Large-scale German Withdrawals Forecast

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 223, 20 September 1943, Page 5

Large-scale German Withdrawals Forecast

May Dig in Behind “Eastern Seigfried Line” Rushing Troops to Italy and Balkans United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Sunday, 8.30 p.m. LONDON, September 19. Extensive German withdrawals along the whole Russian front owing to the need to economise men and material to meet Allied threats elsewhere are forecast in messages from neutral correspondents in Berlin. These forecasts are coupled with reports of large-scale German troop movements to the Southern Balkans and Italy. The Sunday Times’ Stockholm correspondent says Swedish correspondents in Berlin believe that no desperate attempt will be made to retain the remainder of the Ukraine. Among the reasons given for the Germans’ inability to check the Russian progress is the absence of certain crack divisions from the Russian front which are apparently being reserved for meeting Allied landings elsewhere. Twenty thousand German troops are also reported to have been withdrawn from Norway. The Associated Press’s Madrid correspondent says the Berlin correspondent of Ariba states that reports are circulating widely in Berlin to the effect that the Germans may retire from Russia to a powerfully fortified “Eastern Siegfried Line” along the Polish frontier. All reports from the Balkan capitals indicate heavy German troop movements from the north to the south, says Reuter’s Ankara correspondent. Troops and equipment are moving to Salonika and Southern Greece by three main routes. The Germans are also continuing to pour troops at increased speed into Italy. Ten more German divisions recently moved into Italy, where the total German strength is estimated at 35 divisions. These divisions for Italy and for the Balkans are being drawn from France and from the esssntial reserve in Germany, also to a lesser extent from Russia.