FALL OF VIAZMA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1943, Page 3

FALL OF VIAZMA

CITY TAKEN BY RUSSIANS WITH MUCH BOOTY Nine Thousand Germans Killed SITUATION AT KHARKOV CRITICAL f GERMANS REPORT FIGHTING IN STREETS LONDON, Marell 12. The Moscow radio officially confirms the capture of the town and railway junction of Viazma, an important German hedgehog between Moscow and Smolensk. In the battle for the town the Germans lost more than 9,000 men killed. The Russians captured a large amount of booty, including 83 tanks, 69 guns, 57 locomotives and nearly 600 lorries. The big quantity of booty left behind by the Germans seems to give the lie to a Berlin statement that the German garrison had successful evacuated Viazma according to plan. The Germans have abandoned the town only after a severe hammering* from Russian tanks and infantry. The main importance of Viazma is as a railway junction. It was one of the jumping off grounds for attacks on Moscow. For many months the German garrison there had pinned down a large Russian force, whose main job was to meet any new German thrust towards the capital. This force can now be released for other operations. The news of the capture of Viazma is rather overshadowed by events in the Ukraine, where the Germans are making an intense effort to recapture Kharkov. Berlin claims that German tanks and infantry have broken into Kharkov from several sides and that violent fighting is going on in the streets. These claims are not confirmed by Moscow, but earlier it was stated that west of the city the Germans had succeeded, after suffering heavy losses, in pressing back the Red Army defenders. All reports coming through tonight indicate that the situation is critical.