NAZI COUNTER BLOW FIGHTING IN KIEV SALIENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 November 1943, Page 5

NAZI COUNTER BLOW FIGHTING IN KIEV SALIENT

Tense Moment for Russian Forces (Rec. I 2.5 p.m.) London, Nov. 24 4 General Vatoutin s armies on the southern flank of the Kiev salient are facing the most tense moment since the Germans large-scale counter-blow from Jitomir began eleven days ago. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the fiercest fighting of the German counter-attack was raging to-day 40 to 45 miles west. Massed German tanks, infantry and planes at this point are striking up the Zdivzh river valley, thereby trying to drive a wedge through towards the Jitomir-Kiev highway which crosses the river 30 miles west of Kiev. Fresh German reserves arrived to strengthen the enemy’s attack. Bitter hand-to-hand combats are swaying as the enemy s efforts increase.

Moscow military observers point out that although the Russians three times | were forced to withdraw to new positions the enemy so far has failed to penetrate the Russian line or encircle any part of the Red Army forces. Moscow radio stated that fighting in the area Brusilov-Chernyakhov is extraordinarily fierce, but the Germans nowhere were able to drive a wedge into the Russian lines. The Russians, however, abandoned several inhabited localities under pressure from numerical superiority. Berlin radio claimed that the Germans re-captured Chernyakhov and Brusilov. The German news agency’s military commentator von Hammer claims that Germans in the area Jitomir-Kiev highway have cut off Russian forces which are doomed to destruction. He added that the Russians launched relief attacks north and north-east of Jitomir. To-night’s Soviet communique states: “Russians in the Dnieper bend southwest of Dnepropetrovsk continued to wage battles of local importance and occupied several strong points. Russians south of Kremenchug after stubborn fighting occupied a number of strong points. In the ChernyakhovBrusilov area Russians repelled enemy attacks launched by large forces of infantry and tanks. The Germans suffered heavy losses. Russians under heavy pressure were forced to withdraw from a few localities. In the lower Pripet area Russians occupied the district centre of Bragin. The Russians improved their positions north of Gomel. NIKOPOL SECTOR Vichy radio quoting Berlin says the Russians at the cost of heavy losses have broken through the German defensive system in the Nikopol sector in the Dnieper bend. The Russians are also attacking on a broad front northeast of Krivoi Rog. “PARTIAL SUCCESSES” The Russian military commentator, Colonel Akomov, described the German gains against the Red Army’s southern flank as “partial successes.” He added that the Germans not so much aimed at capturing Jitomir as striking a blow northwards to cut the communications of the Red Army forces operating in the southern section of the Pripet Marshes, which they failed to do. Some Red Army forces fighting in the Gomel sector are within the desolate Pripet Marshes say Moscow dispatches. Guerrilla guides are showing Red Army troops trails through the wilderness of marshes and the welter of confusing tracks.

Moscow “Izvestia” declared that the Russians are rolling back German tank units west of Ryechitsa. the Germans covering their retreat by a powerful screen of fire. •

According to Vichy radio, Russianarmoured units succeeded in breaking through in front of Krivoi Rog but were forced to withdraw after fierce fighting. They are still exerting heavy pressure.

Russian pressure also increased against Nikopol bridgehead and the Russians on the Dnieper redoubled their efforts on the bridgeheads south of Pereyslavl and north-west of Cherkassy, added Vichy radio.