NAZI ANXIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 January 1942, Page 3

NAZI ANXIETY

ATTEMPTS TO MINIMISE SOVIET GAINS “MINOR OFFENSIVE MOVES.” AND PROPAGANDA ACTIONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. January 25. German attempts to minimise the Russian successes are regarded in London as evidence of anxiety about their continued set-backs on that front. The Russian gains of the past two months are now officially dismissed in Berlin as “several minor offensive moves which.’ either got stuck at once or ceased after insignificant gains." The latest 70-mile drive north of Smolensk is reduced to 45 or 50 miles and described as a "big propaganda action.” Berlin, however, finds it necessary to state that “counter operations in this area have not been concluded so far.”

“Military circles’’ even, think it necessary to explain that nothing the Russians have so far accomplished can be called a •'major attack,” by which they mean “an attack which involves the employment of several armies with a break-through threat and an attempt thereafter to roll up the flank of one’s opponent to the right and left.” The conclusion evidently to be drawn is that the Russians have not yet succeeded in inflicting on the Germans a series of defeats on the scale of those which they themselves suffered during the first months of the sudden German attack. Il is significant that official Germany should be reduced .to comparing the present Russian successes with their own previous successes, which they frequently stated had reduced the Russian army to Impotence. The Germans also try to divert attention from the main front by emphasising air interference with the Murmansk railway, which they admit, after a six months attack by German and Finnish armies, is still “extremely important for the supply of the Russian northern flank.” HITLER SHIFTS QUARTERS FROM SMOLENSK TO MINSK. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 25. A special correspondent of the “Sunday Express” reports from Stockholm that Hitler, accompanied by General Halder and General Jodi, has shifted his headquarters from Smolensk. The Fuehrer decided to establish new headquarters in Minsk. General Halder later returned to Smolensk and orders issued from there will be signed with Hitler’s name, but will not be Hitler’s orders.

As Hitler left the front Marshal Voroshilov returned there from the Urals, where 'he has been organising new armies for Russia.