon press correspondents state that the entire German drive towards the Caucasus has been thrown out of gear by the failure to capture Voronej. The Russian Air Force as having the best of the Don air battles, battering aerodromes and bombing transport planes on the ground, destroying in one raid 28 Junkers troopcarriers. Russian planes made a mass raid on the railway • junction near Bryansk, and destroyed seven engines anil 500 cars and caused about IUUU casualties. . According to a Moscow report, the Red Air Force between July 12 ana 18, smashed 470 tanks, 20 infantry battalions, one cavalry squadron, and ( 1410 troop supply lorries. In tne same period 211 German planes were destroyed.

RUSSIAN POSITION IMPROVED AT VORONEJ' (Rec. 10.30) LONDON, July 22. “The Times” Moscow correspondent says: The Russians are steadily improving positions in southern ana northern sectors of Voronej, while they also are slowing overcoming the resistance from groups of Germans who are remaining within the citys perimeter. Russian forces, after the capture of IJon River crossings from the enemy, are now operating in considerable strength on the west bank of the river. DEFENCE OF MOSCOW ACTIVITY INCREASES (Rec. 10.30) LONDON, July 22. “The iTimei” Moscow correspondent says: “What appears to be the preliminary activity to major operations on General Zhukov’s front, which is defending Moscow, has been growing in intensity since the week-end. Particularly have there been German bombings of the railway centres immediately behind the Russians’ positions. Heavy artillery activity, on both sides, is also increasing. OTHER FRONTS. LONDON, July 21. A recent heavy Russian raid in the rear of the Germans on the Bryansk front damaged the railway in 47 plates, and suspended traffic for two days. It is reported from Helsinki that Russian bombers again raided Kotka, which iis now one of Finland’s most important ports, and principally used for disembarkation of Germans. It is one of the most heavilv bombed towns in Finland.

The Moscow radio reports that guerrillas assassinated Baron von Bulderling, who recently arrived in the German-occupied Luzharsky district in the Leningrad area. He claimed the ownership of a State farm.

AIR ACTIVITY. LONDON, July 19A British communique at Cairo on Sunday stated air operations were restricted but on two occasions fighterbombers attacked the enemv and dispersed vehicles. During the night, our heavy bombers attacked Tobruk Air activity over Malta was on a re duced scale. From these operations three Allied aircraft are missing, but one pilot is safe. Dust storms greatly reduced air activity over the Western Desert on Saturday. In a few engagements between fighters, a number of ME 109’s and Machis were damaged. Tobruk was raided in force bv bombers on Friday. So many conflagrations were started that the waterfront appeared as a chain of fire, full of explosions. One ship was hit. Mersa Matruh was raided, bombs falling dose to * one vessel, and a large fire and several explosions started. On Saturday night heavy bombers again raided Tobruk, starting large fires. During a small raid on Friday night over Malta, one enemv dive-bomber was shot down, and during raids yesterday, several enemv planes were damageu, or proh-