WEST OF VITEBSK

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 232, 28 June 1944, Page 5

WEST OF VITEBSK

Encircled Germans Being Wiped Out (Received June 27, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, June 27. The enemy left mure than 6000 dead in tlie streets of Vitebsk, where the Russians captured rich booty, including 1100 motor vehicles, and enormous quantities of arms and ammunition. More than 1000 Germans were fallen prisoner, says a Moscow supplementary communique. “Many prisoners were also taken west of Vitebsk where by a rapid thrust Soviet troops cut the encircled German army groups into two parts and are now fighting to wipe them out completely. “In the Orsha direction our swiftly advancing troops by-passed Orsha from the north to penetrate the enemy’s rear, throwing it into confusion. On one sector, the Germans are in disorderly retreat, abandoning war material, ammunition and equipment. “North of Mogilev, we have reached the Dnieper, thus cutting the important Mogilev-Orsha highway. The Germans are here rolling back westward end suffering enormous losses.” The communique adds: “After capturing Zhlobin, Soviet units beat off 16 German counter-attacks, killing .nearly 2000 of the enemy.”