Furious German Attacks at Kharkov

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 61, 13 March 1943, Page 5

Furious German Attacks at Kharkov

LONDON, March 11. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says that, having failed to encircle the Russian force, the Germans are now regrouping south-west, of Kharkov and are attacking the Russian positions with unabated violence. They are probing for weak spots for a drive to Kharkov. Furious fighting is raging everywhere. Red Star says the Germans are trying to penetrate into Kharkov by powerful thrusts with panzers. The Russians have thrown back all attacks and inflicted huge losses. To-day’s German communique states: “Our assault division in the Kharkov area drove the enemy back toward the town proper. Fighting is going on in the northern and western borders of the town.” Berlin radio to-night claimed that Russian resistance on important roads and railways in the outer Kharkov area had been overcome. The commentator, Captain Sertorious, said the city w r as closely enveloped from the south and west, while strong forces were thrusting from the north. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times, however, reports that the Russians repelled all German efforts to get closer to the city. The Germans nowhere managed to establish a foothold on the left bank of the Donetz. The Russians south and south-west of

I Kharkov are facing the greater part of a powerful German army group, including a newly-formed S.S. corps of 1000 ’.tanks, which earlier failed to cross the | Donetz, then switched to Kharkov. The Germans before Kharkov are losing 30 to 40 tanks a day. They are repeating the tactics before Stalingrad —namely, rotation assaults, which is a costly process for them but equally imposes a continual maximum burden on the defenders. Official reports confirm that the Germans have succeeded in massing considerable infantry and tanks. The Germans are throwing in one panzer spearhead after another in an attempt to cross the Donetz river. Russian divebombers and guns no sooner smash one pontoon bridge than the Germans build another. Similarly, when one group of German tanks is turned back by antitank fire, another rolls into the battle. It is thought in Moscow, says Reuter, that Kharkov may become another Stalingrad. It is pointed out that it was south of Stalingrad where the Germans launched a desperate counter-attack to relieve Panlus’s trapped forces. Similarly, the Germans have switched their main fresh forces south of Kharkov. Soviet resistance so far has proved tough, but the situation is tense. Berlin reports state that a new German counter-offensive has begun -west of Kursk. The Germans claim to be progressing rapidly eastward. The latest news from the northwestern front is that Marshal Timoshenko’s forces have captured more towns and villages south of Lake Ilmen and seized large quantities of war material.