Vitebsk’s Fall Throws Wide Open Road To Baltic States

Northern Advocate, 26 February 1944, Page 3

Vitebsk’s Fall Throws Wide Open Road To Baltic States

(Received 1 p.m.)

LONDON, February 25

THE FALL OF VITEBSK, FOLLOWING THE FALL OF DNO 1 AND ROGACHEV, MEANS THAT THE GERMANS HAVE DEFINITELY ABANDONED ANY HOPE OF TRYING TO HOLD THE BALTIC STATES, SAYS THE MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT OF THE BRITISH UNITED PRESS. Vitebsk was one of the most important German centres of the central Russian front. The Germans themselves said it was the hinge of their whole position in this area. General Rokossovsky’s troops have captured the entire German line on the west bank of the Dnieper between Rogachev and Jlobin. Taking advantage of the first hardening ice on the Dnieper, General Rokossovsky sent his men across the river in a lightning drive to make Rogachev. The Russians clambered up the'steep west bank of the Dnieper while Russian planes and guns pinned down a big German .force inside the town. The Russians then outflanked the garrison and swamped Rogachev. Red Army ski detachments and mobile units which forced the German retreat from Leningrad, are now hamstringing the enemy columns as they fall back towards Bobruisk. Moscow radio says that contrary to usual practice, the Germans did not destroy Rogachev. Von Hammer, the radio commentator, yesterday said Rogachev was completely destroyed.

The British United Press continues that Dno is still aflame. A thousand German corpses lie in the ruined houses as a result of hand-to-hand encounters. German corpses litter the snowcovered streets.

Sensational Events Soon

Announcing the fall of Vitebsk, the German-controlled Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau said the road to Polotsk is now open. Sensational events are expected in the Baltic States if the Russians cannot be halted along the Fskov-Polotsk line.

Berfws radio’s commentator (Sertorius) admitted that the German front on the approaches to the Bug River line had been further straightened.

Tonight’s Soviet, communique says that the Russians south-west and south of Strugi, developed an offensive and captured several places, including the rail station of Lapina. Also west and south of Dno they captured 40 places, including Dyedovichi, 20 miles south of Dno. The Red Army west and south-west of Kholm and north of Rogachev, occupied a number of inhabited places.

To Outflank Fortress

General Rokossovsky’s troops, fanning out west and north-west beyond Rogachev, are attempting to reach Bobruisk and also outflank the enemy's White Russian fortress of Mohilev, between Rogachev and Vitebsk, reports Reuter’s Moscow correspondent.

The Russians, pushing north-west of Rogachev, apparently aim to pass south-west of Bikhov, a small town on the right bank of the Dnieper. The Germans have transformed Bikhov into one of the strongest defence positions guarding the southern approaches to Mohilev. General Rokossovsky has also launched a drive on Bobruisk and now is under 28 miles from the town on the shortest road to East Prussia. The Russians in this area have split the Germans’ line and are advancing rapidly westward on a 30-mile front. The German overseas news service has announced that the Germans have evacuated Vitebsk after destroying all military installations. Heavy Nazi Losses Moscow radio reports that on Leningrad front Russian troops are inflicting heavy losses on the retreating Germans. Cne German unit retreated to the strongly fortified village of Koshkino, but Soviet ski troops, armed with tommy-guns, attacked and, after strenuous resistance, the Germans were routed, the engagement lasting 40 minutes.