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Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1943, Page 4

FORGED BACK

GERMANS IN DNIEPER LOOP BATTLE ENEMY WINTER LINE SMASHED & PASSED. UNRELENTING ATTACKS ON GOMEL & MELITOPOL. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, October 19. A German withdrawal of 12 miles from positions north-west of Dnepropetrovsk to a new “holding line” is admitted by the German news agency, which adds that the Germans were forced to give ground by new concentrations of numerous Russian motorised and tank forces. Despatches from Moscow say that Russian forces threatening German divisions pocketed in the Dnieper loop 'Pre fighting their way round in a broad sweep from the Kremenchug gap. They are at one point less than 12 miles from the main westward railway from Dnepropetrovsk to Byelayatserkov. Fighting in this area has reached more open country beyond the range of hills on which the defences of the smashed German wintei’ line were based. The Germans are being steadily forced back.

Late Moscow reports describe as considerable Russian gains in the great battle north of Kiev. A powerful Russian tank drive struck deep into the German lines north of Kiev. The German defences at Gomel and Melitopol still bar a Russian break through at the northern and southern extremities of the Dnieper, but the German strongholds are slowly being reduced, yard by yard, and flattened to ruins. OFFICIAL DETAILS OF ENEMY PRISONERS & MATERIAL. TAKEN WEST OF DNIEPER. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, October 19. The Vichy radio stated that although the Russians have practically encircled Gomel, the Germans are still putting up resistance. It added that the Russians in the Smolensk and Nevel areas attempted new penetrations of the German lines. Tonight’s Soviet communique says: “South-east of Kremenchug, the Russians, breaking enemy resistance, continued to develop their offensive, advanced from 9 to 12 miles and captured the town and important railway junction of Pyatikhatki. and over 100 inhabited localities. The Russians, by a powerful thrust, cut the very important Dnepropetrovsk-Zenana Railway and took tremendous booty. According to incomplete data, the Russians captured in this battle 15 troop trains, 30 tanks, including Tigers, 172 guns, 600 machine-guns, 1,300 lorries, many dumps and also 1,800 prisoners. The Russians north of Kiev and south of Gomel improved their bridgeheads.”