GERMAN LOSSES HEAVY

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22156, 27 December 1941, Page 5

GERMAN LOSSES HEAVY

Reverses On Moscow Front Russians Pressing Forward British Official Wireless (Rec. 1.30 am.) LONDON, Dec. 26. A Moscow special communique claims that more than 10,000 Germans were killed on the Moscow front between December 21 and 25, and to the same period the Russians captured 33 to 36 tanks, scores of field guns, machine-guns, motor-cycles, ammunition - laden waggons and a variety of other war material. Ammunition stores were also destroyed. The staff headquarters of the 13th Army Corps and the 268th Infantry Division were seized along with a great number of decorations and staff documents. This estimate of the booty and casualties is far from complete, as many German dead and much equipment are buried under the snow. Soviet forces are pressing forward on all fronts with one aim—to wipe out the German invaders. Moscow radio to-day declared that the Germans would never leave Russian soil. “They must be buried to our soil and destroyed to the last man,” said the announcer. South-west of Moscow more places have been recaptured and the Tula region has been cleared of the enemy. In the north-west the Germans have suffered terrible losses. Near Kalinin 15 inhabited centres have been mopped up and the German lasses to men and material have been severe. An order of the day, issued by General von Leeb, and captured by the Russians, complained of the bitter weather and urged the Germans to rally, as the fate of Germany was at stake. The war correspondent of “Red Star” states that the Germans lost more than half of their effectives, including 20,000 killed, in heavy fighting at the approaches to Sebastopol to the last six days.