WAR BURDEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1943, Page 2

WAR BURDEN

BORNE BV RED ARMY STALIN ISSUES SPECIAL ORDER OF DAY. MASS EXPULSION OF ENEMY BEGUN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February ’3. M. Stalin, tin a special order of the day on the occasion today of the Red Army’s 25th anniversary, states:— “Because of the absence of a second front in Europe, the Red Army is bearing alone the whole burden of war. Nevertheless, the Red Army has not only withstood the German onslaught, but also in the course of the war has become a menace to the German Fascist hordes. “Three months ago the Red Army started an offensive at the approaches to Stalingrad and since then the initiative in the military operations has remained in our hands. The Red Army’s striking power is not weakening; on the contrary, in difficult weather conditions it is now advancing along a 900-mile front and almost everywhere achieving success. “In three months the Red Army cleared the enemy from large areas of Soviet territory, including the Voronezh and Stalingrad regions and almost the whole of the Rostov, Khar- - kov and Kursk regions. “The mass expulsion of the enemy from the Soviet lands has begun. The reason for Germany’s failures on the Russian-German front is that the balance of forces has changed, for while Germany is becoming exhausted and weaker, the Soviet Union is expanding its reserves and , becoming stronger. Time is working against Germany. “The German casualties since the outbreak of the Russian-German war have totalled 9,000,000 men, including at least 4,000,000 killed. In the last three months alone the Red Army has smashed 112 enemy divisions, killed more than 700,000, and taken prisoner 300,000, and captured more than 7,000 tanks, 4000 planes, 17,000 guns and huge quantities of other war material. The Rumanian, Italian and Hungarian armies have been completely smashed. “The Red Army’s aim is not only to liberate the Soviet land but also not to allow the enemy out of our country alive. The German armies are going through a crisis due to blows they have received from the Red Army, but this does not mean that they cannot recover. “The fight with the German invaders is not finished yet; it is only developing and flaring up. The Red Army is still facing a treacherous, cruel and, as yet, strong enemy. The struggle will take much time, demanding all our strength and the mobilisation of all we have. “The German invaders are offering ferocious resistance and are counterattacking in an attempt to hold on to their defence lines in order eventually to embark upon new adventures. That is why there is no room in our ranks for complacency, negligence and conceit. It would be, absurd to presume that the Germans will give up even one kilometre of our country without a fight. “The whole Soviet people rejoice in. the Red Army’s victories, but we must all firmly remember the precepts of our teacher, Lenin: ‘First, not to be carried away by victory and not tb boast. Secondly, to consolidate the victory. Thirdly to defeat the enemy completely.’ “In the name of the liberation of our country from the hated enemy and in the name of final victory I order: “First, perfection of military training and strengthening of discipline, order and organisation throughout the Red Army and Navy. “Secondly, stronger blows against the enemy, giving him no chance, day or night, to consolidate his defence lines, and annihilation of encircled enemy troops refusing to surrender. “Thirdly, the spreading of the guerrilla warfare in the enemy’s rear. “Herein lies the guarantee of our victory. Long live our great country, our glorious Red Army and Navy, the gallant men and women guerrillasl Long live the Bolshevik Party, the inspirers and organisers of the Red Army’s victories! Death to the German invaders!”