FALL OF KRASNODAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1943, Page 3

FALL OF KRASNODAR

LAST AXIS STRONGHOLD ENEMY LINES OF RETREAT CUT. SOVIET GAINS IN UKRAINE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 12. The Russians have captured Krasnodar, capita lof the Kuban country and the Germans' last important stronghold in the western Caucasus. In the Ukraine, the Russians have cut the last’ important railway between Rostov and the Donetz Basin. The Germans must now rely upon a roundabout single line as a means of supplying their troops in the Donetz area. The Russians have captured a number of other railway stations and towns. It was the intention of the Germans to hold Krasnodar as a bastion while attempting to check Russian advances directed to pocketing the remaining enemy troops in the Caucasus. The f Axis forces are in danger now of finding themselves cut off from the Crimea. The only railway north from the Crimea has already been cut by the Russians. The capture of Krasnodar, which is .regarded as one of the most significant ’ of the Russian victories io date, follows on a rapid advance of 65 miles south from Izyum. , , The capture of Krasnodar, the key railway town in the Western Caucasus, and Voroshilovsk, the Ukrainian supply centre, a British Official Wireless mes--sage reports, are announced in a Russian special communique tonight (Friday)'which states': “On February 12, Soviet troops, commanded by MajorGeneral Roslov . and Major-General Rzhov, by a decisive attack, occupied the town of Krasnodar. Booty and prisoners were taken. ■ * “Soviet troops under the command of Lieutenant-General Tsvuaev, are developing an offensive against the occupied town of Shaksva. In the Ukraine, Soviet troops, after a sweeping offensive, have occupied a large railway junction, thus cutting the most important enemy communication line. Also in the Ukraine, Soviet troops have occupied the town of Voroshilovsk.” Krasnodar is an important oil refinery centre which has been occupied by the Germans since August last year. KHARKOV & ROSTOV • BOTH IN IMMINENT PERIL. SPECULATION AS TO WHICH > ' WILL FALL FIRST. (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 12. The Russian threat to the German rear, “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says, is now something like a continuous line between Chuguyev and Losovava. The Russians’ left wing is moving towards Krasnograd, beyond which lies the important junction of Poltava. The Russians clearly have surprised the Germans with the strength of this wing, which is enveloping Kharkov, the position of which now resembles that of Rostov, inviting speculation as to which the Germans will first abandon. The Russians have greatly improved their positions against Rostov, where they are locally much superior numerically, after the arrival of troops from Stalingrad. The German position in the vicinity of Novocherkask is now critical. The whole of this sector of the Donetz Basin is expected to yield inwards any day. Further north, Likhnaya and Voroshilovgrad are scarcely less imperilled now that huge Russian reinforcements are coming into the fray.