SOVIET FORCES SWEEPING ON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 27 November 1942, Page 2

SOVIET FORCES SWEEPING ON

HEAVY FIGHTING IN DON ELBOW (Rec. noon). London, Nov. 26. The Moscow correspondent of the National Broadcasting Corporation says that three northern armies are sweeping south over from 40 to 80 miles behind the German battlefront at Stalingrad. The first army is driving through Sunovkhino 80 miles west of Stalingrad, the second is advancing south-east from Kletskaya, and the third is racing along the west bank of the Don and reached a poin* within 2 5 miles of Kalach.

This correspondent also reports that the Red Army’s offensive smashed an entire German Army Corps which for two months has been digging in southward of Stalingrad. Only one of the five divisions remained comparatively intact and it retreated at such speed that the Red Army has not yet caught it up. Russian tanks swept in and capture*. the Army Corps headquarters. The commander only just escaped, leaving the divisional commanders clamouring for instructions. One division deserted its commander, and the Russians quickly routed it. Another division melted like snow undei’ the Russian attacks. Two other divisions joined up and fought back but were badly battered.

“Red Star” says in heavy fighting sonuth-west of the Don elbow an entire German mechanised l’egiment supported by 37 tanks was wiped out with all the tanks. Heavy fighting is progressing here. Russians on another sector hei*eabouts surrounded and annihilated a German mechanised infantry battalion in a 40-minute battle. The Germans, using a whole tank division, made several fierce but fruitless coun-ter-attacks and sustained a heavy defeat. The battlefield was littered with Axis dead and equipment. THE CENTRAL FRONT A German military spokesman revealed that the Russians in the central front offensive penetrated to Byeloi. 60 miles south-west of Rjev. The spokesman said Russian attacks had been in progress on both sides of Toropets on a wide front since yesterday, morning. The attacks broke down "along the w’hole line. Losses were particularly high in the neighbourhood of Byeloi. A Moscow message says the Russians in one sector north-west of Stalingrad captui’ed 157 Gorman tanks which had been dug in as pill boxes, also dozens of field guns and much ammunition. The Germans tried to halt the Russian advance across the Chin river by blowing up the ice for several miles. The Russians crossed elsewhere and cleared the enemy from the opposite bank. Intensified guerrilla activity behind the German lines was timed to coincide with the Russian offensives. Reports already received show that 170 trains were derailed between 13th November and 21st November.—P.A.

Entire German Army Corps Smashed