NAZI TANKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1941, Page 5

NAZI TANKS

SAID TO BE IN DIFFICULT

POSITION IN THRUST BEYOND MINSK. ATTACKS FROM FINLAND REPELLED. LONDON, June 30. The German High Command yesterday stated that German armoured units had reached the outskirts of Minsk and that two Soviet armies west of Minsk were completely surrounded. Later the German news agency stated that tank divisions advanced beyond Minsk and reached the beginning of the 500-mile motor road to Moscow. This suggested that Minsk was passed by while a terrific battle for Minsk itself might be continuing.

Today’s Soviet communiques state that the mechanised force which pierced the defences round Minsk is now cut off and in an extremely difficult position, and the main enemy force in this sector has been halted 100 miles west of Minsk. A similar situation south of the Pripet Marshes is reported. Moscow announces a German thrust on the old Soviet frontier east of Luck, where the great tank battle continues. The latest Soviet communique today states that the Germans tried to make a naval landing at the treaty port of Viborg on the Karelian Isthmus but failed, the enemy force being destroyed. Finnish and German troops launched a big attack along the entire northern front, but were repulsed in all sectors. The enemy also made repeated attempts to cross the frontier on the Karelian Isthmus, but each time were driven back to their original positions. Moscow officially denies claims by Hitler’s headquarters to have destroy,ed and taken prisoner huge numbers of Soviet arms and forces in the first week of the fighting, and the Russians give their own figures for both sides. Ankara reports that 15 Hungarian and eight or nine Italian divisions have joined the Germans against Russia, bringing the Axis forces in the field to over 238 divisions, or roughly 2,500,000 men.