NAZI COMMUNIQUES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 June 1941, Page 6

NAZI COMMUNIQUES

TREMENDOUS CAPTURES ALLEGED PRISONERS AND MATERIALS. “CRUSHING BLOWS" AT SOVIET AIR FORCE. (Received Thsi Day, Noon.) LONDON, June 29. ” A special German communique states: “Our troops operating in the Baltic area reached the Dvina River cn June 26 and took Daugavpils. German armoured forces, after two days’ fighting, brought vast tank engagements northwards of Kaunas to a victorious conclusion, in which several enemy divisions were encircled and destroyed. Over 200 Soviet tanks, including 29 of the heaviest type, ' 150 guns and hundreds of motor vehicles tell into our hands. Fighting against specially picked troops, we are advancing victoriously against Lwow (Lemberg) north of which motorised divisions are fighting through Luck eastward. Two Soviet armies in the area

eastward of Bialystok have been encircled and the ring is being drawn closer, despite desperate attempts to break out. These two armies will either capitulate or be wiped out in a few days.”

A communique, which was issued by Hitler’s General Headquarters, was broadcast at intervals during the afternoon. Altogether twelve announcements were made. The last of these stated: “Initial operations against the Soviet met with huge successes between June 22 and 27. Bloody losses were inflicted on the enemy. We took over 49,000 prisoners. Over 600 guns were captured or destroyed and 2,233 tanks, an enormous quantity of antitank, anti-aircraft and machine-guns, rifles and motor-vehicles were collected. Prisoners and booty are increasing hourly. The successes will be more enormous when the encircled Russian i armies arc forced to capitulate. The] Luftwaffe has dealt crushing blows against the Russian Air Force. We have destroyed 4,107 Russian planes in combat, by Anti-aircraft fire or bombing. The German losses are 150 planes." Referring to naval operations, the communique claimed that three Soviet destroyers, three submarines and a torpedo-boat were destroyed by German submarines or mines and a Soviet cruiser severely damaged.