OF GERMAN DEFENCES IN NORTH PART OF DNIEPER BEND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1944, Page 4

OF GERMAN DEFENCES IN NORTH PART OF DNIEPER BEND

Effected by Red Army

ADVANCE ON FRONT OF 60 MILES

TO DEPTH OF TWENTY-FIVE MILES

(By Telegraph. —Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, January 7

The German news agency’s commentator, Von Mammer, stated that the Russians had resumed their attacks against Kirovgrad and forced the Germans to withdraw in the southeastern sector. From positions on the west bank of the Ing al River and also between Berdichev and the Teterev River, German formation had retired to prepared positions in order to escape an incessant hail of fire, thereby abandoning Yanushpol. A new offensive in which German defences in the Kirovgrad sector have been broken, and the capture of a place only twelve miles from Sarny are announced in the Soviet night communique. It says: “Troops of the First Ukrainian Front captured Klesov, a district centre in the Rovno region, f 26 miles west of the old Polish border and twelve miles from. Sarny ; also Yanushpol, 15 miles west of Berdichev and several district centres in the Vinnitsa region. . Troops of the First Ukrainian Front linked up with Red Army' trio ops holding a bridgehead on the west bank of the Dnieper south of Kiev. Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, under General Koniev vent over to the offensive and have broken the enemy defences in the Kirovgrad sector. The Red Army, in a three-day offensive, extended its break through to a width of 60 miles and a depth of 25 miles, liberating more than 120 places, including two district centres in the Kirovgrad region. The Red Army has surrounded Kirograd from all sides. Three infantry .divisions, one tank division and one motorised division were routed during the battle. The enemy suffered heavy casualties. ’ ’