GERMAN RETREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1942, Page 4

GERMAN RETREAT

FROM THE STALINGRAD AREA ANTICIPATED & FOILED BY TIMOSHENKO. SIGNS OF ANOTHER HITLER BLUNDER. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (.Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, November 23. The Axis divisions remaining before Stalingrad are threatened with encirclement as a result of the cutting at Abaganerovo and Kr ivo.nusginskaya of two vital supply railways feeding the German spearhead. The Moscow correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting system says the Germans wedged in at Stalingrad could get out of it if they gave up 'the attempt to take the city and .retreated to the open country between the railways, but they are trying to hold on and the Russian columns are closing in. The “Evening Standard’s” military writer says the Russian advances have placed very large German forces in the Stalingrad area in tne gravest, peril. There are in this area thirteen German infantry divisions, three panzer divisions and two motorised divisions, with, probably seven or eight unspecified divisions, all of which have suffered more or less serious losses. In addition, in the Caucasus sector, the 13th and 23rd panzer divisions have been severely mauled. Following closely on the defeat of the German offensive in the Central Caucasus, the Russian victory on -the flanks of . the Stalingrad front is conclusive evidence that, despite the heavy losses the Soviet forces suffered in the summer and autumn, the Red Army is determined to stage a vigorous winter offensive. It now seems that the Germans’ most recent attacks against Stalingrad •'were- designed to cover a general withdrawal to the Don. This would be a logical move for the Germans when it became clear that Stalingrad could not be take Mr Morley Richards, the “Daily Express” war writer, says Marshal Hmoshenko knew the Germans had planned to withdraw.from the approaches to Stalingrad and he “beat them to th draw.” He was not fooled by Von Hoth’s two minor offensives against the city. ”lt looks like a repetition of Hitler’s blunder on the Moscow front last year, when he left too late,” says Mr Richards . It s a striking commentary on Hitlers lack of soldierly skill.” A Zurich message says it, .is officially admitted in .-Berlin that the Russians have penetrated the German lines north and south of Stalingrad. . A Ger man communique says Ru ™ a ™ an s a ? 4 Germans, in the-region of thegreat Don elbow and south of Stalingiaa, continued strong defensive A Finnish communique reports tnai the Russians last night bombed Helsinki and started two large fires.

TACTICAL SUCCESSES OF FIRST MAGNITUDE. WON BY THE RUSSIANS. \ (Received .This Day, 1.5 p,m.) LONDON, November 23. The Moscow correspondent of "The Times” says the Red A.rmy's current operations, which already have achieved tactical successes of a first magnitude, are clearly part of shrewd, strategic plans to cut off the enemy s advanced forces from their bases. This plan is being carried out with the painstaking efficiency which characterises the Red Army. The Germans in the Stalingrad area, like those in the Central Caucasus,- where the Russians report a further improvement, are reaping the consequences •of their failure to ,achieve the main object of their offensive—namely, the destruction of the Red Army, which eluded the Germans despite their great territorial gains.