The Retreat from Mojaisk

Southland Times, Issue 24651, 24 January 1942, Page 4

The Retreat from Mojaisk

THE RUSSIAN victory at Mojaisk removes the last threat to Moscow, and creates for the German leaders a military problem of the first magnitude. It is seven weeks since the “final” German offensive petered out almost within sight of the Russian capital. Nine days earlier Marshal Timoshenko had thrown the enemy out of Rostov, and as the effects of this reverse made themselves felt on the central front the Red Army’s counteroffensive began to attain an irresistible momentum. A'notable success at Kalinin in the middle of December was quickly followed by the recapture of Volokolamsk. Later came the recapture of Naro Fominsk, which thereafter formed the southern arm of a pincer movement extending in the north from Volokolamsk, and designed to close upon the German stronghold at Mojaisk. The success of the move has now been announced. This means that the enemy has lost his grip on the Moscow front, and is being forced back on Viazma. His difficulties are intensified by the coldest weather experienced in Europe for many years. It is possible that, if the Red Army' can maintain its pressure, the Germans will not be able to regroup their forces at Viazma, but will have to fall back on Smolensk, 230 miles from Moscow.

Hitler’s winter lines cannot now be established, at least as they were originally planned. It is true that, in spite of the continued Russian successes, the withdrawal has not yet become a rout. There are no reports that large numbers of prisoners have been taken, which obviously suggests that the Germans have so far succeeded in extricating their main forces. At the moment they are making a desperate attempt to reach Viazma before the Russians can overtake them, and if they failed at least 100,000 men would be encircled. In the north, where the Russians are proving equally successful in clearing the approaches

to Leningrad, there have been heavy losses of men and material; but here, too, there are no reports of prisoners. It seems probable, therefore, that the withdrawal is being conducted with considerable skill. But the strain involved in an orderly retreat on so vast a front, amid winter conditions, and with lines of communication weakened by guerrilla activity, must have its effect on every part of the war machine. Although Hitler may still talk of a new offensive in the spring he must now realize that his armies on the eastern front may still be on the defensive when the snpws begin to vanish. His time-table and legend of inevitable success have been shattered together. ,