VIENNA VERY NEARLY CLEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 86, 12 April 1945, Page 5

VIENNA VERY NEARLY CLEAR

THREAT DEVELOPING TO CZECH CiFY OF BRNO

Reed. 11.11 p.m. _ London, April 11. Vienna is now almost clear of German resistance. Marshal Tolbhukin’s Rod Army is across the Danube Canal and is fighting 1o destroy German resistance between the canal and the Danube, forcing the Germans back to the river in hand-to-hand combat. Marshal Malinovsky’s army to the north is still striking forward and has cut the Vienna-Brno road and railway, thus not only increasing the difficulties of the Germans fleeing from Vienna, but establishing a threat to Brno itself, an important Czech centre.

The battle for Vienna, the first capital tne Germans swallowed up, is drawing to a close, declares the British united Press Moscow correspondent, 'ihe tree Austrian radio stated that lied Army columns were thrusting into the heart of the city from live suburbs. The Russians are fighting into Vienna as quickly as posiDle to spare the city as mucn rum as possiole. The Russian advance has Deen so swift that it is expected the city will not suiter many scars. Tne Germans so far have been prevented from carrying out extensive demolitions. Berlin, nowever, to-day stated that numerus parts othe city were ablaze. Marshal Tolbukhin in some sectors has driven right through to the south uank of the Danube, and it is thought mat some of his troops have already crossed tne river, preparatory to linking up with Marshal Malinovsky, advancing along the north bank. “I’he limes” Moscow correspondent reports that Rusian newspaper commentators rate the battle tor Konigsoerg as one of the most skilfully conuuci.ec> and most audaciously executed operations in military history, lull 01 gripping incidents, unexpected evolutions and dramatic moments. Troops of the 3rd. White Russian Grouping before being able to come to grips with the deienders had to penetrate defences which are descrioea as not less powerful.and considerably deeper than the Siegfried Line. | A model oi the Konigsberg lay-out was built before the actual battlefield was reached. Gunners, sappers ana assault troops went through an intensive course of battle training, and RecArmy engineers meanwhile laid hundreds ot miles of railway lines to bring up siege guns and ammunition. An exact calculation was made of the caiiore oi shell necesary to destroy the great forts that ringed Konigsoerg. These 13 forts, covering 150 to 2oJ yards each, manned by oOl) men, were ringed by deep, flooded, concrete-sided moats and wails, in places 10 feet deep. Recd. 12.30 a.m. London, April 11 The Rusians in Vienna to-day launched their final drive across th? ; Danube Canal to smash, enemy resistance in the eastern section of the city. Reuter’s correspondent at Moscow says the Russians hold at least three- . quarters of the city. A battle is now being fought in tne streets traversing a strip of land which is scarcely over a mile and a half at the widest point between the Danube Canal and the main stream of the river. Most of the bridges over the Danube Canal are believed to be intact. The Red Army is making good use of some bridges to push increasing numbers of troops into the battle. The Germans are being forced back against the Danube River in fierce hand-to-hand fighting. A sharp tank battle is being fought immediately north-east of Vienna, where the Russians are closing in on the narrow corridor through which all the retreating Germans must pass. “Red Star” reports that the Germans are using Luftwaffe and naval men for the last stand inside Vienna. All railway stations, signal cabins, depots and large buildings in eastern Vienna have been turned into centres of resistance. The Russians have to fight a little battle for each building. Normal life is returning to that part of Vienna behind the liries.