AXIS LOSSES
GREATEST YET RECORDED IN GIVEN TIME SOVIET SURVEY SOME IMPRESSIVE DETAILS. MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION OF ENEMY FORCES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 8. “The German losses in their present offensive are the greatest that have ever been recorded in such a short space, even in this war.’ states a special announcement from the Soviet information Bureau which was broadcast by Moscow radio. “In three days 30,000 German troops have been killed, 1539 tanks destroyed or damaged, and 649 aircraft shot down. “The Germans have now concentrated the biggest army that has ever been engaged on the Russian front, namely, 211 divisions, compared with 170 divisions at the outbreak, and 85 in the last war. “The German forces participating in the offensive consist of 15 panzer, one mortorized and 14 infantry divisions. Numerous Luftwaffe formations, not only from other sectors, but also from western Europe, have been thrown in, including two special bomber forces and one fighter force which were transferred from western Europe to the eastern front between June 9 and 29. Another force arrived on Monday from Yugoslavia. “The German High Command has concentrated the main forces on narrow sectors' of the front, the aim being to crush the Soviet defences quickly and encircle and annihilate the Russian forces in the Kursk salient. The blow, which did not catch our troops by surprise, is being delivered in two directions, namely from the area south of Orel toward Kursk and from the byelgorod area to the north, also in the direction of Kursk. “On both sectors fierce fighting is going on, with our troops firmly holding their positions. Only on some sectors of the Byelgorod area the enemy, at enormous cost, has succeeded in slightly penetrating our defences. “Having got their dues, the Germans are now shouting that it is not they who are attacking but the Soviet troops,” the announcement concludes. ' “It would be wrong to under-estimate the strength of the German troops engaged in this major offensive, because it is very great. It would also be premature tb draw final conclusions as to the outcome of the fighting. But one thing is clear beyond doubt: the decisive offensive which the Germans launched on Monday did not meet with success in the first three days.” fhe Soviet High Command reported .that yesterday’s battle cost the Gerimans 520 tanks destroyed or disabled, ’and 229 planes shot down. A Moscow message received last night added another 252 tanks and 20 planes to the tally, making a grand total for the three days of the offensive of 1791 tanks and 669 aircraft.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1943, Page 3
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431AXIS LOSSES Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1943, Page 3
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