ENEMY ADMISSION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 February 1943, Page 3

ENEMY ADMISSION

DEFEAT UNPRECEDENTED IN THIS WAR SURPRISE RUSSIAN MOVE. MANY ENEMY FORCES WIPED OUT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 17. The German reaction to the defeat at Kharkov was indicated when the military spokesman, referring to Russian tanks penetrating into the suburbs, told Swedish journalists, “We have suffered a defeat unprecedented in this war.” The Soviet information Bureau disclosed that the “Adolf Hitler” and “Reich” tank divisions which were routed at Kharkov had reached Russia from France only 16 days ago. Trainloads of German troops and tanks are reported to be pouring in a ceaseless stream from western Europe into Russia, says Ankara radio. The greater part is moving toward Kiev. Newly-equipped Rumanian divisions are also reported to be moving up to the front The Russians are giving the enemy no respite. All last night the pursuit of the routed Germans went on without pause, and the remnants of the Kharkov garrison were driven well to the 'west of the city According to Moscow radio, the Germans are retreating on a line from the north of Kursk to the west of Rostov, At the Germans’ headquarters the Russians found a High Command order instructing the garrison to defend the city at any cost The Germans had expected the main blow to come from the east of the city and concentrated large forces there, but the Russians first penetrated the city ill a surprise assault from the north: The last phrase in the battle of Kharkov began early yesterday morning, when General Vatoutin’s armoured divisions smashed the ring of German defences to the north and east of the city, driving two wedges into the suburbs, says the Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” The fighting raged all day in blazing streets where the German tanks and crack troops offered the last deliberate resistance in order to cover the evacuation of the main body to Poltava and the Dnieper line. Russian artillery, which was massed wheel to wheel behind the attacking armies, poured a stream of shells into the city, while waves of Russian bombers and dive-bombers droned overhead and Soviet tanks rolled in irresistible numbers against the German positions. Many German units were encircled by superior Russian forces and, with their ammunition exhausted, the enemy fought with bayonets, spades and rifle butts till they were overwhelmed and annihilated.