DESPERATE STREET FIGHTING IN MOJAISK
(Received 1 a.m.) LONDON, January 20. Russian Guard regiments, supported by armoured units, are fighting through Mojaisk street by street, says The Daily Telegraph’s Stockholm correspondent. The cream of the German Army is pouring westwards from Mojaisk, harried incessantly by Russian cavalry and ski patrols, and constantly swept by Stormovik’s bombs and guns. General Reinhardt’s crack panzer forces are covering the German retreat, fighting with a courage born of despair from every lane and street corner. They are systematically setting fire to the town as they retire. General Zhukov’s legions have trodden underfoot and inflicted appalling losses on German shock troops rushed up from Smolensk. The Russian Air Force has beaten from the sky swarms of Stukas and fighters which the German High Command desperately flung into the battle. The capture of Mojaisk was assured when Russian artillery blasted an opening in the German defences at Vereya. Strong Russian forces immediately swept into the breach and compelled the whole German line covering the town to retreat to avoid encirclement. The Russians claim that German positions eastward of Leningrad have been pierced at several points. Bitter fighting is raging in the Volkov Valley. Light Russian naval units are shelling marching Germans on the coast road of the Sea of Azov. Russian naval commandos landed in the rear of the German lines at Mariupol and linked up with guerrillas. They inflicted considerable havoc on von Rundtstedt’s communications and supplies.
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Southland Times, Issue 24648, 21 January 1942, Page 5
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242DESPERATE STREET FIGHTING IN MOJAISK Southland Times, Issue 24648, 21 January 1942, Page 5
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