CAPTURE OF KIROVOGRAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 10 January 1944, Page 5

CAPTURE OF KIROVOGRAD

SKILFUL ENCIRCLEMENT Russian Break-through Widened GERMAN FRONT COLLAPSING Rugby, Jan. 8. The Russian forces have taken Kirovograd. An order of the day issued by Marshal Stalin addressed to General Koniev states: “Troops of the second Ukrainian front having broken through strong German defence to-day as a result of a skilful by-pass manoeuvre occupied the town of Kirovograd, an important stronghold of the German defence. “In four days of stubborn fighting, Soviet troops have increased the width of their break-through to 75 miles and advanced from 19 to 31 miles. In the course of the offensive, Soviet troops routed three enemy tank, one motorised and four infantry divisions.” “The encirclement of Kirovograd was the result of a lightning switch-over from the defensive to offensive by General Koniev, states a Moscow message. UNPRECEDENTED CATASTROPHE FACED The German front from the upper Bug River to the eastern Dnieper bend is collapsing like a house of cards. Moscow correspondents say that thousands of German troops face catastrophe on an unprecedented scale. The escape gap still remaining to the Germans at Krivoi Rog and Nikopol is narrowing every hour.