HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES

Southland Times, Issue 24593, 15 November 1941, Page 7

HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES

Armoured Divisions Suffer

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, November 13. More detailed evidence has reached informed quarters of the terrific German losses in men and material in Russia. The total German casualties were recently estimated by M. Stalin at 4,500,000. There is reason to believe that 16 out of the probable 19 German armoured divisions operating on the Russian Front have suffered serious losses and in nine divisions the losses are considered to have been very considerable. The Bth Armoured Division, after two periods of exceptionally heavy fighting, had to be withdrawn from the front early in September and has only reappeared in action during the past few days. There is very good evidence that appreciable casualties have been inflicted on more than 70 of the German infantry divisions. In several cases the casualties suffered are believed to have been as high as 50 per cent,, and there are a number of confirmed instances of infantry regiments being reduced to one-third of their proper strength. Instances of this type continue to be reported. BITTER FIGHTING Bitter fighting is continuing in conditions in which frost, snow and mud are additional causes of casualties and there is no immediate prospects of lessening casualties. No allowance is made in these estimates for the sick, the numbers of which are already high and are likely to increase as the winter becomes more severe.

The Germans have intensified Their scouting operations on the Moscow front, possibly in preparation for a further attempt to break the deadlock in the approaches to the capital. This report comes from the Kuibyshev correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain. He says that German units have tested the Red Army lines with local attempts along the whole of the central front. They have concentrated especially against the flanks. On the northern tip of the Moscow front the Germans are attempting to nush to the north-east in the Kalinin sector, but the German infantry have met with a stubborn resistance, and with counter-attacks. In the north-eas-tern quarter of the Kalinin sector the Russians have pushed the Germans back towards the Volga despite a hurricane of mortar, machine-gun and rifle fire. To the south-east of Kalinin a Russian unit has crossed the Volga and successfully raided the German rear. The Russians have repulsed a German attack on the village of Proning in the Serpukhov sector and the Red Army has recaptured two villages in the same rector. The Russian and German positions near Naryfominsk are reported to be only from 40 to 50 yards apart in some places. ' FIGHTING AT LENINGRAD The latest news from the Leningrad front, where recently there has been certain renewed activity, is contained in a Soviet supplementary communique, which states: “Soviet Sturmoviks operating on the Leningrad front destroyed in one day five enemy tanks, 27 lorries of infantry and supplies, and 35 oil tanks, and killed about 150 infantry and one cavalry troop. Partisan groups in the Leningrad district destroyed in the first four days of November five enemy planes, 11 tanks, six armoured c_rs, 153 lorries, 19 oil tanks, 16 motorcars, and two ammunition stores. They have blown up 43 bridges, among them seven railway bridges, and have killed 28 German officers and 1563 soldiers.”

A Kuibyshev message says that the Germans were ordered to capture Tula at any price. Their losses in some regiments in the Orel and Tula area ivT-’icd 40 per cent. The war correspondent of the Soviet newspaper Pravda says that fighting is now proceeding outside Tula. The Germans were dislodged from a village adjoining the southern extremity of the city. The enemy retreated to new lines and are now bringing up fresh reserves. Influenza is prevalent among the German troops and some cases of paratyphoid have appeared. The Soviet midday communique merely states: “There was fighting along the whole front on Wednesday night. On Tuesday our air force desttoyed and put out of action 50 German tanks, 230 lorries with infantry and army loads, five heavy guns, more than 10 antiaircraft and 20 motor-cycles and also routed and annihilated more than one regiment of enemy infantry.” SITUATION AT KERCH What amounts to confirmation of the Germans’ claims to have penetrated Russian defences of the Kerch- Isthmus is contained in a Kuibyshev message, which says: “The situation in the area of the key town of Kerch is reported to have become graver. Concentrating five infantry divisions, one motorised division and two cavalry brigades, the Germans overwhelmed numerically inferior Soviet forces and hammtred their way through the defences of the Kerch Isthmus. They failed, however, to follow up this success and the Russians are reported to be stemming further advances. Fierce fighting is continuing by day and night. The Black Sea Fleet is actively helping the defended of the Crimea along the entire front and the Russians have not lost hope of thwarting the enemy attempts to advance.”