END OF 16 MONTHS’ SIEGE Relief Of City Of Leningrad JOY IN RUSSIA
(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received January 19, 9.25 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 18. The remarkable series of Russian victories which has now continued for two months and has repeatedly provided the world (with amazing surprises has been crowned by the relief of Leningrad after a siege of 1 6 months. It is officially announced in Moscow that the Russians have captured Shlusselburg and lifted the siege of Leningrad. Red Army forces crossed the Neva River and advanced 45 miles. The Russian High Command maintained the same silence over 'the Leningrad offensive as over the other mighty blows till the out’come was certain, and the Germans for days had been referring to the Russian offensive on the Neva. The breach which has now been jdriven into the German lines will not merely relieve the heroic garrison and the citizens, who have tenaciously resisted in spite of their many shortages.' but will also sever the direct land link between Germany and Finland.
Hitler ordered that Leningrad should be taken by storm on August 21, 1941, two months after the attack lon Russia. The Germans, from three directions, hurled in 32 infantry divisions. four tank and four motorized divisions, and a cavalry brigade. This army numbered 300.000, and its equipijnent included 6000 field-guns. 1000 (tanks, and a fleet of 1000 planes. 1 The news of the raising of the siege ’was heard with deep joy throughout (Russia. The special communique was 'relayed to the loudspeakers in the ,'streets of the towns and villages. Dueling the most desperate days of the siege Leningrad had become an inspiration and symbol of the Russians’ resistance. . , The offensive which burst the Nazi ring was planned by General Zhukov and Marshal Voroshilov.
Moscow radio announced that General Zhukov, who encircled the Germans at Stalingrad, has been promoted Marshal of the Soviet Union. Col-onel-General Vornov, who commanded the artillery during the encirclement, has been promoted Marshal of Artillery. Great Effort in South. The dispatches from the Russian fronts illustrate the prodigious efforts which the Red Armies are making to press on their offensive in the depth of (Winter. The Moscow correspondent of .“The Times" emphasizes the difficulties of moving the men and equipment. Guns !are being hauled waist-deep in snow, yet the fighting has continued day and night. Most of the Russian successes have been won in night battles. Rosoeh was • taken in darkness while a blizzard swept the streets. Kototoyak, which crack (German regiments were hastily fortifying, was stormed at night time; the Ger'mans desperately resisted, but the Russians isolated them aud forced their 'capitulation. I The loss of territory south-west of IStalingrad has robbed the Germans of jnumerous airfields whence they had been Supplying the entrapped divisions. Transtport planes carried two tons of bread on leach flight to Pitomnik aerodrome, outside Stalingrad, on which the Russians, after its capture, found hundreds of grounded planes. Another 200 transport planes were among booty at Tatsynskaya. Moscow radio reports that the Russians have split the Germans in the western sector before Stalingrad. Captured documents have revealed that the disappointment after the failure to relieve the entrapped forces caused bad discipline and malingering, the latter being caused by the knowledge that the empty food-carrying planes were evacuating .wounded.
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Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 5
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548END OF 16 MONTHS’ SIEGE Relief Of City Of Leningrad JOY IN RUSSIA Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 5
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