Evening star., 1943-01-17
Russiun
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from all sides was an admission
that there had been no direct
contact by land for some time
with these forces,D
The January s ultimatum to the
Germans at Stalingrad, the Soviet
communique said, advised them that
an answer was expected by 10
o'clock January 8, to be brought
by a motor car carrying white
flag.
'All hopes for rescue of your
troops by German offensive from
the south and southwest have been
unjustified," it said.
German troops which hastened
to your assistance have been
routed -.
German transport planes which
have been bringing up starvation
rations are frequently COM
PEELED to change their airdromes
Severe Aviation Losses.
German transport aviation is
suffering tremendous losses.
THE position of your encircled
troops is desperate. They are ex-
periencing hunger, disease and cold.
The terrible Russian winter is only
just beginning.
Severe frost and cold, biting
winds and snow storms have yet
to come and your men have not
been supplied with winter uniforms
and are situated in rotten, unsani-
tary conditions.
80 . Your position is hopeless
Further resistance is useless.
"* - should you reject our pro-
posals for capitulation we warn you
that Red Army troops and the Red
Air Force will be compelled to carry
out operations for the annihila-
ton of the encircled German
troops 80 -
The Russian terms, the commune
que said, promised care of sick and
wounded prisoners, adequate food,
repatriation after the war and would
have allowed the men to keep their
uniforms and insignia and the off,
GERS to keep their swords.
Attack Started January 10.
But the German commander re-
jected the terms, the communiQue
said.
In view of this, on January 10
our troops commenced a general
attack against the German Fascist
troops encircled near Stalingrad, .
it concluded.
In seven days of fighting since
then the Russians were said to have
wiped out $4,000. Officers and men,
captured 6,896 OF the encircled
troops, destroyed l,526 fortified posi-
tions and cleared a large area of
the enemy
In the same period 3l7 planes, 5l4
tanks and GAL guns were said to
have been captured, and rs planes,
174 tanks and 416 guns destroyed.
The announcement said the en-
circled troops originally had con-
sisted of tank divisions, 3 motor
lied divisions, Is infantry divisions
and a cavalry division, but that at
least three of them, the 44th, 376th
and 384th, were badly smashed
during the process of encirclement
600 Nazi Planes Lost.
In addition to divisions, the COM
munique said, encircled units in
cluded three artillery regiments OF
the reserve command four anti
aircraft regiments, motor regi-
ment and four special engineer bat
talions.
In its efforts to aid these troops
oy air transport, the announcement
added. the German high command
lost 900 planes from Nov. 10 to jan
uary 10.
Epidemics were spreading. it said
and hospitals were full and over
flowing, while winter clothing hac
not reached the soldiers.
The new offensive was Launched
from the areas OF Selyavnoe ane
Shchuchnoe Just below Voronezf
and the district Of Kantemrovks
further to the southeast, the frs
/ special communique said.
In the first two areas, the driv
! proceeded to the southwest, while
from Kantemirovka it went to the
northwest and west, thus forming q
/ plncers.
In the first two areas, the com
munique said. holes 28 and 81 miles
wide were opened in the German
lines while in the Kantemirovka 6
breach 81 miles wide was made.
/ Nine enemy infantry divisions, in.
Guiding six Hungarian divisions
were routed in the course of tht
/ advance, it was said
Booty was said to include IS tanks
800 guns, 493 mortars and muct
ammunition, while material de-
stroyed included l35 tanks, 2I0 gum
and II planes.
Col. Gen. F. I. Golikov was sait
to be leading the northern brancf
of the new offensive. and Col Gen
Nikolai Vatutin the southern wing
One of the towns captured wa
Krasnoe. 55 miles southwest o
Voronezh and 100 miles northeas