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SOVIET OBJECTIVE

LIBERATION OF UKRAINE

' Recd. 9 p.m. London, Aug. 24. “The Russians’ southern objective is bigger than the Donetz Basin/’ says the Stockholm correspondent of The Tinies. “The southern battle is being waged for the Ukraine westward of the Dnieper River, for the Donetz Basin, for Crimea and for the German foothold on the Caucasian mainland. One of the first clear indications that the Germans realise that the position is growing worse in the Donetz Basin will be the beginning of a withdrawal from the Kuban, which may be expected.” Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: “The Russians hold the initiative on all fronts. Kharkov proved conclusively that the Russians have learned to fight in summer as well as in winter. The early thaw cheated the Russians of Kharkov when it was captured last March at the end of the great offensive in which they advanced 500 miles from Stalingrad. This time the troops are fresh, the roads good and the supply organisation excellent. Responsible observers consider that Kharkov will never again fall ito German hands.” The British United Press Moscow correspondent says the battle lor Kharkov, in which the Russians forced their way to the city against massed artillery barrages, was one of the bloodiest of the war. The Germans in one sector massed 150 guns in each kilometre. The Russians brought up 200 guns for each kilometre and battered down the defences by weight of metal. The Russians in the first stage of the twelve-day battle broke the defences 20 miles north of the city. The second stage was fought out 12 miles from the city centre, where the Germans attempted to hold a line covering the outskirts. When this was broken the Russians came up against the core cf the defences—a tremendous concentration of artillery. The Germans attempted to knock out the Russian guns with planes, sending over 20, 40 or 60 planes simultaneously. But the Russians were irresistible. The Germans made their last major efforts around the tractor plant, the municipal racecourse and the inside park. While these major engagements were being fought out fierce street battles raged throughout the city. As the Russians consolidated their positions the inhabitants emerged from hiding in fox-holes and cellars. The Russian ' main task now is the clearing up of I the mines, a field of which was laid I outside the city. Some buildings are • completely surrounded by mines.

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19430826.2.61.3

Bibliographic details

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 201, 26 August 1943, Page 5

Word Count
399

SOVIET OBJECTIVE Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 201, 26 August 1943, Page 5

SOVIET OBJECTIVE Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 201, 26 August 1943, Page 5