Stalin Reveals Nazis' Colossal Losses

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1943, Page 4

Stalin Reveals Nazis' Colossal Losses

LONDON, July 25. Final reckonings of the results oi the German offensive in the Orel-Kursk-Byelgorod sector between July 5 and 23 has been issued by Marshal Stalin as an order of the day. The Germans lost all the ground they gained, together with 70,000 killed. Two thousand nine hundred German tanks, 195 self-propelled guns and 844 guns were destroyed or damaged, and 1392 aircraft and over 9000 lorries destroyed. Russians Continue Offensive A regular Russian communique says: Today the Russians continued the offensive in the Orel direction, and, overcoming enemy resistance, advanced three to five miles and occupied a number of localities, including the district centre and railway station of Zmievka. In the Byelgorod direction, Soviet troops completely restored the situation to what it was on July 5. In the area of Isyum, and south-west of Voroshilovgrad, the Russians continued fighting ol' local importance.

South-west of Krasnodar the Russians made local attacks to improve their positions. Yesterday, on all fronts, 43 enemy tanks were destroyed or damaged, and 94 planes were shot down.

The Red Army, closing in on Orel from several sides, is meeting very bitter resistance, including numerous counter-attacks, according to Moscow despatches. Slow Progress Inevitable It is pointed out in London that progress must necessarily be relatively slow when deep defensive positions arc being attacked. Progress, however, is continuous, the main advance being south-west from Boikov towards the Orel-Briansk railway. The enemy’s concern for Orel can be gauged from Moscow reports that the Luftwaffe is being reinforced by aircraft of all types recently brought up from the rear. Enormous enemy losses in the first days of the Soviet offensive forced a slackening of the air struggle, but the latest battle involved 250 enemy planes, of which 52 were brought down in a losing battle..