FORCES MASSED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24631, 9 July 1943, Page 3

FORCES MASSED

GREAT NAZI STRENGTH ADDITIONAL AIR GROUPS OTHER FRONTS ROBBED (Reed:. 7.15 tin.) I/ONI)JN July 8 The Germans now have concentrated on the Russian front the biggest army they have ever assembled, says the Moscow radio. It numbers 211 divisions, compared with 170 divisions at the outbreak of the war and 85 divisions in the last war. The German forces taking part in the present offensive, says a special announcement by the Soviet Information Bureau, consist of 15 panzer, one motorised and 14 infantry divisions. In addition, numerous Luftwaffe formations, not only from other sectors, but also from Western Europe, have been thrown in. They include two special bomber groups and one fighter group transferred from Western Europe to the eastern front between June 9 and 2!). Another force arrived on July o from Yugoslavia. "The German High Command has concentrated its main forces on narrow sectors of the front," says the announcement. "The aim is quickly tu crush the Soviet defences and encircle and anui-

hilate the Russians forces in the Kursk salient. The blow, which has not caught our troops by surprise, is being delivered in two directions, namely, from the area south of Orel toward Kursk and from the Bielgorod area northward. also in the direction of Kursk. "In both sectors fierce fighting is going on, with our troops firmly holding their positions. Only in some sectors in the Bielgorod area has the enemy, at enormous cost, succeeded in slightlv penetrating our defences. "Having got their dues the Germans are now shouting that it is not they who are attacking, but the Soviet troops. "It would be wrong to under-estimate the strength of the German troops engaged in this major offensive, because it is very great. It would also be premature to draw final conclusions as to the outcome of the fighting, but one thing is clear beyond doubt, namely, that the decisive offensive which the Germans launched on July 5 has not met with success in the first three days."