HISTORY MADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24826, 24 February 1944, Page 5

HISTORY MADE

RED ARMY VICTORIES anniversary order SWEEPING INYADEBS OUT fltecd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 22 •''The people of Russia are ushering in the 26th anniversary of the Bed Army midst historic victories which the Red Army has won over the Germans," says Marshal Stalin, in an Order of the Day addressed to the Red Army, the Red Navy, and also to guerillas. He adds :

'The Red Army for more than a year has been conducting a victorious offensive, baitering the armies of the Hitlerite invaders, and sweeping them from Soviet soil. During this period, the Red Army has successfully completed the 1943 winter campaign, won the 1943 summer campaign, and developed the victorious 1943-44 offensive. During these campaigns, unequalled in the history of the war, the Red Army at some points has advanced OTer 1000 miles, and cleared the enemy from nearly three-quarters of the Russian territory previously occupied."

Germany Heading for Abyss The Order goes on to detail a series ot Red Army victories in the 1943-44 winter campaign, culminating in the capture of Krivoi Rog. The Red Army has reconquered over 13,000 inhabited localities, including S2 towns and 320 rail stations, and liberated millions of Russians from Fascist slavery. "It must now be clear to everyone that Hitlerite Germany is moving relentlessly toward catastrophe," Marshal Stalin says. "The conditions under which this ■war is being waged are more favourable to Germany than the last war, when she warred on two fronts. Germany is greatly handicapped, on the other hand, by the fact that Russia in this war is much stronger than Tsarist Russia. History says that Germany has won wars when she fought on one front and that she has lost wars when forced to fight on two fronts. Germany at present is fighting with her main forces on one front against Russia. She. nevertheless, is not only unable to win a victory, out is placed "on the verge of catastrophe.

Unity of the Allies "If Russia, fighting single-handed, is able to withstand the German onslaught. the plight of Germany will be still more hopeless when the main forces of our Allies enter the fray and the powerful, ever-increasing offensive of the armies of all the United Nations is launched against Germany. The werman brigands are tossing about in search of ways of salvation from disaster. Although their manpower reserves are exhausted, they are again resorting to total mobilisation of everything. "The Fascist rulers are _ making desperate attempts to sow discord _ in the camp of the anti-Hitler campaign and thus protract the war. Hitler s diplomats hurry from_ one neutral country to another trying to establish contacts with pro-Hitler elements, hinting at the possibility of a separate peace *iih us or with our Allies. A 1 these manoeuvres are bound_ to tail, the foaamental common interest of _ the anti-Hitlerite coalition results in a .strengthening of the fighting alliance between Russia, Britain and America. Salute to Red Army

"The hour of the final accounting for atrocities committed against Russia w struck. Russia in future will increase the productive forces to speed ity a smashing blow against Germanv. The Red Army will be further strengthened by the creation of new formations. The Hitlerites at present are resisting *ith the ferocity --of the_ doomed, but the enemy will not jump into the abyss pn his own. It is our task to drive him ttto the abyss. , "To mark the victory achieved by the armed forces of Russia in the last ?ear, Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Gomel and Rostov will to-morrow night salute the valiant Red •Army with 20 artillery salvoes." . The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet has awarded Marshals Rudennv, \ oroshilov, Shaposhnikov and Rotmistro*, s®fl Colonel-General Scherbakov the Order of Suvarov, first-class. Mr. Churchill has sent a message to ■Marshal Stalin. "1 send to you and all tanks this expression of my profound admiration of your glorious record, his message said. "Inspired and guided "J your leadership and by their love the soil of Russia they will go forward to victory." ' . Field-Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, Cnier of the Imperial Genera! Staff, has sent birthday greetings to the Red Army.

' WORKERS OF FINLAND 'AGAINST WAR CONTINUATION LONDON, Feb. -2'2 | The president of the Finnish Trade unions, 51, Vuori, has arrived in Stock- [ holm and made contact with Swedish Politicians and trade union officials, rePorts Reuter's correspondent in Stockholm. M. Vuori last visited Stockholm in j'S'Jst, 1943, when he made no secret I , his opinion that Finland should get t of the. war and that the majority [ "Finnish workers shared that opinion. | GERMAN COMMENTATOR LONDON. Feb. 22 | .« new German overseas news agency ' S : "rtary commentator appeared to-day. . 5s Walter Plato, who has apparsucceeded Captain Sertorius. has not broadcast since the last Ja! Air Force raid on Berlin.