Nazi Attempt To Relieve von Hoth Fails In Its Objective

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1942, Page 5

Nazi Attempt To Relieve von Hoth Fails In Its Objective

(Received 12 Noon) LONDON, December 16

THE ISSUE OF THE VIOLENT BATTLE WHICH HAS 1 DEVELOPED IN THE KOTELNIKOVO REGION, WHERE THE GERMANS ARE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK THROUGH FOR THE RELIEF OF VON HOTH, IS STILL DOUBTFUL. LATEST REPORTS INDICATE THAT IT FAILED TO DEVELOP IN FAVOUR OF THE GERMANS.

On the contrary, the Russians are stated to be in control of the situation, despite the Germans’ successes last weekend. “The Times” Moscow correspondent, describing the threeday struggle, says that after carefully choosing a place for attack and skilfully using forces in rapid successive thrusts, the Germans seemed on the verge of a significant success but the Russians, swiftly recovering, concentrated a sufficiently dense anti-tank gun screen to blunt the enemy thrusts.

Halted 10 Attacks

The Germans launched the original attack with two regiments of 80 tanks which were soon badly mauled. Meanwhile, strong German reserves concentrated on the Russians’ left, forcing the defenders to withdraw to lines, where they halted 10 furious attacks and annihilated German tommy-gun-ners infiltrating at night-time. The Germans on Monday, using a numerically superior tank detachment, again struck in another direction and reached the river line, while artilleiy covered a concentration of big infan - try forces. The Russians, handicapped by incomplete consolidation, rushed up a Guards mortar unit, which immediately engaged the infantry and drove back some tanks. Germans Gripped In Vice A thick mist rolled over the steppes hindering the Russian gunners and allowing the Germans to thrust in tanks and launch a general attack. The fiercest sustained battle resulted, in which the Germans established a wedge. Nevertheless, the Russians, holding the adjacent sectors and strongly attacking the German, flanks, slowly forced them into a trap despite the most pertinacious resistance. On Tuesday night, considerable German forces were gripped as in a vice. The Germans desperately flung in reserves, but the Russians in several ] places are now in a position to hammer from both sides of the narrowsalients into which the Germans are pinched. The Russians elsewhere south-west of Stalingrad have advanced, an in- j dication that German pressure has not | forced them on the defensive everywhere.

Russian Tanks Gross Don

While the Germans are hammering away near Kotelnikovo. the Russians north-west and west -of Stalingrad have launched a large-scale attack designed to squeeze von Hoth’s forces back against Stalingrad. Red tank divisions have crossed the Don from the west and are attacking along a 20-mile front. Heaviest fighting is reported around Kachalinsk.

The Russians south-west of Nalchik, in the Caucasus, have captured an important vantage point after penetrating a mile deep into the German defences.

Flare-up On Murmansk Front?

While the position of the Germans south of Voronej is becoming increasingly precarious, the German High Command is reported to be rushing troops from the north of Norway to the Murmansk front, says Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent. Reports from Berlin hint that this may be the prelude to a German attack but obseivers in Stockholm are convinced that it is due to fear, or, even certainty. of a forthcoming Russian offensive on the Arctic front.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports that che Russians have captured several more German strong-points west of Rjev. Each house and pill-box had to be taken in stubborn, savage fighting before one important point fell into Russian hands.

A front line despatch to “Red Star’’ says that north-west of Stalingrad, the exhausted Germans generally remain inactive behind fortified positions. At some points they are .regrouping, bringing up reserves, and attempting to regain lost positions. German Counter Delayed The Germans seem to have taken about three weeks since the encirclement of their army west of Stalingrad to mount the counter-offensive for its relief which has now developed from the direction of Kotelnikovo. It is presumed that the delay has been due to three causes. (1) Having no tactical reserves immediately available they thus had to bring troops from the Ukraine and Crimea. (2) Bad weather hampered their movements.

(3) The Russian offensive on the central front pinned down reserves west of Moscow.

The Germans report -.that the Russians are now probipg their defences north of Voronej. The Russian offensive along this part of the Don has long been foreseen but was not expected until hard frosts would enable tanks to cross rivers and marshes.

A heavy thaw has just taken place in Moscow area and its effets will probably extend at least as far south as Voronej. Consequently it is unlikely that an offensive will be made at present. Stalingrad ordinarily has a very dry climate and the weather there may now be more favourable for movement.